A Healthy, Nourishing & Sustainable Northern Italian Restaurant in Washington, D.C. navy yard
Ama is a mission-driven, all-day dining destination dedicated to the nourishment of its guests, its community and its planet. Led by wife-and-husband duo Johanna Hellrigl & Micah Wilder, Ama, which translates to “love” in Italian, takes its name from an Italian poem about leading life with love and intention – two elements felt across every touchpoint of the dining experience. 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. The result is a warm and transportive community anchor celebrating the joyful simplicities of Italian culture meant for every mood and moment.
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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 .
Hours of Operation
SUN - THU: 8AM - 10PM
FRI - SAT: 8AM - 11PM
Accessibility
We're committed to being accessible to all, offering a welcoming environment for guests with disabilities, including wheelchair accessibility throughout.
Transportation & Parking
We're easily accessible from both Capitol South Metro Station (Orange/Blue/Silver Lines) and Navy Yard / Ballpark Metro Station (Green Line), by bike (Capitol Bikeshare is conveniently located one block away), or by carpooling for sustainable travel options.
Convenient parking options are available throughout the Navy Yard, including street parking. For added ease, valet parking is available at the AC Hotel. Guests can also park in the Whole Foods parking lot.
Whether you’re coming from Navy Yard, Capitol Hill, or Capitol Riverfront, Ama is an easy stop — just a short trip from the DC Convention Center.