I say this with all seriousness Sonya was the best waitress I've ever had in my life. Great experience

First Watch has always been a good breakfast staple for me. Good variety of options, certain locations have alcohol, but all have pretty good food. I ended up getting the Barbacoa breakfast bowl which included Barbacoa, nacho chips, black beans, and scrambled eggs. This itself was a 8 out of 10, the flavor was there, but the nachos portion tasted like the food had been sitting on them for a minute before getting to my table. I also got a side of plain roasted potatoes, and they were great as usual. My go to drink is always the morning meditation, which is a blend of citrus juices, ginger, and tumeric. My waitress wasn't the most attentive considering them not being as busy as usual on a Sunday morning. Overall, not the best experience, but by for not the worst experience. It will always be a go to for breakfast whether I'm by myself, with family, or even on a date. read more

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This was our second bad experience at this First Watch location, and after today, we're done. We came in on 3/26/2026 around 11:45am and were seated right away. That's about the only thing that went right. Our server stopped by briefly while my wife stepped away and took a drink order (waters). My wife was back at the table within two minutes. From that point on, we were completely ignored. Not "a little slow"--completely ignored. We sat there for 18 minutes without a single check-in, no order taken, nothing. Meanwhile, the same server was actively waiting on other tables, including people who were seated after us. At that point, it was obvious we weren't just overlooked--we were being disregarded. We got up and left. On the way out, my wife tried to say something to a staff member and was met with a blank stare and no response. I told the hostess we were leaving after being ignored, and her response was "see ya." No apology, no attempt to fix it--just complete indifference. Another customer nearby even said, "not professional today, are we?" which pretty much said it all. To make things worse, the restroom was disgusting. The only available stall (the handicapped stall) was filthy and completely unusable. That alone should have been a red flag for how this place is being managed. I called afterward and spoke with the manager on duty, Johnny, to get contact information for the district manager--and was given the wrong number. I had to call a different First Watch just to get the correct one. That's not just poor service--that's incompetence. I actually like First Watch as a brand, which makes this even more frustrating. But this location is clearly poorly run and getting worse, not better. Save yourself the time and go to the Matthews location instead. This one isn't worth the hassle. read more

Our server was good, she kept our drinks filled. Place was clean and neat. Food was as described. We all enjoyed our breakfast and fresh juiced juices. Small parking lot. read more

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Power bowl was fabulous! Chicken and quinoa and veggies with a sundried tomato sauce. I loved my drink--cereal was the name of the cocktail with rum, cold brew and cinnamon sticks and it was phenomenal! I loved it!! Service was excellent and I loved the blueberry cornbread appetizer! read more

I was a little leery of visiting since the other locations had some mixed reviews. When we walked inside there was a customer complaining to the hostess that his food was cold and that he had to wait a long time to be served. My family and I really enjoyed our breakfast and found the service to be great. Sonja was our waitress and she was very attentive and knew what we needed for the table before asking. I had the Tri-Athlete which was an egg white omelette with mushrooms, onions and green chiles. The omelette came with a side of toast and fruit. I also ordered a blueberry pancake on the side. Everything was fresh and delicious. Would recommend if you're staying in the Waverly complex. read more

First Watch - Seating area - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Unfortunately, our experience wasn't good from the beginning. We were quoted a 20 minute wait and it ended up being about an hour. My partner is the only one who relatively enjoyed her food, and even she wasn't thrilled. Our 6 year old, asked us to never bring her back. She had a grilled cheese sandwich and fruit. Her grilled cheese sandwich was burned. One side they tried to make look better by having the burned side down. She tried to eat it but didn't like it so we had to send it back. When they brought out the new one, the cheese was still shredded and not melted. I've never been a fan of First Watch so I only ordered a blueberry pancake and cheese grits. The grits were disgustingly bad. I took one bite and was done. The pancake was actually decent and the only reason I'm giving it two stars in combination with the skillet my partner ordered. I tried it and thought it was okay. read more

