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Our Mission: Nourishment, Sustainability & Community in Every Bite
At Ama, we envision a new era for restaurants, one where indulgence coexists seamlessly with nourishment, community, and connection, and where every bite fosters not just pleasure but also vitality. Food is not merely sustenance. It is a celebration of how wholesome ingredients and thoughtful sourcing can create deeply satisfying, flavorful meals. To help drive this industry forward, we aim to lead by example. Our mission is simple: to nourish our guests in body and soul with organic, thoughtfully prepared food, leaving them feeling invigorated and eager to return for more.
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, single-piece wooden cutting boards and steer clear of non-stick materials to keep your food safe. We scrutinize eco-friendly disposables to find ones that have no hidden linings, are certified plastic-free and biodegradedable in 180 days.
A Commitment Beyond the Plastic You Can See
While our food and beverage program is free from single-use plastics, BPA, PFAS, phthalates, and polycarbonates, our commitment goes beyond what you can see. For all to-go materials, we prioritize solutions that are biodegradable and free from plastic linings or coatings, eliminating hidden layers that can come into contact with your food. Behind the kitchen pass, food storage and preparation rely on materials such as stainless steel and glass, minimizing plastic use wherever possible, and where it cannot be avoided, we apply a science-based understanding of how plastic behaves to reduce the risk of migration into food, guided by our comprehensive plastic policy. We recognize that transforming the supply chain is ongoing work, and we continue to push for change while developing creative solutions alongside our farmers and vendors. We also promote receiptless dining and use EcoChit paper, which is BPA and BPS free, reducing exposure to common endocrine disruptors found in traditional thermal receipts. Our partnerships reflect the same integrity, including mineral-rich Vera Salt, lab tested to be free of microplastics and heavy metals, and Seatopia, whose fish are tested for both microplastics and mercury.
Purity in Water & Enhanced Hydration
We treat water as a foundational ingredient in nourishment. Our entire restaurant is supplied through a double catalytic carbon filtration system that removes contaminants while preserving essential minerals, ensuring clean water for both cooking and drinking. For drinking water, we go further by structuring and remineralizing it with Mayu vortex technology, adding trace minerals, and offering oligomineral Fiuggi water and Lourdes Holy Hydrogen water to support enhanced cellular hydration and recovery. From sanitation and disinfection to produce washing and ice machine maintenance, we use ozonated water systems throughout the restaurant as a powerful, chemical free solution that replaces harsh cleaners, supports food safety, and protects both human and planetary health.
Planet-Friendly Practices
We believe health and sustainability go hand in hand. From water to waste reduction, we strive to care for the world we share. Our PlateScrape system saves 93% more water than a traditional spray nozzle, and we compost through a closed loop BioGreen system for food waste and Compost Crew for compostable materials, reducing waste at every step.
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, added flavors, and preservatives. We believe in the goodness of whole ingredients and the sweetness of unrefined sugars.
HEALTHY Ingredients as Nature Intended
Our commitment to quality extends beyond non GMO. We prioritize organic and regenerative agriculture and the vital role of healthy soil in a nutrient dense and sustainable future. We adhere to the EWG Dirty Dozen list and go beyond it by sourcing Certified Organic and Regenerative Organic Certified produce. We use an electrolytic ozone system for all produce washing. Our approach to grains reflects the same care, with imported Italian biodynamic flours and locally grown organic ancient grains that have never been hybridized.
The POWER of Healthy Fats
From local organic A2 whole milk and cream to Italian extra virgin olive oil, our kitchen is built on nourishing, nutrient dense ingredients. You will not find industrialized oils here. Why rely on monoculture crops that deplete the soil when we are committed to restorative farming? We are the first verified restaurant in the Washington Metropolitan Area on Seed Oil Scout. We have also moved away from 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, grass finished meats, we are dedicated to serving the highest quality proteins with both flavor and integrity. We partner with Seatopia to support regenerative aquaculture, with every harvest lab tested to verify omega rich profiles, mercury safety, and the absence of detectable microplastics, while advancing ocean health through responsible sourcing. We also source from Lummi Island Wild, a fisherman owned cooperative that uses traditional reefnet fishing, one of the most selective and low impact methods, resulting in virtually no bycatch and supporting the health of wild salmon populations. We work closely with Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative to source pasture raised organic poultry and beef.
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 .