I headed out for brunch on a Sunday with an original destination of Java Glaze (apparently Java is closed although they still have an active website). I needed a replacement restaurant stat, so First Watch it was. The interior is bright and cheery. The restaurant was full, but there was no wait when we arrived. I noticed there were several registered items and trademarks on the menu, and I did find their offerings to be somewhat unique. I was pleased that they already had a vegetarian Eggs Benedict option (Florentine - Fresh Spinach, Avocado and Tomato); usually it's a matter of asking for the meal minus whatever bacon or ham it comes with. My husband tried the Caps, Etc., one of their "Eggs-clusive" items. We were both extremely happy with our meals. read more

First Watch - Eggs Benedict - Florentine - Fresh Spinach, Avocado and Tomato - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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One of our favorite places to eat. Must be prepared to wait but it is worth it every minute!The food is always delicious and the staff, even though very busy and usually visibility stressed, are helpful and courteous. I've posted photos for 4 different visits read more

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This is one of my go-to places to get brunch in the Norwood/Cincinnati area. It's in the Rookwood Pavilion complex with the Buffalo Wild Wings, Nike Factory Store, and the Don Pablo's (not on the Buca di Beppo side). Parking can get a bit frustrating as there's only a few spots directly outside First Watch but the lot is much bigger a bit farther away. One thing to note is that since this is a brunch place either go at odd hours or be prepared to wait. *I'd highly recommend using the NoWait app to reserve a spot in line.* While waiting you get free water and coffee so that's a plus. Food is great too! I ordered the breakfast street tacos. It's chicken, cheese, eggs, tomatoes, and avocado on top of a tortilla. You only get three which is kind of a bummer as they aren't the largest portions. read more

First Watch - Breakfast Street Tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Brunch can be beautiful. Any place where they serve breakfast is my home away from home. Only downside is that this place gets busy and very loud so if you are sensitive to sound, go at a less busy time or location. Now for the food. The menu is seasonally changed and delicious! If you don't like things sauced, I recommend having those items put to the side. My regular is eggs Benedict but last time I got their speciality with Barbacoa. Parking is super limited outside this location so you may need to walk a bit. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

first watch is very spectacular! Service was excellent. Food was one of the best I've had. Their tri-fecta was absolutely incredible! The eggs were fluffy and melt in you mouth delicious, the bacon was well cooked and crispy, and the pancake was so big and fluffy and perfectly sweet! The vibe was quite nice and my waitress was amazing! Thank you First Watch. read more

I've eaten here a dozen times or more so this is an overall review. This small chain offers a solid brunch menu 7 days a week. I love breakfast and the breakfast options here are great. And I am a very picky eater. The million dollar bacon is so good. I get The Works Omelette, or one of the Eggs Benedict. The pancakes are huge and so delicious. There's almost always a wait on the weekends, 20-30 minutes on Saturday and 30-45 minutes on Sunday but with YELP you can join the waitlist from home and track your place in line. I wish I would've learned that sooner. Ive never been disappointed with the service even when it's busy, but we aren't very needy. The coffee is decent, like Dunkin Donuts level, nothing special but much better than most sit down chain restaurants (ihop, Bob Evans, Cracker Barrel). This is one of our go to spots for weekend brunch. read more

First Watch - Summer Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I've been to multiple First Watch location and absolutely think this one has the best food and service. First Watch, in my opinion, is more for families like healthy food rather than "instagram" people. Comparing to other popular brunch locations in Cincy, it's not a designer decorated restaurant, but the chef plate the food very well. It is humble in setting, but much better than all the brunch diners. People here are for food, not for taking hundred pictures before they eat. I live close to this location and it get quite busy on weekends. Waiting in lines is pretty normal if you don't go there super early, but the line is not too long. They give you free coffee when are are waiting for your seat. I love how they always label the calorie in the menu, so you know exactly how much you eat :) read more

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First Watch brunch might be some of my favorite in the Cincinnati area. They've got a huge menu, with tons of diverse options from scrambles, to benedicts, to homemade granola, pancakes, and even lunchier options. You certainly won't leave hungry as the portions are generous, and there's always enough to share. I've been here now a couple times, and have always loved my meal. The biggest downfall of this restaurant (and why it only gets 4 stars from me) is its popularity. Even though its on the no wait app, I always seem to end up waiting 20-30 minutes longer than my estimated wait time. If you go without reserving a place in line during peak weekend hours expect to wait 45+ mins. Both a positive and a negative - First watch is a great place for groups as they do have large family style tables available, but probably add to the long wait times. Overall fantastic food, but if you're like me you'll need to bring a granola bar to keep your hanger at bay waiting for your table. read more

