delicious, nurturing meal. great service. tasty drinks, with a welcoming ambiance. 5/5 would recommend to anyone looking for an authentic italian food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kris M
This review is dedicated to those reviewers who say Ama’s food is either ‘bland’ or they were ‘still hungry’ after eating there-
this is because you are used to eating at restaurants that use fake ingredients and artificial flavor enhancers, as do most in the country, so sorry but you have no idea what real food tastes like. Ama makes real food, intentionally and wholeheartedly. They partner with local farmers, cook with real ingredients, and create a menu that will leave you feeling satiated and wonderful, as my friends and i did even after we ate through the menu AND ordered 4 desserts at the end.
so yeah, their food isn’t ‘bland’ , you probably have just never tasted food that wasn’t grown in a lab and loaded with artificial flavoring and addictive chemicals. try harder!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paul Harvin
Excellent food and wine, in a beautiful space and wonderful service. They accommodated our large group well, and we all had a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Martino
Great Italian restaurant showcasing Northern Italian cuisine. During the day they offer their signature focaccia as open-faced sandwiches with incredible toppings and a huge selection of espresso drinks. Chocolate fans should get the Bicerine!
For dinner, Ama has an out-of-this-world cheese focaccia that’s a must-try! Take a few people to try something from each section on the menu, or go for date night in a gorgeous space. For my table, the pork loin was a crowd favorite. I’ve dined alone and had the rabbit stew and loved it. Both times I’ve gotten the Fritto Misto, order your own. The cocktail list features Negronis and Spritzes, and some really incredible wines by-the-glass. Great service, always amazing food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
D / R
The food, the decor/atmosphere, and the service were all wonderful! The only thing that lowered this rating is appearance of the up charge on the bill of 4% for 'employee health & wellness.' Unfortunately, while increasingly common in DC restaurants, this is a way to misrepresent the listed menu price so that it removes part of the cost of overhead and charges it back at the end; that is, it belongs in the menu price just as the cost of rent and utilities helps set the menu price. That 4% charge reflects a DC law designed to bring food service workers' wages up to minimum wage. In other words, it is there to increase wages in line with all other workers! Bravo! As it should be. So come on, you're an upscale restaurant with prices that are already in keeping with that upscale environment, so treat overhead as overhead and include it in your menu price! What's worse is the additional note that 'this is not a tip' -- correct, it's part of your employees' increased wages, so treat it as such and don't leave your diners with a bad taste in their mouths after such an otherwise delicious dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Elena
Don’t eat here unless you want to leave hungry. Also the waiter got our order wrong and her boss or coworker yelled at her in front of everyone, so weird.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kirsten Sloan
It was our first time dining at Ama and our group was really looking forward to it. Both the food and service were very good but the music and the noise from the bar were so loud it was impossible to have a conversation. Not the relaxing dinner we were hoping for.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 5
Trevor Whalley
Having Celiac's disease and being 100% gluten and dairy free makes it hard to eat Italian food. Ama intentionally changes that. Their menu is super easy to navigate as someone with dietary restrictions, having gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian designations. Additionally, as someone who doesn't drink, they make really good mocktails. But the thing I appreciate most about Ama is their conscious commitment to local, quality, and sustainable ingredients and cooking methods, which is evident in the taste of their dishes and how it made me feel afterwards.
I've been back twice now and my favorite dishes are the Farinata (chickpea pancake), Tartare di Salmone (wild salmon tartare), Patate al Forno (roasted potatoes), the Pollo Arrosto al Forno (pasture raised and organic roasted half chicken), and the gluten free Spaghetti al Pomodoro.
Overall, if you enjoy authentic Italian food, have strict (or not so strict) dietary restrictions, or appreciate restaurants that are health-centric, it's definitely worth giving Ama a try.
Dietary restrictions: Their menu is super easy to navigate as someone with dietary restrictions, having gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian designations.
I've had the following which I trust to be completely gluten and dairy free:
Farinata (chickpea pancake) Tartare di Salmone (wild salmon tartare) Patate al Forno (roasted potatoes) Pollo Arrosto al Forno (pasture raised and organic roasted half chicken) Spaghetti al Pomodoro (substitute the gluten free pasta)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tartare Salmone, Patate Al Forno GF VG
Feda Elshaer
Incredibly authentic delicious northern Italian cuisine with a beautiful ambiance. The focaccia is a must! Cocktails are excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yahya Sultan
A recent fav of mine when i’m in DC, can’t wait to come back!
