Always love this place and we always go for the seasonal items, or the giant pancakes with eggs and sausage. The current seasonal items may be the best we've ever had, the bacon egg and cheese sandwich is delicious and comes with the perfect spicy aoli kick, that adds amazing flavor. During the fall, you can never go wrong with the pumpkin pancake, so gooood. And whenever they have some type of corn bread or different flavored scone, we always order and it always hits! Can't go wrong upgraidng your potatoes with the million dollar potatoes adding cheese and bacon to it. read more

See all

AMBIANCE: I hardly get up early enough to go to a restaurant for breakfast but I went to the gym and for my babes birthday I decided to take him out to brunch. PERFECT reward. It was around 10am, so not many people, but it did start getting full. It's open, the booths are big and comfy, typically if you come to First Watch on the weekend it's packed, so it was nice to have a stress free experience. SERVICE: They are kind and to the point. My bf is in tech so he has a habit of taking his laptop everywhere-- I tend to think there are certain places you can have laptops and certain places where you can't. First Watch is one of those places where I'm like eh.... Maybe not. But I did! We didn't stay long and only had our laptops open for the meal, but no one said anything so it was solid. Additionally, I didn't know what I wanted to eat because I wanted to be a little adventurous so I ask the waitress what I should get. I am sometimes hesitant to ask bc I always feel they're going to upcharge me instead of giving me their opinion, but I don't believe she did thank and I was grateful! Wish I got her name. FOOD: So, for me she suggested the chilaquiles. I trusted her input and ordered that! I was hesitant because, traditionally, that dish is typically very heavy and spice-based, and I didn't know if I wanted to start the day off with food like that, but it was SO GOOD. Lots of flavors. I was very happy. First Watch is always a treat. Fresh food and good times! read more

First Watch - Chimichurri Steak & Eggs Hash for my bfs bday - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Dear reader, Had such a great brunch at the First Watch next door to Firebirds. The place is nice and clean, and our server was great and very quick despite it being insanely busy, which felt like a small miracle in itself. One note for the public: arrive early, because there is usually a wait and clearly many others have already caught on. Everything we got was really good, and it was one of those meals where you keep saying "wait, try this" across the table. I especially loved the french toast and bacon, and the chocolate chip pancakes were also fire. The brunch drinks absolutely deserve a mention too because the spiked lavender lemonade was delicious and fully earned an encore appearance from me. No regrets there. Overall, the food was fresh, the drinks were fun, and the whole brunch just really hit. This was a very strong showing for a busy brunch spot, and I will definitely be back. read more

Prior to the last couple of visits, I had never visited First Watch for lunch, only breakfast. Lunch is a great time to visit because it's less crowded, and the menu is diverse enough to please all palates. The "two for you" is my favorite option and the portions are surprisingly large too. I've tried: -the ham and Gruyère melt (Smoked ham, tomato and melted Gruyere cheese with Dijonnaise on grilled challah bread) -the roast beef and havarti (Roast beef, Horseradish Havarti cheese, house-roasted onions and tomato with lemon-dressed arugula on grilled Parmesan-crusted sourdough. Horseradish sauce on the side) -the kale and berry salad (kale and organic mixed greens with all-natural sliced chicken breast, shredded carrots, fresh strawberries and blueberries, pecans and herbed Goat cheese tossed with lemon white balsamic dressing) -broccoli cheddar soup (this was the only item I would not order again. It wasn't hot when served) Service was friendly on both recent visits. Parking was less than desirable though due to the location in a crowded strip mall. read more

First Watch - Ham & Gruyere Melt, broccoli/cheddar soup - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Warning. The pancakes are massively large so be very hungry if you order two. The banana crunch is mildly sweet but the crunch added an unique flavor. This Strawberry Tres Leche French Toast was amazing. Sweet, mild tartness from strawberries offset by flavored syrup. Two was enough to fill me up. read more

First Watch - Strawberry Tres Leche French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Came here for brunch. Food was good. Service was good great ambiance. I had the BEC. It was good. Wish it had less sauce. Only complaint. I'd come again though. read more

