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.

Article

The Evolution of Mall Pizza, Via Elemental

03/20/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Article

Dinner’s a Picnic at the Whale Wins

Renee Erickson’s breezy stage set in Fremont serves rich French flavors on smallish plates.

03/20/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Article

Waltz Lessons for Garfield High

It’s tougher than it looks to follow the leader.

03/20/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Article

50 Most Influential People in Seattle Right Now

Game-changing Seattleites thrust the city into its next phase—in politics, the arts, technology, food, sports, and more.

03/18/2013 By Kathryn Robinson, Matthew Halverson, James Ross Gardner, Laura Cassidy, Christopher Werner, Laura Dannen, Allison Williams, Allecia Vermillion, Amanda Zurita, Seth Sommerfeld, Erica C. Barnett, Bess Lovejoy, and Josh Feit

Critic's Notebook

So Here’s Where I Saw a Bug in the Food

But what should I do about it?

03/18/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Now Hear This: RESTAURANTS ARE DEAFENING

But are they deafening on purpose?

03/11/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Eatin’ Good in the Neigh-bar-hood

Restaurants that feed the bar next door.

03/04/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

When Menus Mislead

An unbilled item shows up in a starring role on your dinner plate. Fun little extra or diner beware?

02/25/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Review

Seriously Syrian Dining

For such a shiny Capitol Hill hot spot, Mamnoon has an old soul.

02/20/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Article

My TV Friends

When it comes to meaningful relationships, there’s nothing like a good television recap.

02/20/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Calorie Counts on Menus

Yeah, they work, says the Seattle and King County director of public health. Just not the way you might expect.

02/19/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

How Has Paid Sick Leave Changed Your Restaurant Experience?

When Cherry Street Coffee House added a surcharge to defray the cost of sick employees, big questions began to percolate.

02/11/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Five Sexy Nosh-and-Cocktail Spots for Valentine’s Day

Dinner schminner, Romeo. Seduction’s all about the booze and the nibbles.

02/04/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Is That Tuna or Escolar in Your Sushi?

Washington state is aiming legislation at fish-labeling fraud. It’s a bigger problem than you think.

01/28/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Article

Joule’s Steak House Makeover

East-West fusion sparkles in a Fremont do-over.

01/23/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Article

Okay, Sure, It Takes a Village

But when it comes to teens and alcohol and sex, how meddlesome do the villagers have to be?

01/23/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Seattle's Top Seafood

Seafood Road Trips

Three seafood restaurants worth the drive.

01/23/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Seattle's Top Seafood

Seattle Fish House Giants

Ivar’s and Anthony’s set the standard for seafood chain restaurants.

01/23/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Best of the City

Seattle’s Best Seafood

Where to find the most flavorful, sustainable fish in Seafood City, USA.

01/23/2013 By Kathryn Robinson

Critic's Notebook

Restaurants That Look Like “Before” Pictures

Ray’s Boathouse reopening reminds us of a few other restaurants screaming for a remodel.

01/22/2013 By Kathryn Robinson