It's not quite as common as it used to be for a person to stay at the same job for decades — so when someone's enthusiastically served in the same gig for 13 years, it's kind of a big deal.

Ali Sonko, a 62-year-old from Gambia, has been the head dishwasher at the famed Copenhagen restaurant Noma since it opened in 2003.

And this week, chef René Redzepi rewarded him massively for it: The food genius made him a new partner in the award-winning eatery.

Chef René Redzepi (far right) named three new partners at his restaurant at Noma

The Copenhagen eatery has two Michelin stars and was named the Best Restaurant in the World by Restaurant magazine in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014

Noma, which has two coveted Michelin stars, is well-known among foodies worldwide. It was named the Best Restaurant in the World by Restaurant magazine in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014, and has earned many other honors.

Earlier this year, the restaurant shut down its original location near the city's Opera House, and will reopen in Copenhagen's Christiania neighborhood late this year as an 'urban farm', where food is grown on-site.

And when it does reopen, there will be three new partners: restaurant manager James Spreadbury, service director Lau Richter, and head dishwasher Ali Sonko.

Ali Sonko (pictured) has been head dishwasher there since it opened in 2003

Ali (pictured removing the sign on the restaurant's old building) 'is the heart and soul of Noma'

'It gives me incredible joy to let the world know that our restaurant managers Lau and James, and our dishwasher, Ali, have become partners in noma,' chef Redzepi wrote on Instagram this week.

'This is only the beginning, as we plan to surprise several more of our staff with a piece of the walls that they have chosen to work so hard within. This move is one of the happiest moments of my time at noma.'

Speaking of the dishwasher in particular, Redzepi said at a staff party: 'Ali is the heart and soul of Noma. I don't think people appreciate what it means to have a person like Ali in the house. He is all smiles, no matter how his 12 children fare.'

Exciting! The chef announced the news on Instagram this week

Redzepi has shown his appreciation in other ways before. In 2010, when Noma was named Best Restaurant in the World for the first time, Ali was unable to attend the ceremony in London due to issues with travel visas.

To include him, the staff all wore T-shirts with his face on them. In 2012, when Noma took home the top honor again, Ali was able to come, and even delivered a speech.