A well-known chef and restaurateur is recovering from injuries after he was attacked in a vicious swarming in downtown Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Amedeo Vallati was just closing his brand new restaurant around 1 a.m. Saturday when he noticed a man urinating on the back bumper of his truck, which was parked around the side of his bistro.

Vallati says the man became aggressive, took his shirt off and headed towards him.

"An altercation broke out between him and I and I tried to protect myself," Vallati told CTV News. "Upon the altercation proceeding, he called for some of his friends. The next thing I know, anywhere between three and five guys…participated in it with a pit bull."

Vallati says the group directed the pit bull to attack him and it grabbed his foot and wouldn't let go. He was then hit in the back of the head and knocked out.

One of his cooks was also badly beaten in the attack and both he and Vallati were unconscious when police arrived on the scene.

They were transported to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital for treatment.

Vallati suffered substantial bruising, a broken nose, two black eyes, cuts, abrasions, and a dog bite in the attack. He received multiple stitches on his foot, lips, forehead and nose.

The second victim suffered a sprained jaw and a sprained hand.

Five suspects between the ages of 21 and 30 have been charged with aggravated assault and breaching conditions. They were due to appear in court for a bail hearing on Tuesday, but that date has been pushed to Wednesday.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Randy MacDonald