First Watch - Farmhouse Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The "nice diner" genre of chain restaurants is upon us. Whereas Frisch's and Denny's are what most people think of with this type of eatery, we now have several places vying for the weekday brekky and weekend brunch crowd with higher quality food and calculatedly charming themes. When the in-laws are in town, or you have a morning business meeting, you can feel good going to these places and getting decent comfort food. First Watch has three locations already in Cincy. This one is in the thick of things in the Rookwood Commons development in Hyde Park, so traffic is usually not good, and parking is often more hassle than you'd expect. Still when DLW wanted some Sunday brunch, this was the best option, so we checked it out. The strip mall location has been gussied up enough to let you know this is no fly-by-night dive. The dining room can handle at least 100 people. A huge blackboard shows you the daily specials. The waitstaff is simply dressed in jeans and brown T-shirts, and they offer good polished service you'd expect from a corporate operation. We ordered up healthy sounding drinks, kale tonic and turmeric lemonade. Both were tasty and healthful AF, with the lemonade loaded with ginger as well. Eggs Benny with smoked salmon made DLW happy. My works omelet was nice, but a bit on the dry side. They had a croque madam special, which I should have tried in retrospect. The seasoned potatoes were fairly crisp and quite oniony, and whole grain toast with strawberry jam was pretty great. Ten dollars for these meals was pretty reasonable, although some may disagree. I didn't have coffee this time, but since good coffee is a must at a place like this, we'll just have to come back and try it. read more

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I love going to First Watch right when they open! I always order something new each time. There are SO many menu options and their unlimited coffee is very hard to beat. This morning I had an acai bowl which comes with a side of toast spread with almond butter and sea salt. It was around $11 and definitely worth the price for all that I got. I would love to give the business 5 stars but unfortunately we didn't have the best waiter. My friend has also had bad experiences with him prior to this visit. Overall though I love me a good First Watch morning date read more

First Watch - Acai bowl + toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The place is my absolute go-to!! Plus now they have check-in online, you can put yourself on the wait list prior to you get there. I love all the juices they have on the menu. read more

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This place has great service and good food. The only complaint I have is that I cannot understand for the life of me why people wait forever to get a table or why $20 for breakfast is justifiable. Way overpriced for what it is. I get it...milk people for whatever they are willing to pay and you're busy anyway. Great. It just can't be a regular place for me to go at that gouge level. read more

First time there and we will absolutely be back! The service was amazing, sweetest laDy ever! I had a hash, which was flavorful and very filling. Craig got biscuits and crazy which he said was very good. We split the chai tea pancakes, because why not... and they did not disappoint! We highly reccomend getting om the waitliSt ahead of time. We sat down right when we got there! read more

First Watch - Chai tea pancakes!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Food is always great. Sometimes service is a little off. Great spot for brunch but check in online on the weekends.

Listen, I get that First Watch is a chain and for this reason people feel like they can't give it 5 stars but I'm not afraid! The food is good, plain and simple. And consistently good! The avocado toast is literally the best I've ever had. The oat bread is fresh and full of flavor, the avocados are always fresh and have the right texture (smashed no processed) and the poached eggs just set it off. This flavor combo gets me every time. And that's just one dish (my favorite- can you tell). You will also find sheer deliciousness in their blueberry pancakes. Definitely top 5 nationwide. Check out the waffles and Acapulco omelet as well. Tasty! Finally if you are into granola, theirs is homemade, and it is all types of tasty. They actually sell it so pick up a bag to go. The only final piece of advise I would give if you are in Cincinnati, is to avoid the one in Hyde Park if you can. The service is slow and they've gotten my order wrong a few times. The one downtown is always my go-to. read more

food was well prepared and as ordered. waitress was pleasant and profressional. atmosphere was classic first watch

Delish...fresh...reasonably priced! This is a great place for lunch, brunch, or breakfast. Plenty of food options. Parking is free....but can be a bit if a challenge as this place is in a strip mall. Atompospher is super casual...but you will see a few suit n ties around lunch. read more

The service is quick and the servers are kind. The food is always delicious and the recommendations from the staff tend to be above expectation. Today we tried the summer blush beverage and it was soooooo good and refreshing. I had the market hash and my mother had the market omelette. It was absolutely delicious. I love coming here read more

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It's a casual brunch spot. You can't go wrong choosing here in the morning. I recently ordered the hash that is my new go-to. read more

