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—where every bite fosters not just pleasure but also vitality. Food is not merely sustenance; it is a celebration of how wholesome food and 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 with healthy organic food, 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 disposables to find ones that are certified plastic-free and biodegradedable.
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 even further—structuring and remineralizing with Mayu vortex technology, adding 75 ionic trace minerals, and offering oligomineral Fiuggi water and Lourdes Holy Hydrogen water to support enhanced cellular hydration and recovery.
A Commitment Beyond the Plastic You Can See
While our food & beverage program is free from single-use plastics, BPA, PFAS, phthalates, and polycarbonates—working to ensure no plastic particles leach into your food—our commitment goes beyond the plastic you can see. Backed by the latest research and guided by a comprehensive plastic policy, we are working to ensure that all materials used are biodegradable and compostable—never lined with hidden plastics or coated with harmful chemicals—recognizing that full verification across supply chains is an ongoing process. 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—such as 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.
Planet-Friendly Practices
We believe health and sustainability go hand in hand. From water to waste reduction, we’re striving to care for the world we share. Our PlateScrape system saves 93% more water than a 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, or 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 farmers, regenerative agriculture, and the vital role of healthy soil in a sustainable future. We adhere to the EWG Dirty Dozen list—and go beyond it—in sourcing organic produce, using an electrolysis purifier 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 won’t find industrialized oils here—why rely on monoculture crops that deplete the soil when we’re committed to restorative farming? We are the first verified restaurant in the Washington Metropolitan Area on Seed Oil Scout. 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, grass-finished meats, we’re dedicated to serving only the highest quality proteins—ensuring both flavor and integrity. We’ve partnered with Seatopia to support regenerative aquaculture. Seatopia is the only seafood company in the world that lab-tests every harvest to ensure your seafood is omega-rich, mercury-safe, and free from detectable microplastics—all while working to restore the health of our oceans.
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 .