I arrived at 10am on a Wednesday, and although it was crowded, I got a seat right away. My waitress was friendly, brought me water and my own carafe of coffee. I ordered the avocado toast with eggs, and I swear it was an entire avocado on the bread! It had been sprinkled with just a bit of sea salt, and the bread was a thick, wholesome slice. I also ordered a specialty side order, a lemon blueberry cake of some sort. It is seasonal, apparently, and super decadent, heaped with butter. All good. I was able to pay at the table with my phone, the other option is to go to the counter, diner style. The parking lot had plenty of spaces. The restaurant is in a strip mall setting, with a few other options nearby. The hours are limited, I think I read they close at 2:30, so not a dinner spot. read more

First Watch - Avocado Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Enjoyed a quick breakfast at this cozy breakfast spot. I really like the ambiance here and the service was really good- they even custom made a hash for me without potatoes. The prices are on the expensive side (though the portions are decent). I did enjoy the food though and will be back again! read more

First Watch - Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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11.29.25 My husband and I came for brunch to take advantage of a BOGO offer I received for my birthday. Our server was Matthew, and he was exceptional from start to end. He frequently checked on us and noticed the little things such as when my husband needed his soft drink refilled or asked if my husband needed a togo box for leftovers. We started off with million dollar bacon which is always phenomenal. I ordered the pick two which is selected 1/2 sandwich (roast beef and havarti) and 1/2 salad (sweet honey pecan). I LOVED the salad. There were more toppings than greens which I didn't mind. My sandwich was good but midway eating it, I realized that it needed sauce. So I requested it from Matthew and he brought me horseradish. Hubby ordered an omelette which he really enjoyed. I took advantage of getting on the waitlist via their website so we only had to wait five minutes. They text when your table is ready. It's a super convenient feature so you don't have to wait around when the restaurant is packed. read more

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This used to be a less favorable first watch to visit but they've really changed for the better! Back in 2021 they were understaffed and could not even handle the customers of Columbia. Now, they are efficient. I wanted a hearty yet healthy meal, so I ordered the am superfoods bowl and the decadent million dollar potatoes. This was my first time trying chia pudding and it was phenomenal! The crunch from the granola combined with fresh fruits was a party for my tastebuds. The flaky salt on the toast was the perfect addition to an otherwise average meal component. The million dollar potatoes were worth every penny if you ask me. I love the bacon and the Parmesan sauce. I was scraping the bowl by the end of my meal. Our server was also very friendly and gave informative answers to our questions about the seasons menu items. It was a ten out of ten experience! read more

First Watch - AM Superfoods Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Not an american brunch gal but finally went for the first time.. only to not get brunch. But delicious! Their menu is expansive and although nothing is extraordinary it feels like classic foods that everyone is sure to enjoy. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

An hour wait if you go around 10:20am on a Sunday fyi however it was alright. The cocktail was my #1 favorite. The French toast was good but I've had better perhaps a different bread type or egg wash would of done the trick but it was a 5/10, the eggs was alright tasted like someone who's just learning how to cook stepping up their cooking made them 6/10, and the bacon was cooked to perfection 10/10. The potatoes my husband had can use a step up in seasoning and cooking time; they were a bit hard 3/10, his breakfast sandwich had house made sauce which was gross so the overall sandwich was a 3/10. The waitress was a little inattentive had to grab two other waiters for our bill, water, and syrup but she was still good when she came around. The place itself is small, the floors was slippery as hell, I almost slipped going to the bathroom so putting down some rugs on a rainy day may help and they didn't have a wet floor sign either. read more

First Watch - Strawberry tres leches - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Our server, Naomi, was amazing during my visit for brunch! The food was delicious, and my experience today was superb! It does get really busy on the weekends, but the wait time seemed reasonable. I will be back soon! :) read more

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I got my order to go, so maybe eat in would have been better. The coffee was undrinkable because it had an absurd amount of cream and sugar in it. Biscuits with gravy were very meh. But the worst part was the potatoes, which were not cooked all the way. They were legitimately not edible and still had a raw "crunch" in the middle. Would not recommend. read more

First Watch - "Million Dollar Potatoes" - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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I can barely complete this post! Usually the portion are so reasonable that I finish my entree at the table. This time I ate half and I am stuffed! It was very good. My daughter reserved on the so and I wait was just long enough to decide what to get. There is a nice long bench to wait on. It was a nice, cool sunny day and people were also dining outside. Oooo, I came today because I signed up for emails a year ago and was sent a BOGO. No regrets. read more