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We had such a great breakfast Sunday morning to fuel up for my son's soccer tournament! From the moment we arrived, our waitress was an absolute gem. She was friendly, upbeat, and totally unbothered when our group grew at the last minute. She quickly made it work by adding a two-top to our table, which we so appreciated. The food? Fresh, flavorful, and full of those feel-good brunch vibes. I'm instantly sold on any omelet that includes goat cheese, and this one did not disappoint with its creamy, tangy perfection. My son ordered the Tangerine Dream juice while we waited for the rest of our party and wow -- the sweet cream cold foam on top made it taste like a modern-day Orange Julius! It was fun, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweet. Between the great service, bright atmosphere, and delicious food, this First Watch location definitely stands out. We'll absolutely be back if we are in town again! read more

This is the first time I went to any First Watch, I just know that there always a wait for Saturday brunch, we came here at 10am and there was no wait. The service was good and on point too on point, that is as soon as I finished my dishes my server grab the dishes right the way. Also she gave us our bill in the middle of eating, again it is strange not bad service or anything. The server was still nice and friendly. The food tasted great. I really like their pancakes, the chocolate chips one was not too sweet. The restaurant was also nice and clean. read more

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This warm and welcoming restaurant has farmhouse vibes with friendly staff. They have an extensive breakfast and lunch menu. Their orange juice is completely fresh squeezed. The breakfast star of the show is their biscuits and gravy with eggs and potatoes. Wow! Best EVER! It's a large homemade buttermilk biscuit covered in thick, rich and meaty, country gravy. It's a must try for any country gravy fan. We absolutely loved this place! read more

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Very bad service. They are not attentive and don't care at all about stopping by and checking. They only stop by once to take your order and that's it. Anything else you are out of luck. Love the food but is not worth the rude service. They do not improve or do anything about this, poorly managed. read more

There is nothing wrong with this place. Super sweet server. Great food. Tons of options for all diets. Reasonable prices. Sitting outside in the sunshine cannot be beat. We had avocado toast and the avocado was plentiful and delicious. The bread is crusty grain. The eggs were cooked perfectly. My bestie had an omelette with goat cheese, herbs and veggies. Comes with salad and toast and jam. All perfect. We had a side of million dollar bacon. That s@"t is out of this world. A must get. Peppered and maple syrup. The cheesy grits were not good. Even better was the iced decaf coffee. They don't have any ready-made, but Roman brought me a glass of decaf full device with a large glass of ice on the side. He even left the carafe of decaf on the table. Wonderful. Would return in a minute. Roman was the sweetest server and very attentive!!! read more

First Watch - The best avocado toast!!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

UPDATE: Came late morning on a Saturday and experience was the same. Cold food, and food came out separately for me and my spouse. Hers was already half-consumed by the time mine came out -- and they were not that busy. Very disappointing. Again. read more

First Watch was a comfortable and lovely spot for brunch. We enjoyed some mimosas and I enjoyed the A.M. Superfoods Bowl. The service was quick and courteous. Thank you! read more

The only thing upsetting about this experience was that week were side stepped (skipped) by other patrons when entering the restaurant. This was immediately noticed by another very friendly hostess who got us a table very quickly after our jaws dropped. The food and experience after that was pleasant, I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast and coffee. Ambiance where we were sitting could've been better. I'd had to make one suggestion, it would be to move your pay counter back 4ft. The line builds up right behind the booth next to the counter (one we were sitting at) and it's very disturbing to have people behind you standing over you as you eat. This also causes a bit of confusion for the customers coming in trying to be seated. Create better separation read more

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I go here with my nieces everytime we come to town. The chorizo tacos and avocado toast are delicious. Also, they have yummy iced coffee. You can get your name on a waitlist before heading over too. My only complaint is that it's pretty pricey for basic food. read more

We were luckily able to get in even with how busy it was on Mother's Day. The food was delicious and server was very friendly. Even got a coupon to come back again and get a free entree and we did and were again not disappointed. read more

