If you walk down Manhattan’s Houston street, you probably won’t notice this restaurant- unless you wonder what all these people are standing in line for. It’s a place that’s unpretentious, yet a celebrity hangout. It’s famous, yet most people have never heard about it. It’s an Instagram spot, yet the owner doesn’t have a mobile phone.

Emilio learned to read from recipe books and to cook from his mother. His influence is everywhere- from the food to the smallest details in the restaurant. The connection to Southern Italy runs deep. Emilio was born in the San Marzano area, home of the famous tomatoes. Gioacchino, his brother-in-law still grows them there for him.