First Watch - Market Veggie Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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We came on a sunday around 10 without reservations (my mistake). but they said the wait was about 20-30 minutes which wasn't a problem. however after the 30 min mark and we didn't get an update on anything we asked how long the wait would be, they said it wouldnt be much longer and we asked if we could sit at the small shared table in the front (completely empty) and they said no. the hostess was a bit rude and short with us. come around 15 mins later they placed 2 other groups that came after us on the shared seating area!!! we were getting really annoyed but since we waited so long already we decided to wait out another 5 minutes which then we were finally seated. the food was pretty good and the actual service was fast. the coffee here was too sweet though. read more

First Watch - Multigrain Pancake Million Dollar Bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Had a great meal here! It was busy on a Friday morning but we got sat right away. Our server was excellent. I ordered the biscuits and turkey sausage with gravy and fried eggs. I also ordered a side of cheesy grits which were very yummy. Cozy inside the restaurant not very big and it was packed. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Service was good! Ambience was good! Food was good! Soup was cold , which made me a bit upset... read more

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Came here because this is one of the few places open to meet in the morning. The food is on par with other locations I've been to of theirs. The eggs benedict came pretty undercooked and the hollandaise sauce was watery and not very tasty. -the hot chocolate was solid read more

First Watch - Eggs Benedict (2 stars) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Representing 2020 is F is for First Watch. I went here to the Columbia location in February 2020 to use my birthday deal. My girlfriend & I went here in September 2025, which was my 2nd visit to this location. Based on 2020, this was great. Great food and experience then here to use my birthday deal. However, 2025 was more negative here. First Watch was running a promotion of BOGO from late August to end of September. We tried to go on Saturday, 8/30, which was Labor Day weekend. We were already out, and the food situation wasn't good where we were. We had a movie at AMC Columbia we were going to that afternoon. I put my name in on the app, while I was 10 miles away, and the app said 15-30 minutes. I said we better hurry. I drove quickly, got there in maybe 20 minutes. Parking was a nightmare. I dropped my g/f off there while I still was looking for a spot. Finally, got a spot and saw her text saying 25 minute wait, signing up online didn't help. I got in assessed the situation and determined they app was wrong, or the Columbia location lied about the times. I said to my g/f we don't have time to wait plus time for full service (as we had our movie at 1:30), so let's go to QDOBA in this same center and try again to use this deal here or other First Watch location. We tried our BOGO deal again on Sunday, September 14 before seeing Baltimorons at AMC Columbia. We planned ahead and gave ourselves ample time. This time it wasn't as hectic, and we got in pretty quickly. However, the server was kind of snippy. I had gotten something I thought was an omelet, but it was a Frittata. The whole section says Omelets & Frittata, but my eyes saw Omelet section. Server was snippy back but said that's what it is, in snippy tone saying we can remake. I said no we don't have that much time to wait again. I ate it, and while I like it, I didn't like it as well as an omelet. If I were to get an omelet, I would get this particular one, but say make it as an omelet, which is the "Smoked Salmon and Roasted Vegetable Frittata". I know it said Frittata in the title, but it was unfamiliar to me, and I guess I just was thinking this word Frittata was like a fancy synonym for omelet. Also, they had messed up and gave me both the focaccia bread, which was weak, and the salad, when I just wanted the salad. Potatoes were pretty good. My girlfriend's crepe was too runny. I tried a bite and said this isn't very good. She said it was the worst crepe she ever had. So, we know never get a crepe at First Watch. Our Columbia experience soured us to this location, but my Frittata & rest of the food was good overall. They were overall pretty efficient here timing wise on the September visit, but the August app being much difference from the Columbia location reality of the wait time was annoying. read more

Mediocre food and terrible service. Online check in said a 15-25 minute wait. When we got there (10 mins later) they said 25 minute wait. They had many empty tables in a busy Sunday morning. They told us they are so busy they need to let the kitchen "catch up". An hour after getting there we were seated. When they brought out the food (which took 5-10 minutes of one or two dishes at a time for 5 people) they came out with several wrong items. The waitress checked on us to make sure that we finally got everything but it was before we got to eat so we thought everything was ok. Turns out my daughter asked for no cheese in her dish but we couldn't get the waitress back until the rest of us all finished our food to tell her the meal had cheese. Additionally my poached eggs were extremely undercooked. They took my daughter's meal off the bill but at that point she didn't want a replacement. This place needs better kitchen and staff communication. They need to be able to handle a busy Sunday morning since it's a brunch place it should be expected to be busy. read more

They've definitely upped the front of the house. I love sitting outside with my dog for breakfast here. Staff is nice. Food is solid. Love the seasonal menu. Yay for pumpkin donuts! Definitely better than before. I appreciate the improvements they've made in service read more