I've been to a few first watch locations and they all have relatively impressed me. My favorite is their kale tonic beverage but I tried their seasonal hash with spinach and mushrooms/eggs and was not pleased. The onions made the dish so bitter when eaten with spinach. I would definitely opt for something else next time. I wasn't greeted either when I entered but to be fair they were pretty busy. My food came out quickly and I had placed a to-go order so that was nice. I would say their last downfall is the lack of consistency. They didn't put utensils in my bag but they did for others when they went to grab their food. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I didn't realize how popular this place was until I had to go to a second location because the first had a 1 hour wait time (0_o). We sat at the bar at this location because this location was packed too! Once we sat down, I locked in because I just knew I was going to have the best breakfast I've ever had. I went simple with a turkey omelet (forgot the actual name) and a side of bacon. The wife got the carrot cake pancakes and eggs. The omelet was great and the bacon... you can never go wrong with bacon. The carrot cake pancakes were A LOT better than I expected them to be. The syrup ratio I used (enough to say there's syrup, but not enough to drown them) sent the flavor to the moon! Overall, top tier breakfast experience. If you have the chance, give First Watch a try! read more

Friendly servers and bright clean environment. Very accommodating for kids. Tons of parking available. My husband liked his biscuits and gravy and I enjoyed the breakfast tacos (although a little heavy with the tomatoes). Definitely worth checking out and very budget friendly. read more

First Watch - Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

I've come here twice now and the service is unmatched. The food is the freshest for breakfast in the area, and the ambiance is for family and friends alike to enjoy. Zafirah took care of me and her service and effort to give me a mini celebration of my birthday was so thoughtful, this is now my second home!!! read more

Perfect brunch spot. The food was great. The atmosphere was friendly and busy. Great service as well. read more

See all

Going to copy and paste my Google review so I can get my Yelp cred. :P Ok so it was just my mom and I so we decided to sit at the bar- which looked empty btw so we were like hell yeah, a bit more private than the tables. But anyways, our bartender was Matt. GREAAAT vibes and great service. He is literally the definition of an amazing bartender , personality and charm, and makes you want to come back. GIVE THAT GUY A RAISE! We'll see you soon Matt! I mean , see you soon First Watch (: read more

Eeek maybe it's me but I don't understand the hype with this place. Came first thing in the morning on a Saturday, luckily there was no wait. Service was outstanding, shout out to our server Christian, he couldn't have been nicer. Same with everyone that checked on us through out our meal. The food though... so mediocre. Under seasoned, lacking creativity, bland and plain. We ordered the traditional breakfast, bacon was soggy and greasy. Potatoes were bland. The BLT eggs Benedict were brought out cold- yuck! And I did not enjoy the taste at all, again so bland and the lemon flavor was so overpowering in a bad way and didn't go well with the dish. The avocado was brown. Lastly we had the carrot/pecan pancakes and those were the best out of everything ordered but again, nothing outstanding or memorable. Ambiance has nothing special, so overall we were not impressed and won't be planing on coming back. read more

See all

This is a fantastic place for brunch! But I will warn you this place is BUSY on the weekends! Expect a line and to wait or get here early! Thankfully we were able to find two seats at the bar! We had a delicious brunch! We had the Floridian French toast and the chipotle chicken honey hash! Food was amazingly delicious! read more

See all

Recommend the advanced wait list, or go early as the line is out the door! It's worth the wait, the menu is fantastic! Large portions so keep that in mind when ordering, you'll take leftovers home! The flavor was phenomenal. Great coffee and drink options. The service was great, Margo was on point. Love the country kitchen atmosphere. read more

Pancakes were huge but my son enjoyed it. Service was prompt and the waitress was attentive. Had 5 hungry kids with me and my bestie and the food came out fast. I couldn't tell you of the noise level because all I heard was laughter from our children which is always a good sign. Will dine here again. read more