First Watch - BLT Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Let's start with the problems with the food. I ordered a coffee before realizing that this is an establishment that thinks Splenda and Stevia are the same thing because they both start with S. Some of you may be thinking now that it's because Stevia is more natural, but then why do they have those ultraprocessed flavored creamer. And those creamer cuddled in the coffee. Do you know how old one of those things has to turn? Think Twinkies. At that point, I figured I'd order something simple, since I didn't trust them. Oatmeal. You can't mess up oatmeal, right? It had been so old that it was solid. My spoon stood up straight and when I pulled it out the whole bowlfull started to come up with it. Enough milk and it became edible. The little muffin that came with it was pretty tasty, though. Service: once you actually managed to flag someone down, they were friendly. No one ever came to check on us after the order came. We literally had to go get someone to rung us up after waiting so long. It took 3-4 folks to figure out how to check us out. Boggling. The bathroom reminded me of the public toilets in Grand Central in the 80s. Smelled awful, sticky floors, and no paper towels. The table we ate at wasn't as sticky as the bathroom floor, but was still pretty gross. read more

ALL of the dishes were dirty, the utensils were dirty, the mugs were dirty, and the plates were dirty. The service was not great. The food was also not great. No seasoning, very bland, the toast that came with the meal was a plain piece of bread and the "salad" did not have any dressing. The candied bacon had a good flavor, but it was very soggy and floppy. read more

First Watch - Salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Absolutely delicious food and very sweet staffing! The restaurant is decorated so well, really brings out their "Farm Fresh" style read more

First Watch - Seasonal Blueberry Lemon Cornbread - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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First Watch is one of my favorite breakfast spots. I've probably dined here 100 times over the years and tried a few options. The Market Hash skillet keeps me coming back. I order it with egg whites. I also had roasted onions to accompany the house-roasted Crimini mushrooms, zucchini, shallots, red peppers, spinach, mozzarella and goat cheese. Also, if you're an unfortunate 'carbivore' like me, you'll love their toast. When I dine here I'm equally excited about the toast. The only thing that truly sucks are their sweetener options. There is no Splenda or Splenda alternative. If you're loyal to Splenda and dare to bring your own, your entire meal might be 5-stars. But if you forget, brace yourself for a coffee catastrophe called Stevia or regular sugar. Service is always great. Just be sure to go online and add yourself to the waitlist before you get there. read more

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We were greeted by friendly staff, nice ambience. Great food options whether you are looking for something healthy or something else. I had the breakfast tacos and my husband had the frittata rustica. Both meals were very flavorful and unlike anything we had had before. Will definitely eat here again! read more

First Watch - Breakfast tacos with side of black beans - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

We went on a Sunday morning and it wasn't as busy as expected. There is seating outside too. The waiter was friendly and helpful. Not too many vegan options, but the A.M. Superfoods Bowl was good. My niece loved her chocolate pancakes. My sister and I enjoyed the fresh juices. A.M. SUPERFOODS BOWL Coconut milk chia seed pudding, fresh bananas and berries, mixed berry compote, housemade granola with almonds and our whole grain artisan toast with almond butter and Maldon sea salt. read more

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This is my parents new go-to brunch restaurant. The food and service is pretty good. My family and I are fans of the whole franchise. I have a location near me in a different state- the food seems to be consistently delicious at most locations. I highly recommend this location- try the Million Dollar Bacon!!! read more

Went for breakfast. Amazing food. Cute atmosphere. Good service. Everything was wonderful.

