By Carson Chaplin
Last Wednesday, GW opened the long-awaited Thurston Dining Hall. Ranking as one of the most controversial GW decisions this year, I was very excited to see if it would live up to all of the high praise I had heard from GW officials. So, here I provide you with my honest opinion of the Thurston Dining Hall.
Walking into Thurston for dinner, I was met with four staff members willing to help me figure out where I was trying to go. They explained that my meal would be $13 and was in the style of an “all-you-can-eat buffet.” I scanned my GWorld and then entered what would soon be my favorite spot on campus.
They seemed to have everything from a salad bar, a sandwich line, and an international cuisine section to mint and lemon water. I was overwhelmed. Unlike many other options on campus, I realized I could get a little bit of everything and I wasn’t paying five to six extra dollars just for a side.
Starting with the salad bar, I made a delicious salad while the staff supervised and ensured I knew exactly what everything was. They had an assortment of oils, dressings, croutons, and peanuts to add to your salad. The options were endless, and everything was fresh and clean.
Finding a table was easy, considering the number of people, and the tables were clean and well-maintained. Staff members were walking around, making sure everything was okay and asking if there was anything further that I needed. Included on the table was a nutrition guide where you could find calories and ingredients in all of the foods they offered, making them very allergen friendly.
After my salad, I journeyed to the soup section and got a cup of potato soup. Being from the South, potato soup is a staple and something we always have in my house. I was a little skeptical, but by the first bite, I was sold. It was immaculate– one of the highest compliments I can give.
Not thinking anything could beat the soup, I moved on to the dessert section. They had an assortment of rice crispies and pastries for the taking. Trying a bit of each, every dessert was an 8/10 which is very good in my books.
Overall, if you haven’t tried the Thurston Dining Hall, I recommend it. If you are as apprehensive as I was, you can check out the menu online at Dine on Campus. Prepare to be pleased.
