Reed College Commons

Tucked away behind the dormitory called Old Dorm Block is the Reed College Commons, which is to my mind all too painfully common except on Thursdays at noon. A great line forms at the back counter all the way to the salad bar, it’s very similar to the lines at other top Portland establishments (think screen door). Why is there such a great line at the Commons? The Hot Turkey Sandwich. I’ve had a lot of sandwiches in Portland and The Hot Turkey Sandwich should be in the running for the best of them. Why? Well that’s hard to explain unless you’ve had one. They’re a scintillating experience. Almost as though Subway had been perfected. The bread is bizarre, the turkey is moist, you get to pick from 3 different delicious cheeses, 3 different aiolis and then top it off with a slice of tomato, caramelized onions and crispy lettuce. The sandwich really is so much more than the sum of its parts. I think about them every now and again, usually on Thursdays at about noon. Say, what time is it now?

Most college cafeterias have embraced the food court concept and so has Reed. Several varieties of food are offered at different locations within the commons dining area. I got a chicken, veggie & rice bowl in a sort of Latin American style that was very good. My wife said her pizza had an excellent crust and fresh toppings.
My recommendation: include the Commons restaurant for lunch before or after strolling through the beautiful Crystal Springs Park that is across the street from the college.

Food is excellent. If you’re looking for a free meal with a large selection, the scrounge is a must.

Commons should take a hint from the gallons of Tabasco sauce that gets consumed there everyday: their food is bland! Their simple staples, like pasta with sauce, beans and rice, and salad bar are bland as can be; on the other hand, their entrees and soups are generally over-​flavored (mostly with pepper), enough to make you a little queasy trying to figure out what’s in there. They also seem to enjoy cramming mock meat into every dish imaginable. It ranges from logical (tofu in a Chinese dish) to bizarre (tofu in Indian food, the cuisine I count on to be pretty soy-​free).
On the plus side, the grill will make a wide variety of things to order: ie, only a basic quesadilla is listed on their menu, but they’ll put anything they have on hand in there for you, like chicken strips, tomatoes, spinach, onions, french fries, etc. They also make a pretty good over-​easy egg.
If you, for some reason, must eat here, try the macaroni and cheese (every Monday night, hopefully still the schedule this year), beans and rice with a generous sprinkling of the hot sauce of your choice, or customizing something at the grill. I also hear that the hot turkey sandwich (lunch only) is also excellent. I’d avoid the soups, most of the nightly specials, and anything over-​represented on the Scrounge table (a place to put food that you don’t want to eat, so that people without a board plan can eat for free).
I don’t know if this is good or bad but: I rely on them for food during most of the academic year. Last year, I lost over 10 pounds between September and May. I was not trying to lose weight. I was just eating here.