In the News
You can read a bit about us in the following publications.
January 2023 - Profile of Cafe Juanita in Toast’s blog about women-led restaurants
December 2022 - KOMO news took a closer look at Cafe Juanita’s ‘20 years of elegant excellence.’
July 2020- Read Chef Holly’s opinion piece on eater.com about restaurants staying closed during pandemic
October 2019 - GQ magazine list of outstanding restaurants, Too old to be new, to new to be institutions
September 2019 - Seattle magazine, readers choice Best restaurant Seattle’s eastside
September 2019- Opinionated about Dining 2019 survey Best restaurants North America, Top 100
November 2013 - Seattle Times/Town Hall Seattle and Seattle Library present Still Crazy)Good) after all this time. Video by Genevieve Alvarez
Spend the morning with Cafe Juanita's Holly Smith as she discusses the importance of subtle nuances, consistency and believing in one's self. Click here
May 2013 - Opinionated About Dining 2013 survey of Top 25 lists Cafe Juanita as #4 in US for Fine Dining Italian Restaurants.
March 2013 - Opinionated About Dining 2013 survey includes Cafe Juanita as #69 in Top 100 Restaurants in the US.
February 2013- Cafe Juanita is nominated as a semifinalist for James Beard Foundation Best Service in the US.
January 2013 - Art Culinaire features Chef Holly Smith and Cafe Juanita's pasta with 9 recipes including the cover.
August 2012 - Zagat and USA TODAY Road Warriors rank Cafe Juanita #1 Italian Restaurant in Seattle.
July 2012 - the NYTimes pickes up a post about our carne cruda. http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/
April 2012 - Opininated About Dining ranks Cafe Juanita as Top 10 Italian Restaurants in US, Top 5 in Seattle
January 2012 - Open Table annouces 100 Best Restaurants in the USA - Cafe Juanita proudly on this list.
November 2011 - 425 Magazine takes a look in Holly's home kitchen
August 2011 - Sunset Magazine Wine Awards - Wine Director and General manager Dawn Smith is nominated for Sommelier of the Year .
February 17 2011 - James Beard Awards announces long list of semifinalists. Cafe Juanita selected as Outstanding Restaurant (US) and Outstanding Chef (US)
January 2011 - Fearless Critic released with Cafe Juanita chosen as #1 in Seattle. Check out this great new guide to local dining complied by food writers, editors and professionals.
January 2011 - Zagat 2011 released - Cafe Juanita rated#1 in Seattle.
IntheMo has launched - see a video ( done a few years back but still fun)
www.inthemo.com/spots/spots.aspx
Look for Cafe Juanita and Chef Holly on "Best thing I Ever Ate" Fruit on Food Network
Congratulations to Chef Jason Stratton of Spinasse, one of Food and Wine magazine's Best New Chef's. Jason was sous chef of Cafe Juanita for years and we couldn't be more excited for him!!
It's been announced - Holly's battle in kitchen Stadium will premiere Sunday April 11th. Watch and see her defeat Iron Chef Cat Cora in Battle Grape
March/April 2010 - The April issue of Veranda Magazineis out - pick up the issue there is a beautiful piece on Holly and the food of Cafe Juanita!
Check out Food Network's website for more information about Chef Holly on Search for the Next Iron Chef - season begins October 4th.
Sound Magazine April/May 2009 Dish off Iron Chef style theme based on the song "Gizzard Scrapple and tripe" Holly declared winner and "queen of giblets" in this cook off featuring offals and various cuts. read more online.http://gastrolust.com/?p=1283
The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dorenburg
Diversion Magazine - October 2008
Seattle PI - 4 stars - full restaurant review
Seattle Magazine April 2008- Top 10 Restaurants, Rising Star Pastry Chef, Sarah Novesky
Diversion Magazine - top Italian Tables - February 2008
Gourmet Magazine October 2007 - Feature, The Italian Job. Share Holly's October menu with friends and family.
Seattle Metropolitan June 2007 - artichoke recipe
WWD Scoop - June 2007
Seattle Magazine - Top 10 restaurants April 2007
Diversion Magazine - Top Dining in US by John Mariani - April 2007
The Robb Report - Top 57 Fine Dining Restaurants US - March 2007
425 magazine, restaurant profile - March 2007
Natural Health Magazine - Thanksgiving menu - November 2006
Gourmet Magazine - Top 50 restaurants in the US - October 2006
Portraits of Puget Sound, restaurant profile - May 2006
Food Arts Magazine, mystery basket "ode to the pig"- April 2006
Seattle Magazine, best restaurant issue, Top ten very best restaurants, best service staff, best chocolate cake, best pasta -April 2006
Wine Spectator magazine, best Italian restaurants, 5 New Italian Chefs profiled - March 2006
City Dog Magazine - June 2005
Seattle Post-Intelligencer - 3 1/2stars food, 3 1/2 stars service ~ May 2005
Seattle Weekly - Favorite Restaurants ~ April 2005
Seattle Woman Magazine -Woman Restaurant Owners, Strategy for Success ~ April 2005
Seattle Magazine "Top Ten Very Best Restaurants" "Best Website" "Food Court" ~ April 2005
Sunset Magazine "Restaurants Curing meats in the USA" ~ January 2005
Wine Spectator "Where to Eat in Seattle Wine Country" ~ October 2004
The Stranger, Seattle restaurant review "Seattles Best Restaurant...in Kirkland" ~ September 2004
Sante Magazine "Restaurant FeatureProfile - A Restaurant takes Root" ~ September 2004
Wine Spectator "Award of Excellence" ~ 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Zagat survey "Best Italian, #2 Food in Washington" 28food/26service (out of 30) ~ May 2004
Starchefs.com "Rising Star Chef" ~ November 2003
Sunset Magazine "restaurant profile" ~ September 2003
Gourmet Magazine "Best Overall restaurant" restaurant edition ~ October 2003
Food & Wine Magazine "Ten Restaurant Stars. Top Italian Wine Lists" ~ April 2003
Seattle Times "Lesons List - 10 Favorite Restaurants" ~ November 2002
Bon Appetit - Restaurant Thanksgiving - October 2002
Northwest Palate Magazine - In the Kitchen ~ October 2002
Forbes.com - "Ten Chefs with Heat" a line up of the country's most interesting young chefs ~ July 2002
Esquire Magazine "Best Places to Eat Rabbit" ~May 2002
Seattle Magazine "Best Waitperson- Jim Marriott" "Top Three Overall" ~ October 2001
Travel and Leisure "Hot Spots" ~ September 2001
Food & Wine Magazine "Ten Best New Wine Lists in the USA" ~ July 2001
Town and Country Magazine "On the Town" ~ June 2001
Sunset Magazine "Best Reason to Fly to Seattle for Dinner" Best of the West edition ~ March 2001
Bon Appetit "Best New" Casual Seattle restaurant ~ January 2001
Esquire Magazine "Best New Restaurants in the USA" annual roundup of the country's best new restaurants ~ December 2000
Seattle Times and Seattle PI restaurant reviews "3 and 1/2 stars" ~ June 2000