Johanna makes some of the best food I’ve ever had and tried in a restaurant, I have never been disappointed In something I’ve tried and you can feel the love and joy she puts into her dishes which just makes the whole experience so much better and just leaves you feeling happy and warm and satisfied, so it’s a 10/10 for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Geo Geo
It's a great Italian restaurant Not your typical American Italian, nor a typical Italian. Very nice room and bar! The food was excellent! Definitely try the focaccia with cheese. It is phenomenal ! All the pasta was excellent. Also recommend the Schlutzkrapfen Ravioli and the Coniglio! Loved the Pollo Arrosto al Forno too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Merrissa Humble
I truly couldn’t have anything better to say about Ama. The ambience, the meals, the drinks, the people, the people watching-it’s all top tier. The feeling you get when you leave isn’t one of being over-full or bloated. You feel nourished and content. We’ve spent the last two family birthdays here and will continue to keep that tradition. We are so thankful to have such an amazing spot for any occasion in our neighborhood and it always feels like a special occasion stopping in to Ama, even just for a quick, pre-meal drink. Thanks Ama for being our go to-always!!
Start with an Ama Spritz or an Old Tyrolean (I don’t even like whiskey and this is my go to beverage here, delightful). Then for starters the Fugassa (focaccia with olive oil, I could eat dozens of these) and Fritto Misto are delicious. Trofie con pesto genovese, lasagnetta for pasta options and a strudel tirolese to end it-PERFECTION.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jenny Coyne
I really think it’s a great addition to the neighborhood. The coffee cake is amazing. I enjoy the quality of the coffee. Most importantly - Shania, who is a talented and really sweet barista, that sets it apart
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lea Ward
Had a wonderful 50th birthday dinner for a large group where the chef prepared 4 appetizers and 4 main entrees and we all ate family style. We did not have to make decisions, just got to taste many different delicious foods. Food was amazing and the evening was relaxing and enjoyable!
delicious, nurturing meal. great service. tasty drinks, with a welcoming ambiance. 5/5 would recommend to anyone looking for an authentic italian food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This review is dedicated to those reviewers who say Ama’s food is either ‘bland’ or they were ‘still hungry’ after eating there-
this is because you are used to eating at restaurants that use fake ingredients and artificial flavor enhancers, as do most in the country, so sorry but you have no idea what real food tastes like. Ama makes real food, intentionally and wholeheartedly. They partner with local farmers, cook with real ingredients, and create a menu that will leave you feeling satiated and wonderful, as my friends and i did even after we ate through the menu AND ordered 4 desserts at the end.
so yeah, their food isn’t ‘bland’ , you probably have just never tasted food that wasn’t grown in a lab and loaded with artificial flavoring and addictive chemicals. try harder!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent food and wine, in a beautiful space and wonderful service. They accommodated our large group well, and we all had a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great Italian restaurant showcasing Northern Italian cuisine. During the day they offer their signature focaccia as open-faced sandwiches with incredible toppings and a huge selection of espresso drinks. Chocolate fans should get the Bicerine!
