Senior Writer

Seattle native Kathryn Robinson, award-winning restaurant critic and senior writer at Seattle Met, has been anonymously reviewing restaurants for over 30 years—first as editor of the Best Places guidebook series, then as staff critic at Seattle Weekly and contributing critic at The Seattle Times and Seattle magazine. 

Midcareer she spent a year-long sabbatical studying comparative religion as a Knight Fellow at Stanford University where she had been an undergrad 10 years earlier, gaining a knowledge base she now calls upon for her monthly “Back Fence” column on our collective urban existence and the meaning it holds for our personal lives. In her off hours she is a partner and a parent—which means she has no off hours.

Critic's Notebook

A User’s Guide to Cafe Barjot

When to go, when to skip.

07/27/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Review

The Alpha Omega Ouzeri

Thank the Greek gods for Thomas Soukakos.

07/27/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Review

Canal Market: Big Flavors, Perfect Pastries

Portage Bay’s new Canal Market offers all this, plus oven mitts and groceries.

07/27/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Sweet Parking Hack Comes to Seattle

Where to park for a restaurant on Capitol Hill? How to get home after too many adult bevs? Problems solved.

07/23/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Next Week: Very Important for Seattle Seafood Lovers

It’s the sustainability, stupid.

07/20/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Seattle’s Gluten-Free Claims to Fame

Three products celiacs don’t want to eat without, made right in our back yard.

07/16/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Who Humbles Both Chef and Restaurant Critic?

Someone you may not expect.

07/13/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Feature

The A to Z Food Lover's Guide to Seattle

An alphabetical guide to our region’s incredible bounty of food, drink, and more

07/09/2015 By Allecia Vermillion and Kathryn Robinson With Natalie Lew and Aoife Reilly

Food Lovers Guide to Seattle

Love (Or: Celebrating Chefs Who Celebrate Farmers)

The best restaurant meals are a collaboration between chef and farmer.

07/09/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

The Singular Joy of the Sauced Starch

It’s all over town in various guises.

07/09/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Review

Gnocchi Bar: Cheap, Terrific, Perfectly Sauced

Capitol Hill's pasta dumpling shop goes from popup to brick-and-mortar.

07/07/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Chef Changes at Mamnoon Signal “A Couple New Projects”

Melkonian moves into broader new role.

07/06/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Is Shaker and Spear a “Seattle” Restaurant?

You know what I mean.

07/02/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Review

Shaken and Speared

A gorgeous hotel fish house and cocktail bar hit downtown Seattle.

07/01/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Cover Story

Food Lovers Guide to Seattle

Letter by letter, the products, people, and purveyors that make Seattle such an incredible food town.

07/01/2015 By Allecia Vermillion, Kathryn Robinson, and Darren Davis With Aoife Reilly and Natalie Lew

Back Fence

Does Anyone Love Seafair?

One Seattle native’s quest to love her city’s summer festival again.

07/01/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

The Best Seattle Restaurants When It’s Hot Outside

Pssst: We are not talking patios here. This is better than patios.

06/29/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

The Heartbreak of the Awful Restaurant Recommendation

And the joy of the terrific one

06/25/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

The Back and Forth of Le Petit Cochon

The Fremont stunner kicks off both offal dinners and happy hours. Huh?

06/22/2015 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Here's the Thing About the Nachos at Cantina Leña

So bad....yet so very, very good

06/18/2015 By Kathryn Robinson