First Watch - Parma hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

First Watch is a good option for breakfast in the Rookwood shopping center. The service is fast and friendly and they have many healthy options on the menu. The food overall tastes just ok, but I still like to come here if I'm looking for a low calorie breakfast/lunch. There are many First Watches around Cincinnati, and they all taste consistent. I prefer their omelets and eggs benedicts, but I usually order off of their "healthier side" menu or the seasonal offerings they have on the chalkboard. On the healthy menu, the tri-athlete (~$8, egg white veggie omelet) and the healthy turkey omelet (~$8, egg white, turkey, feta, and veggies) are my favorites. They make healthy taste good! I wish First Watch had better home fries...I think their potatoes are their weak link on the breakfast menu, which is too bad because home fries are normally my favorite thing in the morning. Their coffee is great, and they have free coffee at the door while you're waiting for your table (a nice touch!). Waits are usually pretty long on weekend mornings, but they will text you when your table is done using the NoWait App. Parking is of course a pain in the Rookwood shopping center, but they can't do anything about that. read more

First Watch - Eggs Benedict with potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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A chain, yes. Delicious brunch, also yes. We came to First Watch midday Sunday, just as everyone else in Cincinnati was craving a meal too. There were at least 30 people in the queue ahead of us, so getting a table looked pretty grim. Fear not! The wait was only 10 minutes and we were promptly seated and given coffee. First Watch has a large selection of specialty breakfasts: gourmet pancakes, eggs benedict, omelettes stuffed with seven kinds of ingredients. This is not a place to get scrambled eggs and bacon, but instead come here for a gourmet breakfast. We both ordered omelettes. My friend had the Greek Fetish: Roasted red peppers, Feta cheese and spinach, topped with black olives and red onions. I had the Bacado, minus the bacon: avocado and melted Monterey Jack cheese, topped with sour cream and salsa. We split a gigantic blueberry pancake that was the size of a record. Everything was delicious, the service was quick, and despite the crowd, we weren't felt rushed to finish our meal. Our waitress kindly refilled our coffees and let us chat the afternoon away. While I'm still partial to my local breakfast restaurants, if I'm ever looking for a good omelette in Oakley, First Watch will be my first choice. Price per person: $13.00 read more

First Watch - Bacado omelette with english muffin and hash browns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I love this place for brunch! On the weekends, you'll most likely have to wait at least 30 minutes, but it's worth it. I've tried everything from their pancakes, to breakfast tacos, to avocado toast. They do everything so well. It feels like a mix between a trendy Manhattan brunch place and a family diner -- what a perfect combo. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Looking for a great breakfast spot in Hyde Park/Oakley? Give First Watch a try. The menu includes all of the usual morning favorites including omelettes, pancakes, scrambles and sandwiches. The omelettes are fluffy and include creative ingredients like cajun chicken, chile peppers and chorizo sausage. The restaurant is clean and bright, the service friendly and fast. A solid experience! read more

First Watch - First Watch Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Our favorite breakfast place. Always good food no matter what state we eat it in. Service could be slow but worth the wait.

I got seated fairly quickly but my wait was erroneous. First Watch Hyde Park has to get some order at this location. I hardly seem m

Springdale, Kemper Road Store.... My wife and I have been going to the First Watch nearly twice a month if not 3 times a month on Saturday if work permits for the past 8 years. Its an alone time and no pressure to cook at home on a Saturday. However, since the pandemic we have seen a steady decline in the cleanliness and definitely the hospitality. The veterans no longer work there anymore and it has been in on the path to becoming a low budget Cracker Barrel. Even we we call for a take out there is poor customer service and rudeness. We live in Springdale!! However, we are beginning to feel the need to take the drive downtown to enjoy breakfast. ***I am not picky as I have worked in food service, an expediter, hospitality and as a Food Safety Sanitation Manager. I see plenty of coaching and training opportunities to develop its staff. My wife and I, are soon to take our money elsewhere if it doesn't change!! read more

The food is a 10 no doubt. Many good options and I appreciate that almost everything comes with toast and potatoes . I went with a group of 4 and we were all very happy with our meals. My friend had the iced coffee and said it was the best she has had. The homemade preserves make any meal better. The downfall is that the service was terrible. Waited 20 minutes for water and then it was never refilled. Our coffee was half empty. We were never checked on throughout breakfast. Whenever we needed something we had to stop someone and ask. I would come back for a great simple breakfast but I don't foresee myself bringing any guests here due to the bad service. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Definitely not the best Location I've visited. I don't know if it's the city or just the staff. The food was just alright as was service. I can't say that'll I'll come back to visit again anytime soon. read more

I love the food at First Watch, it's rare I order something I dislike. From the pancakes and French toast to the omelets and Traditional Breakfast you can't go wrong. However if you're looking to get in quickly this is not the place to go. Also if you use No Wait to get your place in line, make sure you check in when you arrive- otherwise you'll be continuously waiting until you do. The Rookwood location doesn't have a lot of waiting room, but they have free coffee and flavored water while you wait. Overall, If you're not in a rush you'll enjoy First Watch. read more

