Skip to main content

Eat

Resident Dining Program

Two students wearing sunglasses take a bite of sandwiches.

Dining and shopping close to where you live

Residents can eat at any of our dining locations and use their Residence Hall or Apartment dining plans. Whether you live on West Campus or North Campus, there are food, beverage and grocery options nearby.

Students eating lunch, talking, and reading at Local Point

Residence Hall dining plan

All students living in a residence hall are required to have a dining plan, unless you live in an apartment or studio apartment.

People walking around District Market, Alder

Apartment dining plan

For those students who live in an apartment, we offer an apartment dining plan. Tailored to your busy lifestyle.

West Campus dining for residents

Students eating lunch at Local Point

Local Point

Dining commons located in Lander Hall.

Two slices of Pagliacci Pizza.

Pagliacci Pizza West

Seattle's favorite pizza located inside Local Point.

District Market interior in Alder Hall

District Market Alder

Neighborhood grocery store in Alder Hall.

Cultivate employee grabbing a plate of food while students sit at tables.

Cultivate

Our Zagat-rated restaurant in Elm Hall.

North Campus dining for residents

Students eating lunch at Center Table

Center Table

Dining commons centrally located in Willow Hall.

A slice of margherita pizza.

Pagliacci Pizza North

Seattle's favorite pizza located next to Center Table.

Shelves stocked with chips in District Market Oak.

District Market Oak

Neighborhood grocery store in Oak Hall.

Pastries in a glass case at Husky Grind, Denny Café.

Husky Grind, Denny Café

Husky Grind Coffee, bakery, sandwiches and more!

The Resident Dining Program is about choices

Our resident dining program is designed to provide experiences of community, engagement and nutrition. Our Campus Executive Chef is constantly updating and expanding our menus and employing creative strategies to keep your taste buds and your body happy!

Executive Chef Tracey MacRae smiling.

Meet your Campus Executive Chef

As campus executive chef, Tracey MacRae oversees the full menu of culinary offerings on campus. MacRae’s extensive experience stretches from her original entry-level job making sandwiches at a deli, to later becoming the original chef at Seattle’s Kingfish CafĂ©—a contemporary soul food restaurant. She joined UW HFS in 2002 as a sous chef.

A long list of recognitions include: 2019 Premier Illuminating Excellence Award; 2019 Premier Spirit Award finalist; 2013 University of Washington provost luncheon, executive chef by invitation; and 2005, 2007, 2013 Food as Art, a celebration of African American chefs, invited by invitation.

“I love being a part of the wonder and fascination of the journey of food, sharing new cultures, ethnic influences, and flavors with students, educators, and lifelong-learners at this time in their lives,” MacRae said. “It has been my pleasure and pride to be the culinary voice that helps the university lead the way in providing our campus and neighboring community healthful, captivating, delicious, and socially conscientious food.”

Food and nutrition for special diets

Our resident dining program offers choices for students who:

  • have food allergies or intolerances
  • have medically-related dietary restrictions
  • choose a vegan or vegetarian diet
  • follow religious dietary restrictions or food traditions

We are committed to creating safe and inclusive food experiences. Learn more about where we buy our food on our Food and Nutrition page.

Jessica Deer smiling

Ask Jessica: your nutritionist

Many of our residents have dietary restrictions or need specific food alternatives. These needs are respected and observed when we do our menu planning.

If you have any challenges navigating our menu offerings, we are here to help. Please contact Jessica Deer, MS, RDN, your Nutrition & Systems Manager. To schedule a consultation with Jessica, email jtdeer@uw.eduor call 206-685-3847.

Community events

Throughout the year, we partner with student groups and vendors to bring unique and educational dining experiences to the residential community. Programs include:

  • Special menus during Black History Month at Local Point and Center Table
  • Cooking demonstrations at the Chef’s Table in Local Point
  • Coffee-related special events and seminars at Husky Grind at Mercer Court

Community events are advertised in your residence hall and through HFS social media

Leadership and job opportunities

The UW Dining Student Advisory Board works with UW Dining leadership to give voice to our student customers’ interests and concerns as key business decisions are made. The board is comprised of about ten residence hall students and meets several times a quarter. Everyone is welcome to apply to be on the board.

UW Dining’s leadership team also meets regularly with the Residential Community Student Association (RCSA), giving students a chance for direct feedback regarding dining issues and decisions.

HFS is one of the university’s largest employers of students. We provide millions of dollars a year in wages to students who work to offset the cost of their education. We provide jobs in dining that accommodate your schedule and give you valuable and meaningful work experience.

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please talk to your RA.

UW Food Pantry

The UW Food Pantry provides food assistance to students, who for whatever reason are having a hard time putting food on their plate. It could be the result of a short-term disruption in your finances or a lack of access to other financial assistance. If you are making a choice between the food you need to sustain a healthy life and other pressing priorities we encourage you to take advantage of this resource.