Our Mission
At Ama, we envision a new era for restaurants—one where indulgence coexists seamlessly with nourishment, community, and connection—where every bite fosters not just pleasure but also vitality. Food is not merely sustenance; it is a celebration of how wholesome, quality ingredients can also yield satisfyingly flavorful meals. To ignite this industry change, we must serve as a driving force. Our mission is simple: to nourish our guests in body and soul, leaving them feeling invigorated and eager to return for more wholesome experiences.
We Question Everything
Driven by our commitment to the well-being of both our team members and guests, we always question the status quo. Prioritizing clean sanitation, we opt for high heat, ozonated water & botanical cleaners over harsh chemicals. We use stainless steel cookware and steer clear of non-stick materials to keep your food safe. We scrutinize “eco-friendly” disposable cups to find one that is free from toxins and biodegrades in 180 days.
Quality Water Purification
Our water filtration system uses double catalytic carbon filtration to remove contaminants while retaining essential minerals, guaranteeing purity in both drinking and cooking water.
Committing to Microplastic-Free Dining
Our food & beverage program is free from single-use plastic, as well as BPA, PFAs, phthalates, and polycarbonate, ensuring no microplastics leach into your food. We're committed to sustainability with biodegradable and compostable disposables that are not lined or coated with chemicals.
Planet-Friendly Practices
From water to waste reduction, we're striving to take care of the world we all share. Our plate-scraping system utilizes 93% less water than a spray nozzle! We're passionate about waste reduction, education, and going beyond recycling and composting practices throughout our operations.
All-Electric Kitchen
Our fully electric equipment ensures a safer, more enjoyable environment for our team. Not only do we reduce the risk of indoor air pollution, but we also ensure energy efficiency and boast a smaller environmental footprint than a traditional restaurant kitchen.
Slow Food Cooking
Our cooking is guided by the slow food ethos, emphasizing nourishing ingredients. We say no to ultra-processed foods, opting instead for unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients. Every component is chosen with care—free from artificial colors, chemicals, or added flavors and preservatives. We believe in the goodness of whole ingredients and the sweetness of unrefined sugars.
Ingredients as Nature Intended
Our commitment to quality extends beyond non-GMO. We prioritize supporting regenerative agriculture, recognizing the importance of healthy soil for a sustainable future. We follow the EWG Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists for organic produce sourcing and utilize an electrolysis purifier for all produce-washing.
Healthy Fats
We believe in the power of healthy fats. That's why you won't find any industrial seed oils in our kitchen. We exclusively use extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado or nut oils, as well as butter and animal fats from regeneratively pastured animals. Plus, we've ditched the traditional fryer in favor of shallow-frying, ensuring freshness and top-quality flavor in every bite.
Sustainably Sourced Proteins
From wild-caught fish to pasture-raised poultry and grass-fed, and grass-finished meats, we're dedicated to serving only the highest quality proteins, ensuring both flavor and integrity.
Employee Health & Wellness
We are a tipped model restaurant with a 3.85% Health & Wellness Charge. We made this decision based on two factors:
1. It leaves control in the hands of our guests with regards to the gratuity.
2. We maintain transparency by not incorporating the Health & Wellness Charge into our pricing and this is the most beneficial model for our team.
100% of the Health & Wellness Charge is moved into an allocated fund that is used to pay our medical, dental, vision and mental wellness benefits. We work with OS Benefits specifically designed for independent restaurants and hospitality businesses. A quarterly review of the 3.85% model will be done and the amount of the service charge will be adjusted accordingly based on sales. Any overages will be distributed to our team members in the form of a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Program. Any underages will be absorbed and paid for by the restaurant.
We would like to add that we realize the current landscape is beyond confusing for our guests. We appreciate you bearing with us, and all of our colleagues around town (regardless of what model they run), as we all figure out how we are going to move forward as an industry. If you have any questions, or would like to voice any concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at ciao@amarestaurant.bar .
Dine like your life depends on it
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Ama restaurant in DC is proud to be the only verified restaurant on Seed Oil Scout, a platform dedicated to transparency around ingredient quality and health-conscious dining. This verified status means that Ama has undergone rigorous checks to ensure we prioritize healthy, natural ingredients, avoiding the use of industrial seed oils that are often found in restaurant cooking. By using higher-quality oils and ingredients, we're committed to providing a dining experience that values both flavor and the well-being of our guests. Our verification on Seed Oil Scout reflects our dedication to integrity and health-conscious choices, setting us apart in the DC dining scene as a trusted, mindful option for those who care about what they eat.