As Amaru marks 10 years, Clinton McIver is still chasing perfection

Hospitality may be a fast-paced industry, but it’s also one that rewards patience. Having been heaped with glowing reviews from virtually the moment it opened in 2016, this might not seem applicable to Melbourne’s Amaru, but chef-owner Clinton McIver is quick to disagree. “You might have a vision or a concept in mind, but it’s hard to translate that into reality,” he says. “It took a few years, for me anyway, to find a clear identity for what we do.”