Ama

  4.5 – 339 reviews   • Restaurant

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Ama is a mission-driven, all-day dining destination dedicated to the nourishment of its guests, its community and its planet. An indoor-outdoor caffè and Genovese-style focacceria by day, Ama becomes an energetic aperitivo bar over the course of the afternoon and convivial ristorante by night.

✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out Ama 20003

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Reservations: resy.com

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Reviews

Chelsea Andrews
Came to Ama with three friends for Restaurant Week and had an amazing experience. The vibe is super cute and cozy. Parking can be hit or miss, but I lucked out this time. We were supposed to stick to the Restaurant Week menu but somehow ended up ordering three different breads — all were a hit, including the pea pancake (so good). And I loved the one that’s like a pizza.

For apps, the soups were solid. The minestrone was my favorite. Just a heads-up: the pasta fagioli is not like Olive Garden’s, so don’t order it expecting that. Entrees were a 10/10 — we shared the Branzino and pasta Bolognese and everything was delicious. Dessert was gelato or sorbet, and we all left very happy.

Restaurant Week is back and Ama definitely delivered. Great spot for celebrations too. Our server, Gerard, was super attentive and very knowledgeable. Highly recommended — I would definitely come back and recommend this place.
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Morgan Fykes
Soooo obsessed with this place!!! The concept, the execution, the vision – its all exceptional!!! I loved everything about my restaurant week experience there and i cant believe it took me so long to finally check it out!! I went for a wellness day and ended up staying for the restaurant week dinner which was the best choice I’ve made!! Every dish was delicious and it was so lovely not having to worry about if it was good for me or not! I will definitely be back soon!! Also the staff is incredible!!! Seriously every detail of this business is thoughtfully delightful!!
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Jasmin J
I visited Ama for DC Cocktail Week and it felt like a timeless Italian escape in the middle of the city. The warm tones, soft lighting, and authentic atmosphere created a classic and comforting vibe that made the space feel like a true neighborhood gem.

Their featured cocktail, Fiato di Bosco, was soooooo good! The smoky mezcal was earthy but gentle and balanced so well with the citrus notes. It tasted like a fresh breath of air in a quiet forest. Elegant, clean, and simply beautiful.

Ama’s commitment to sustainability really impressed me. They avoid microplastics in all food and cocktail preparation, use grass fed beef and wild caught seafood, and treat every ingredient with intention. You can feel how much they care.

The team made the night even better. Eden was incredibly warm and welcoming. Chris crafted cocktails with precision and purpose. Blake was everywhere in the best way, serving food, making drinks, helping guests, and still creating a family oriented environment. The whole staff feels connected, kind, and truly beloved by their regulars.

Ama is the spot for anyone who loves quality, authenticity, and hospitality with heart. A true neighborhood favorite.
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Hannah
Food was amazing. We also shared a pistachio gelato for dessert which was amazing. They do encourage family style but we decided to order our own meals. I highly recommend the focaccia bread (and save some or order more to have with your pasta). Service was great – there is a bar area so it got a bit loud at times (not a “negative” in my opinion but something to be aware of. My husband also mentioned how uncomfortable his chair was (I was in the booth) and I saw other reviews mentioning this as well. That certainly wouldn’t stop me from returning though, as it’s a restaurant not a furniture store.
The back of the menu notes their dedication to being plastic free, fair pay for employees, etc which i greatly respect. Knowing that an effort is being put in towards conservation and taking care of people is something i don’t mind paying a bit extra for. Overall we will definitely return!
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David Laster
D.C’s first Seed Oil Safe restaurant. Ama is a blueprint for world class dining utilizing the safest cooking practices and eco-friendly approach. I can’t emphasize enough how good the food is and true to its Italian roots — don’t let its emphasis on well-being overshadow that it’s damn good cooking! I will be craving the Lasagna verde from home in NYC, and the Vitello Tonnato is the best I’ve ever had (including Italy) — and a testament to the quality of their sourcing
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Dora O’Donnell
We came here for happy hour as a group of 5 and were able to sit at the bar (it filled up later in the evening but was pretty empty around 5 pm midweek). The service was spectacular- the bartenders were fast, attentive and personable. The owner came out to speak with us at some point too. They were burning some type of wood incense (I think) and the bar smelled lovely and was so cozy. The happy hour drink deals are pretty good (9-10$ for a cocktail), there’s no happy hour food.

That being said, I left super underwhelmed with the food. We spent well over $200 on just food and it didn’t feel worth it for the quality. Sure, smaller portions may be expected at nicer restaurants but the quality or flavour wasn’t there for me to justify it (ie a Milanese for $37 or small pieces of focaccia for $13).

I’d only come back for a happy hour in the future if I was in the area and/ or wasn’t footing the bill.
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Sydney Rieckhoff
The food was so good it may have convinced me to relocate to DC just so I can eat here every day. I had the Spaghetti al Pomodoro and the Buffalo Mozzarella Focaccia — both were absolutely incredible. Simple dishes, but done perfectly. My vanilla latte was smooth, creamy, and the perfect way to round out the meal. Highly recommend!
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Dondré
Ama is all the new craze in DC on social media and the streets. I happened to be in the area and decided to check out the breakfast window. I’ll say they are still working out some kinks because things took extremely long. However the pastries were decent and my chai wasn’t bad either. I wouldn’t say amazing but it wasn’t bad. Ama even for breakfast is very expensive so just be aware of that. Maybe one day I’ll get in for dinner and let y’all know what the vibes are like.
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Alex Pickell
I called last minute to see if I could add one more person to our reservation, and Ama was more than accommodating- in fact, they were able to set us up in the private dining room (which smells of heavenly olive wood), giving us a quiet and intimate space for dinner. Sophie was our incredible server, and she gave us so much great background information about the restaurant and food. Some standouts were the Spaghetti Pomodoro, pistachio gelato, and white asparagus. Great wine list too!
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Ben
I’m not going to go on and on about how this restaurant is a rare breed and there’s nothing quite like it. The truth is, there absolutely is, but not in D.C.

The refreshingly authentic take on elevated Italian food is welcomed to these parts. Why reinvent the wheel when you already have such a solid foundation. Overall the menu execution is really strong and it nearly feels like Italian home cooking.

The atmosphere doesn’t exactly match that and I’m not sure what to think. To me it feels like a Jose Andres restaurant, but with Italian cuisine. So I’m torn between tried and tested… or just flat out copying. Either way, if it works it works.

P.S. Get the tiramisu
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