See all

What we do like about First Watch is the online ability to get on the waiting list. The waiting list gives you a guesstimate on how long your wait is. You get on the list, check in upon arrival and then very shortly you will get a text notifying you that your table is ready. Reservations cannot be made. There are a few bar seats. First Watch is a lively and happening modernly decorated eatery. The quality of the food depends on which dish you order. The Eggs Benedict BLT would have been better if the toast at the foundation of the Eggs Benedict was not hard, dry and burnt. The greens vinaigrette accompanying the Benedict is heavy on the oil and too light on the vinegar. The biscuit in the Biscuits and Gravy was light and fluffy but the gravy was bland and flavorless. JP liked his Power Wrap, which came with a bowl of fresh fruit. Service was poor and the waiter inexperienced. When I asked what the seasoning was in the potatoes, he said it was "First Watch" spices. And then I asked what was in the First Watch spices, he replied "First Watch spices". Fine, I took a pass on the potatoes. All our food came out in reasonable time, with the exception of the Bob's Red Mill Grits. Our server, without ever checking on us, brought out the check out before asking us if we wanted anything else, and before the grits came out. When I mentioned that I hadn't received my grits yet, the waiter started to make an excuse but paused and went to the kitchen to get my grits. As expected, being from Portland, OR and knowing about the high quality of Bob's Red Mill products, I found the grits perfect. read more

See all

First watch definitely one of the better breakfast spots I've been to in a while. Service was a little slow but understandable by how busy this place was. Inside is a nice cozy breakfast spot. The cinnamon chip pancake is easily the best part of this meal. Sad it's a limited time item. Carnal crunch coffee was very good as well! Definitely a once in a while item for how sweet it is. Definitely the go to breakfast spot. read more

See all

This First Watch had recently opened, located in the Festival at Manchester Lakes plaza. This cafe chain offers health-focused breakfast, brunch, and lunch options, which includes salads, soups, omelets, and entrees. We ordered: +the Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast - served with a signature spiced Pumpkin Pancake, two cage-free eggs, cooked in any style of one's choice, and a Jones Dairy Farm chicken sausage patty +a Chickichanga - a flour tortilla filled with whipped cage-free eggs, chicken breast, chorizo, green chiles, cheddar and monterey jack, onions, and avocado; topped with a Vera Cruz sauce and sour cream, served with a side of seasoned potatoes +and, a Project Sunrise Coffee The hubs enjoyed his platter very much, especially the pancake; I thought it was a bit too 'healthy' tasting - HA! The Chickichanga was served lukewarm, which was super disappointing; I'm thinking that this particular order was forgotten and was waiting for a bit. A pitcher of the coffee was left on our table, which was very much welcome; it was kept hot. Our server was friendly, kind, and efficient. The place was packed, and there was still a queue when we left. There's plenty of parking, but the spaces are a bit tight. +friendly service +located at the Festival at Manchester Lakes +parking available in large plaza lot read more

See all

It's been years since I've eaten at First Watch, so was happy to check out this new-ish location. I visited on a Sunday around lunch time, and it was BUSY! Thankfully, I added myself to the convenient waitlist on their website. The waitlist gave us as estimated 45-60 min wait, so I was able to run errands during this time. Once I arrived at the restaurant, I checked in with the hostess, and was seated within 5-10 mins. The nice thing about waiting is First Watch offers a complimentary water and coffee station, so waiting is much more pleasant. As for the food, I really enjoyed my roast beef and havarti sandwich. I thought the chicken chopped salad was ok - a little bland. My husband enjoyed his trifecta. The eggs were perfectly scrambled! Service was good. Servers and the hostess were polite and fast. Any time I needed something, the server and hostess were quick to help. I would definitely return - First Watch is a great breakfast and lunch spot! read more

First Watch - Pick two - 1/2 havarti roast beef sandwich and 1/2 chicken avocado chopped salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

I definitely prefer this location over the Woodbridge location. The server was prompt. The food came out quick and per the "First Watch" preference... delicious! read more

First Watch - To go box - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

The food here is always good but they lose some points here because the hostess "forgot" about us and they sat 5 different parties of varying sizes before my partner and I. We ended up having to ask multiple times to be seated until a manager came over and asked what we were waiting on after seeing us there for so long. Honestly, that ruined it since it was my birthday and we waited 30+ minutes to be seated and then got told they "forgot" about us. I got the market hash which was delicious and this cinnamon roll they had at the time was just perfect. Just wish they didn't "forget" that we were waiting for a table. Pretty crowded since this place is popular so ambiance is a bit louder and busier - plus this location gets a lot of families. read more

