There are three Commons at Western: Ridgeway, Viking and Fairhaven. I almost always go to Ridgeway, so I know the most about it and have never been to Fairhaven, so can’t fairly tell about Fairhaven.

Location:

The Rideway Commons is located at the top of the ridge, the Fairhaven Commons is located at the center of Fairhaven and the Viking Commons is located on North campus next to the Viking Union. You can find a map of all the places to eat on campus here. Western

Atmosphere:

The Commons are crowded and loud especially during dinner, but also during late night. People tend to come on the hour, half hour and quarter hour, so to avoid lines come at odd times with in an hour or odd times through out the day. I personally enjoy the atmosphere at lunch the best. I’m not running off to class and it lacks the chaos of dinner or late night. Also, there is ample food, no lines and brilliant surprises such as the one I found on 1/25/17 when there where flowers every where.

More about the Commons:

The Viking Commons is the biggest, there for is the most crowded and has the longest lines, however, with it’s view of Bellingham Bay, it has the best view.

The Ridgeway Commons is smaller and has a view, if you sit next to the window, of parking lots and dorms or a road. A verity of music can be heard. Most people at Ridgeway commons live on the Ridge because most people don’t like to walk up or down the Ridge.

The Fairhaven commons is similar to the Ridgeway commons. It’s slightly more square shaped, and is more surrounded by trees. There more of an emphasis of art at this Commons, with the seating areas each having a theme.

Breakfast (and on the weekend Brunch):

Breakfast is almost the same every day. There are:  bagels, biscuits and gravy, cereal, breakfast meat, pancakes or french toast,oatmeal, omelet or scramble station with add in ingredients, plain eggs, potatoes, small sweet baked goods, spiced quinoa, and   toast.

Lunch and Dinner:

There are a variety of stations for lunch and dinner. I would describe the stations as Americanized international, comfort/Southern/American, deli, desert, grill, pizza, rice,salad bar, soups, vegan, vegetarian(Viking commons), and weekly display.

Late Night:

Each day of the week has a special menu idem. The idem are: sweet and savory flat bread night on Mondays, warm cookie night, chicken nuggets, grilled chicken Caesar wrap, mac and cheese, nachos, spaghetti and meat balls, and sundaes on Sundays. In addition to these options there is always cheese and pepperoni pizzas, hamburgers, veggie burgers and chicken burgers.

Always. There are always drinks, fruit, ice cream, and waffles.

Want to learn more? wwu.campusdish.com can tell you the menus, locations, about the meal plans, about the food, their efforts to be sustainable and more.