When it comes to food, few chefs in the U.S. have amassed a following quite like Mario Carbone. The 42-year-old has won as many accolades as he has social media mentions for his namesake Italian restaurant, which draws lines outside its locations each night that run as long as the contact list in the tastemaker restaurateur’s phone.

Carbone (the restaurant) has earned the praise of both reviewers and casual foodies alike for its old world-inspired dishes, which find new life in a refreshingly unpretentious setting. Along the way, Mario Carbone has become a poster child of sorts for the “nu celebrity chef,” trading catchphrases and gimmicks for a laidback, soft-spoken appeal, and white aprons for tailored suits and white kicks.