First Watch - Market Hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Quick update to my previous review: I've gone back to First Watch 2 more times since my original review - because I've always loved the other locations. My second meal, I was served raw poached eggs AGAIN! They just can't do poached eggs here. But on my third visit, I think they've started to improve. I had a yummy meal today! I ordered a morning meditation - my favorite juice - which is always a hit. It has orange and beet juices. It's really pretty with its orange and purple colors. Yum! Then, I ordered one savory dish and one sweet. The Italian Frittata was pretty good- the onions a little under cooked, the eggs a little too brown, but the flavor was good. I enjoyed the fresh lemon dressed greens. My nice waiter suggested I try the banana granola pancake - which I really enjoyed! It had sliced bananas and crunchy granola inside. They even brought me warmed syrup (but not maple). Keep going, First Watch!! read more

The food here is amazing! What a nice addition to Kingstowne for breakfast/lunch options. My go to are any of the omelette with grits and the chocolate chip pancakes. The pancakes are huge so definitely plenty to share! I loved their fresh juice options!! Tip is to either come right when it opens or in the early afternoon after the breakfast rush. It gets crowded! The interior is airy and clean! read more

The Honey Chipotle Chicken Hash was fantastic. I recommend it with poached (really runny) eggs. The Honey Caramel Crunch Iced Coffee was super duper sweet. The service, as always, was outstanding and, for going on a Wednesday morning, it was quieter than a busy weekend day. read more

First Watch - Honey Chipotle Chicken Hash with a slice of buttered toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Pretty establishment, great service, nice vibes. Food subpar. The Monterey club was just not flavorful worth paying this much for outside home. The salad upset me. I didnt see the description on the menu, asked the bartender what was in the salad, she went to kitchen to ask and all she came back & said was salad/avocado/honey drizzle/pecans. It came out with fried chicken/bacon/cheese in it and was diabetes sweet. I was grossed out at the concoction. I'm much too turned off to return. Third star is for the healthy beverages they offer. I like those options. read more

First Watch - Morning Meditation healthy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

The food was absolutely delicious. I'd 100% recommend this dish! Every bite was full of flavor, and the service was excellent. The waiter was attentive and friendly. The coffee was the perfect finishing touch... smooth and delightful. read more

First Watch - Market Hash with avocado - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Matthew gave us amazing service!!! He was very personable and made us feel so welcome. Will definitely be coming back to this location. Always remember, your waitstaff are people too, and everyone has a story. Thanks Matthew! read more

I'm admittedly a First Watch fan. Naturally, I was happy when I heard we were getting another location in Northern Virginia. Like all First Watch locations, it's a mob show pretty much all the time. If you aren't looking to wait outside for 45 minutes, definitely use the "get in line" feature rather than just showing up. That being said, if you are okay with bar seating, that tends to be a good bet as I've not had to wait more than 5 or so minutes for bar seating. The food is reliably good and the seasonal items (including the drinks) are worth trying. Service at the new location is okay, but could be better. I'm hoping people lose some interest to reduce waits and crowds, but given all the other locations I've been to, seems unlikely...I know I'm still an enthusiast despite how busy it can get. read more

Since the restaurant just opened, the place was very nice. I rememberd when it was a bar so to see the transformation, it looked amazing. The service was amazing, we were seated right away. The food was amazing, I was recommended by a friend who visited another location. When you go PLEASE try the waffles . Flavorful and good the potatoes were great as well. Just added a little bit of ketchup and hot sauce. I will be returning. Parking was available. (PLENTY OF PARKING) I did request a mimosa but the waitress stated that there was no champagne. read more

See all

First Watch is a consistently great brunch restaurant! My favorite dish is the elevated egg sandwich and the morning meditation juice. You really cannot go wrong with anything you order! The restaurant does it crowded, but there is an option to place your name on a waitlist. The staff has always been friendly and the restaurant is clean! Definitely a safe choice for a brunch restaurant. read more

First Watch - Brussel sprouts and bacon seasonal dish - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Pretty happy with our first visit here. We arrived around 10am on a Saturday and it was packed! We asked to sit outside since there was a 30 minute wait inside. Staff was friendly and d efficient. I liked the breakfast options. Honestly didn't know what to order/ so many things sounded tasty! I tried the turkey sausage biscuit and gravy. Pretty tasty but the gravy was a little thin. My husband loved his bowl. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