A great place to eat in the Charlotte area First Watch is a popular restaurant chain that specializes in delicious breakfast, brunch, and lunch options. It was founded in 1983 in Pacific Grove, California, and has since expanded its presence across the United States. Today, it boasts a considerable number of locations, with over 400 restaurants spread across the country. This extensive reach allows customers to find a First Watch conveniently, whether they're in a bi city or a suburban neighborhood. I have visited at least 7 locations in 3 states. One of the standout features of First Watch is its focus on health-conscious good tasting options. The menu includes a variety of nutritious choices, such as egg-white omelets, fresh fruit bowls, and whole-grain pancakes just to name a few. This particular location is located on the south side of I 485 and the west side of providence road. It is in the corner of a building with a Verizon store. The building has a good amount of parking. You are greeted by a hostess and seated in a first-come-first-seated order. The seating is a mixture of tables and booths. The waitress was friendly and efficient. I ordered the trifecta (eggs, bacon and a waffle). It came out quickly and was very good. The price is a little higher than some restaurants but I believe that it is worth it for the quality of service and food served. Overall, It was a very pleasant, friendly, clean, and delicious experience that I would recommend to people wanting a good meal in this area. read more

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The food is great every time I come.Great place for breakfast ;coffee is coffee at this place.Have a most items on the menu.The service can be slow from time to time.Other than that great place does take Apple Pay because you pay at the front the ambiance reminds me of a barn house . read more

I spent $70 on food that I could have gotten at a greasy spoon that tastes better. Only two tables of 3 each and it took at least 30 minutes to get our food with at least 5 employees working the kitchen. Lackluster server who told me the orange juice was fresh squeezed. Tasted like budget brand from a convenience store. Very salty and mostly crunchy potatoes. Two eggs that looked like one egg. The toast however was excellent. My friends liked their food. Not sure why mine was so bad. I didn't want to eat at First Watch because my other two experiences at two other First Watches were also bad, but was trying to be a team player. Will never eat at another FW. read more

Don't waste your time eating here! The service is atrocious and the food is sub-par. Placed a to-go order "in person" at the restaurant. Waited 20 minutes and was on my way. Sadly, when i arrived home, my food was cold AND INCOMPLETE! After calling the restaurant multiple times, someone answered and when i told them that my order was incomplete and that i would like my missing item, their response was a flippant "ok". There's no apology or I'm sorry for the inconvenience. First Watch has no sense of customer service. Won't spend another dime at this crap establishment! read more

What a wonderful breakfast we had at first watch. We came in before we went out in the town and of course my daughter wanted to make sure they knew she was there so she decided to pour her milk all over her and the floor! I'm apologized so much and I was so grateful that one of the gentleman came over and moved the table and cleaned everything up for us I could thank him enough!! After they cleaned and mopped for us we got our food orders in and everything came out beautifully my bowl was so delicious and filling the potatoes are so good I couldn't eat them all day. My son and daughter got a waffle and chocolate chip pancake and they both devoured there food lol. It was a great meal with a wonderful staff! Thank you again!! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

We really enjoy this spot for brunch, especially because we live close by. The staff have always been very friendly and efficient, which is probably my favorite aspect of this place- they work so hard!! The menu is large and should have something for everyone. I have had pleasant experiences with their seasonal menu options, especially the fresh breakfast juice and spicy burrito! My husband's favorite is the large pancake with eggs and bacon. I think you get good value from this spot and they charge about what any other brunch spot in Charlotte charges. Coffee is solid, wish they used fresh half and half at the table instead of the mini containers! read more

If you want to experience some shrimp and grits, this is the place to get it from. I also had their carrot cake pancake which was bomb. I did not need any syrup. There is available parking in front of the restaurant. The server and host provided great customer service. The ambiance was clean rustic. I would definitely be back! read more

I placed a to go order via the website. It was easy to order online. I added notes as I did not want ice in my drinks. The drinks came as requested. Service was good. The food was ready at the pick up location by the door. I did not eat in or interact with staff, but the parking lot was full. Based on the parking lot and the full house, it would seem like the place is very popular. The food was good. I used a BOGO code and paid less than $30 for the food and drinks. My pesto chicken was missing the pesto. My husband enjoyed his smoked salmon frittata. read more