This was exceptional breakfast choice. The food was hot and tasted amazing. The wait was worth every second. The seasonal frittata was delicious. Kids meal options were great and my picky eater was happy with the chocolate chip pancake. read more

My favorite is the Cobb salad. Packed with so much flavor and the dressing so great too

Have always thought First Watch as being pricy but a good value of well prepared food. Today, wife and I had breakfast, the bacon was undercooked as were the potatoes. Seems the lack of available employees is the main problem, the other problem is lack of management presence. Asked for a manager, cashier said I am the Manager, she seemed annoyed and bored by my saying the food was undercooked. Her response was this sometimes happens. She expressed no concern but adjusted the cost. read more

Didn't have to wait too long to get seated -thanks to the online reservation app, oh yeah! Oh and by the way, there was free coffee and iced cucumber water while I waited to be seated, oh yeah!! I experienced the best waitress, Katie, I've come across in my time as a journeyman restaurant patron. She was the three F's all wait staff should be - funny friendly and fast. Specifically, she let us order everything at once, kale tonic and pesto quinoa (highly recommended by Katie). Then came back with the check and even offered to pour me a to go cup of coffee. Talk about going the extra mile!!! In that case I will continue talking about it. Our food and drinks came out super quick and Adam (my friend) ordered the turkey sausage and biscuits breakfast - it looked super fresh and Adam seemed happy, oh yeah!!!! Actually my friend Adam ordered me the kale tonic...which according to him is the best drink in the world...thanks Adam - maybe one day it will compete for the best drink in the universe...and that's a big maybe. In all seriousness I enjoyed it, oh yeah!!!!! read more

The protein pancakes were unique and delicious!! Nice service. Clean. Great place for breakfast! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Terrible food and waaayyyy over-priced. I wanted to tell the other diners in there "HEY! Did you guys know there are SEVERAL other breakfast spots in the cinci area with way better food and larger servings, that actually comes out hot, for less money than this crap?!?" I couldn't believe it when my plate came out a few seconds away from cold, with small portions of food that tasted like chalk. Awful, bitter coffee, two skimpy, limp, small pieces of bacon, and a "Belgian waffle" that tasted like it was made from the mix Hampton Inn sets out during their breakfast buffett. With tip, I walked out paying almost $20 for the worst breakfast I've had in years. Never again. read more

Always reliable and quick service, good coffee, fresh plates, and a great atmosphere. If the fact that I have checked in here more often than any other restaurant doesn't prove its worth, I'm not sure what will! I love coming back time after time because I can confidently explore the menu without worrying whether or not I'll waste my money on a bad dish. So if you're in the mood to try something new - whether it is breakfast, brunch, lunch, or beverage - First Watch is the place! read more

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So went to a different restaurant and it wasn't open on Mondays at all. Thats what i get for having hubby look up information. So i do a yelp search and find this restaurant nearby. I was instantly sold based off of what i saw for photos. Hubby is a guy who likes greasy spoons. Seeing as his selection failed mine won. Walked in and was immediately seated. Offered coffee where it was filled only halfway. But the carafe was left for us to fill as desired. They had sugar free syrup so anything that was on the menu was open game. I immediately knew i needed to try what i thought was strawberry french toast which was strawberry cheesecake french toast. Cost wise it was a little more expensive then i typically pay but it was well worth it. The eggs seeing as they were natural were smaller then expected but yummy none the less. Only complaint is if everything else is natural why not use actual half and half or cream. Typical containers of packaged crap. Just wrecks coffee. read more

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One of my favorite places to get breakfast/brunch. The food is delicious, healthy, and fresh. The service is usually kind and attentive. The price is reasonable. I was a bit shocked to discover their preserve was Smuckers and not made in-house. If I don't want to think about where to go to get a good first meal of the day, I always go to First Watch. read more

Let me start by saying the food is pretty good. I'm going to follow that with noting that I very rarely write a bad review based on service. It's really all about the food at the end of the day, right? But we will never go back to this restaurant. We went for breakfast on a Saturday morning, with a much expected estimated wait time of 30-40 minutes - fine. They took our number and we killed the time by heading to the bookstore right beside it then headed back. Another half an hour goes by, we checked in with the staff and were given another 10 minutes, ok great. By this time we were pretty hungry, but what's 10 more minutes? 20 minutes go by, and we check a second time, only to get the rudest most unconcerned response. So we left. By this time we'd wasted an hour and a half and to this day they haven't texted us to tell us our table is ready. read more

This is a great breakfast/brunch place. The food is consistently delicious. Highly recommend the million dollar bacon. It's amazing! Their pancakes are delicious and they have lots of healthier options as well. It gets super-crowded on weekends so I highly suggest using the Yelp app to "get in line" read more