My family and I came here for my birthday brunch. It was incredibly busy but the service was great. Everything was delicious. When we asked about nut allergy, the waitress took her time to get detailed information for us. At the end, my egift card didn't work. Although not the restaurant's fault, the two employees kept apologizing because it was my birthday egift card. I guess we'll just have to return. read more

See all

We went on the first day of opening and I was impressed with the awesome service! The staff were very attentive and so nice. We ordered smoked salmon eggs Benedict and smoke salmon frittata. They were delicious and light, and I'm glad it comes with a side salad. The ambiance is so cozy with soft color walls and interior. It's perfect for a family, couples to grab brunch, breakfast or lunch. One thing to note is you pay near the entrance, so you get your check from your server and then pay at the register. Such a cute place, we will be back! read more

See all

Even though our server was really nice and attentive, we did not enjoy our visit. The coffee mugs and silverware were dirty. One of the items we ordered was the seasonal carne asada tacos which were sooo watery and hard to eat. Hard pass on this location in the future. read more

I have to be honest I really wanted to like this place. I live less than three minutes away, so I was really excited to have a breakfast coffee place so close. One thing I will say I really do like their iced coffee. However, you should note, I do not like coffee and I love a sweet drink and this really tastes nothing like normal coffee hahaha. In terms of the food I just expected a bit more to be honest. The food is totally acceptable, but it really just tastes like I could make it at home. Sometimes people want that homemade vibe, which is totally fine, but since I literally live three minutes away, it really isn't the vibe for me. When I asked for a real maple syrup, I got it in this little prepackaged container. The fruits on top of my French toast were so sour they really needed to be macerated or something. Something I did like, though was the loaded potato thing that they offer. Another reason why I won't be coming back at least to sit inside is because it is so freakishly cold in there. The servers were all wearing sweaters which if you've ever been a server, you know is highly unusual because you're usually very hot. I was so cold. My husband went back to my house to get me a sweater. read more

First Watch - French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Like many others, We've been looking forward to First Watch opening up in the Manchester Lakes shopping center for ever! When the restaurant first opened up, it was nearly impossible to get a table on a weekend for people who like to sleep in like us lol but to be fair we only tried online and not in person. I recall our first visit being our best visit. We came by in early July and the food was delicious. Our sever was a bit slow but the food made up for it, however all the following visits since are nothing to write home about. The second time around our food took forever to come out and was not good; I tried the breakfast sandwich and it was terrible. Another time, I asked for scrabbled eggs and was served an over easy egg and the server forgot our drinks. When we reminded him, he wanted to know if we still wanted them because we had finished our food already.... I hope that they can work on their kinks and serve their clients better because the restaurant is a great addition to the neighborhood and keep the menu interesting. We hope to be back but know that it won't be the best experience read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

Some friends and I dined here recently. It was a last-minute decision after the place that they originally wanted to dine at was full with a 45 min wait. Glad this place was nearby with no wait. We were able to be seated immediately and our server came right away. They took all of our orders and the food came out in a reasonable about of time. There were several items that we requested that the server initially forgot to bring (e.g. mustard, orange juice, etc.) but eventually it was all corrected. For the most part we enjoyed our meal and don't have any real complaints. I would dine here again. read more

I finally had a chance to go to this newer location, and everything was on point from the service, to the atmosphere in the room and of course the food was on point. Waffle was tasty and home fries good! I ate everything! Good times. read more

First Watch - Tasty potatoes! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

So I'm giving a larger rating based on food honestly! I love first watch breakfast and literally could go multiple times a week and order different things on the menu. Today's review will be based on a family experience this morning with my husband and my newborn. We arrived a little before 10am and the hostess told us wait times are 45 minutes BUT everyone is being seated within 15 minutes. Cool we're game to wait. Well that was far from the truth there's groups coming in by the boatload and being seated before us multiple times. I ask the hostess and she says they did the wait in line option on the phone which pretty much allows you to wait for 45 minutes from home and then come in the restaurant and get moved to the front of the line. I think this business practice is crazy !! I thank goodness I fed my son right before leaving the house we waited 45 minutes and what we thought would be a quick grab of breakfast before running some errands turned into a 4 hour day! I typically just sit at the bar so I can blame that for my arrogance to the situation. However the bright side all food was awesome and our waitress was very kind and prompt. read more

First Watch - Trifecta with turkey sausage links - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all