First Watch - Morning meditation - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Food was good. Service sucked. Waited 25 minutes for a mimosa. They told me it was taking so long because they freshly squeeze it. They finally brought it out and I could spit more than the "freshly" squeezed orange juice that was in my cup. Also got my girlfriends order wrong and had to wait for her food. Asked for a refill on a coke took another 20 minutes, was brought out as I'm literally trying to leave. Server Vivian needs to be trained better or maybe needs to find a new occupation, because this one doesn't suit her. read more

Brad has to be most amazing manager in all of the First Watches that I've been to (and I've been to many). The attention given to patrons is above and beyond that of a manager. They way that he interacts with and helps out his staff speaks volumes as well -- explains the smiles! Thanks Brad!!! read more

Service is prompt and food is healthy, ambiance. Quiet and cool temperature. With a little music in the background, I think this place would be fantastic. read more

First Watch - Healthy Breakfast, called pico de gallo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The food is excellent and the staff is friendly. One of my favorite breakfast restaurants in Charlotte.

I hope this place gets their act together. The manager Neva did give us complimentary jump start drinks for our bad experience. Thank you for trying to make us feel better. Dissatisfied is a good way to start this conversation. We've been to FirstWatch in Florida. We know it's busy and fast paced but I've had less than stellar experience as you generally are rushed to order eat and gtfo. This was our first time visiting a NC location and I can happily say I will not be back. I walked in and was added to the list for wait. We're told 20 minutes and our actual wait was 35 minutes however its Saturday morning so we were expecting a wait. I had come in twice to check on the wait as we saw people coming in and being sat immediately. They do have an app it turns out to be put on the waiting list so I would recommend doing this before showing up. We are sat in a small corner which is understandable as we were a table of 2 but we were quickly forgotten. We are greeted by who we thought were our waitresses, Abby and Kayla, who are very very nice and give us suggestions and took our order. The trainee brought over a water pitcher and coffee creamer and that's the last we saw of a server until we were finished with our meal. I was brought my meal, it took 4 minutes for my wife to get her meal and that's the last we saw of anyone. Someone finally came over and asked us if we wanted a box and that's when we asked to speak to a manager. The person who finally "checked" on us was our server Michael, which we only found out because Kayla and Abbie came over with our "complementary" drinks and apologized and let us know that they weren't our waitresses. If someone had come back to check on us we would have let them know that the food was less than desirable. The potatoes in my skillet weren't cooked all the way and the egg looked like it was just plopped on top. My wife got the lemon ricotta pancakes, they had black flecks from the griddle all over them and the lemon purée tasted like it came out of a can. I've said all this as First Watch is supposed to be an upscale experience with delicious craft food and drinks. At this point this is barely in par with Denny's and IHOP. Not that those places are lower scale but the food and service there makes this place feel like McDonald's. My suggestion is to try another local small restaurant as this one is over capacity and under staffed. read more

First Watch - Parma skillet. Mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, potatoes and Parmesan cheese - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Awesome assortment of goodness on the menu I love the fresh juices and the French toast read more

The wait was long but thats to be eggspected! I think the service was eggcellent though. The decor was cute. The doors on the ceiling was an unusual idea and brought warmth and dimension to the room. I also loved the back lighting. I was not a fan of the seats though. You guys know I like to keep my reviews about the food. The Million Dollar Bacon was amazing! I preferred my bacon crisp and it was. There was a drizzling of caramelized brown sugar that brought out the spice with the black pepper. Such a unusual combination bit the sweet heat was delicious. The four peices was enough for me. I did not share so be warned. Order 2! The fresh juice was phenomenal. I wish I could have gotten a picture but as you know I drank it like I was in the Sahara. I wanted something different so I went with the Biscuits and gravy. I was very disappointed. The biscuit was over cooked and dry and the gravy is turkey based so there was absolutely no flavor. I wanted to spice up on eggs so I added cheese and onion however, the eggs were also over cooked and veggies burned. It was a very lack luster eggsperience. I would go again if someone else paid. read more

First Watch - Biscuit and Turkey Gravy with eggs, onions, cheese and potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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