For dinner, Ama has an out-of-this-world cheese focaccia that’s a must-try! Take a few people to try something from each section on the menu, or go for date night in a gorgeous space. For my table, the pork loin was a crowd favorite. I’ve dined alone and had the rabbit stew and loved it. Both times I’ve gotten the Fritto Misto, order your own. The cocktail list features Negronis and Spritzes, and some really incredible wines by-the-glass. Great service, always amazing food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food, the decor/atmosphere, and the service were all wonderful! The only thing that lowered this rating is appearance of the up charge on the bill of 4% for 'employee health & wellness.' Unfortunately, while increasingly common in DC restaurants, this is a way to misrepresent the listed menu price so that it removes part of the cost of overhead and charges it back at the end; that is, it belongs in the menu price just as the cost of rent and utilities helps set the menu price. That 4% charge reflects a DC law designed to bring food service workers' wages up to minimum wage. In other words, it is there to increase wages in line with all other workers! Bravo! As it should be. So come on, you're an upscale restaurant with prices that are already in keeping with that upscale environment, so treat overhead as overhead and include it in your menu price! What's worse is the additional note that 'this is not a tip' -- correct, it's part of your employees' increased wages, so treat it as such and don't leave your diners with a bad taste in their mouths after such an otherwise delicious dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Don’t eat here unless you want to leave hungry. Also the waiter got our order wrong and her boss or coworker yelled at her in front of everyone, so weird.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
It was our first time dining at Ama and our group was really looking forward to it. Both the food and service were very good but the music and the noise from the bar were so loud it was impossible to have a conversation. Not the relaxing dinner we were hoping for.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 5
Having Celiac's disease and being 100% gluten and dairy free makes it hard to eat Italian food. Ama intentionally changes that. Their menu is super easy to navigate as someone with dietary restrictions, having gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian designations. Additionally, as someone who doesn't drink, they make really good mocktails. But the thing I appreciate most about Ama is their conscious commitment to local, quality, and sustainable ingredients and cooking methods, which is evident in the taste of their dishes and how it made me feel afterwards.
I've been back twice now and my favorite dishes are the Farinata (chickpea pancake), Tartare di Salmone (wild salmon tartare), Patate al Forno (roasted potatoes), the Pollo Arrosto al Forno (pasture raised and organic roasted half chicken), and the gluten free Spaghetti al Pomodoro.
Overall, if you enjoy authentic Italian food, have strict (or not so strict) dietary restrictions, or appreciate restaurants that are health-centric, it's definitely worth giving Ama a try.
Dietary restrictions: Their menu is super easy to navigate as someone with dietary restrictions, having gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian designations.
I've had the following which I trust to be completely gluten and dairy free:
Farinata (chickpea pancake)
Tartare di Salmone (wild salmon tartare)
Patate al Forno (roasted potatoes)
Pollo Arrosto al Forno (pasture raised and organic roasted half chicken)
Spaghetti al Pomodoro (substitute the gluten free pasta)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tartare Salmone, Patate Al Forno GF VG
Incredibly authentic delicious northern Italian cuisine with a beautiful ambiance. The focaccia is a must! Cocktails are excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A recent fav of mine when i’m in DC, can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Johanna makes some of the best food I’ve ever had and tried in a restaurant, I have never been disappointed In something I’ve tried and you can feel the love and joy she puts into her dishes which just makes the whole experience so much better and just leaves you feeling happy and warm and satisfied, so it’s a 10/10 for me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's a great Italian restaurant
Not your typical American Italian, nor a typical Italian.
Very nice room and bar! The food was excellent!
Definitely try the focaccia with cheese. It is phenomenal !
All the pasta was excellent. Also recommend the Schlutzkrapfen Ravioli and the Coniglio! Loved the Pollo Arrosto al Forno too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I truly couldn’t have anything better to say about Ama. The ambience, the meals, the drinks, the people, the people watching-it’s all top tier. The feeling you get when you leave isn’t one of being over-full or bloated. You feel nourished and content. We’ve spent the last two family birthdays here and will continue to keep that tradition. We are so thankful to have such an amazing spot for any occasion in our neighborhood and it always feels like a special occasion stopping in to Ama, even just for a quick, pre-meal drink. Thanks Ama for being our go to-always!!
Start with an Ama Spritz or an Old Tyrolean (I don’t even like whiskey and this is my go to beverage here, delightful). Then for starters the Fugassa (focaccia with olive oil, I could eat dozens of these) and Fritto Misto are delicious. Trofie con pesto genovese, lasagnetta for pasta options and a strudel tirolese to end it-PERFECTION.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really think it’s a great addition to the neighborhood. The coffee cake is amazing. I enjoy the quality of the coffee. Most importantly - Shania, who is a talented and really sweet barista, that sets it apart
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a wonderful 50th birthday dinner for a large group where the chef prepared 4 appetizers and 4 main entrees and we all ate family style. We did not have to make decisions, just got to taste many different delicious foods. Food was amazing and the evening was relaxing and enjoyable!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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