Maha chef Shane Delia snags hospitality pro Adam Cash

Chef and television presenter Shane Delia has snagged one of Melbourne's best front-of-house professionals, Adam Cash, to run the floor his Melbourne basement restaurant Maha.

Delia, who bought out George Calombaris's Made Establishment in 2013, says he spoke to many candidates for the restaurant manager role before Cash came on board.

"The heart of the restaurant is the restaurant manager, the guy who's conducting it all," says Delia. "Finding an industry icon like Adam, who bleeds hospitality, they're like hen's teeth."

Cash, who shuttered his Richmond restaurant Union Dining in February, joins Maha on May 1, the same day his former business partner Nicky Riemer takes over the pans at Bellota.

Appointing Cash is part of a four-year improvement plan at Maha, which opened in 2008. Delia gave the restaurant a $1 million refit in 2015, spent 2016 addressing strengths and weaknesses, and this year he'll focus on service. "I want to take Maha to the next level and that's all about refinement of service."

Next year he'll turn his attention to food, starting with an $800,000 kitchen makeover designed by Chris Love, whose completed job sheet includes Supernormal, Rosetta and Gradi at Crown. Maha will close for six weeks from mid-January.

Cash, who also worked at Vue de Monde, Cutler & Co and Ezard, says he can't wait to get his teeth into the role. "It's a few years since I've worn a suit and tie to work."