First Watch - Pumpkin donuts with salted caramel dip. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

The food at First Watch is delicious! It was my first time at a First Watch but i love thst they offer so much variety. The service was great even while it was so busy. The ambiance is a nice bright and colorful cafe vibe. I love the huge portions and the love they put into each meal. The Belgian waffle was crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. The berry compote was so delicious. read more

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I've been hearing all the rave about First Watch from a friend and had to try it out. It did not disappoint. I went for breakfast on a Sunday morning and it was a hit. I fell in love with the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and side of cheesy grits! I'm hooked and never looking back. The waitress had our water topped throughout the meal, and offered refills on coffee. The wait time wasn't bad. The food comes out quick so it seems to have a steady pace throughout the restaurant. read more

Busy on weekends, book in advance online to avoid long waits I have been to First Watch in Laurel and this is my 1st time at this location. Friendly & helpful staff The food was just as good as the Laurel location. What ever they are doing continue to keep up the good job. Tip: you pay on the way out and complimentary coffee at entrance read more

First Watch - Blazing Dragon...deliciosos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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I used to go to First Watch often for breakfast because the food was consistently good. What has turned me off is the service. The last time, we were a party of 2 when the restaurant opened. There were 2 other tables, and 4 servers. Talk about mismanagement (honestly couldn't tell you the right term for this) but with so many servers on hand, there was only 1 person working all the tables. The other servers didn't move unless they were flagged down and given specific instructions. The food was ok. Had been sitting for a while before it got to the table, so it was already lukewarm. There is plenty of seating and the tables are spaced out well without feeling cramped. Area is fairly clean. It'll be a while before I go back and try First Watch again. read more

First Watch - Kimchi Hash (seasonal special) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Nice venue. Lots of seating, good lighting, comfy atmosphere for brunch which is what they are going for. Service was attentive, no complaints. My issue is with this "Chikichanga." I was recommended this by my friends who have been here previously. They hyped it up as a big portion, the value pick in the menu first-timers must try. Can't say I'm a chimichanga connoisseur, but I don't think anyone can convince me this presentation looks good. Note that my photo is after me figuring out the sauce with my utensil. And by figuring out, I mean move it around in confusion. The chikichanga was 50% tortilla, 25% sauce and sour cream, and 25% filler. My appetite was 100% lost and I was 0% satisfied compared to my friends who had simpler menu items. Would've been happier for a Chick'Fil'A breakfast burrito for half the price. Maybe avoid this menu item. Maybe it was better previously. read more

First Watch - "Chikichanga" - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Overall: great menu, healthy, filling, fresh, and balanced food, inconsistent service, with a cute, bright homey ambiance and single stall restrooms This is my favorite brunch place in Howard County, even though the food and service are pretty inconsistent. My go-to entree is the market hash, but I've also enjoyed many other dishes like their seasonal specials and their elevated egg sandwich. Their drinks are fun and the morning mediation is my favorite. I like that they have balanced kids meal options, their coffee is pretty good, and it's fun that they have seasonal specials. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is minimal and does not have quality furniture. They are packed most of the time, so we only try to go when it's really early. Even when it's not packed, sometimes service can be incredibly slow. I've had hair in my food on two separate occasions, which sucks, but I keep going back- so I don't know what that says about me and/or their food. read more

First Watch - Market Hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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I highly recommend making a reservation via the app on the weekend to guarantee hassle-free seating. The line is crazy after 9 am. Food: Whole grain blueberry pancakes, buttery bliss! Purple haze: sweet and refreshing with a citrus kick, it's the perfect way to kick off a meal. Honey donuts: Donut cone with a berry compote and chocolate sauce. Sadly, I found a hair on my plate. Service: Our server, Cassidy, was terrific. We were seated at a dirty table, and before we said anything, she welcomed us, cleaned up our table, and gave us menus. She continuously checked in with us throughout brunch. Plus, she resolved all of the issues promptly and with grace. Ambiance. Indoor and outdoor seating. Interior has a country vibe with booths and 4 top tables. read more

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The service was fast and friendly, and the food was delicious. I highly recommend for your next girls day out or brunch

I got the avocado toast, was delicious. A little too much avocado for my liking but hey, whos complaining (NOT ME!). Husband got the maple bacon sandwich, off the seasonal menu. He said it was pretty good, and filling. Got some coffees as well. Was pretty dead when we got there and got sat right away. Our server Cassidy was great! So kind and attentive. Was really nice to get that energy so early in the morning :) read more

Shout out to the team on a busy Sunday morning, especially Trent at the host stand. He was pleasant and attentive while under pressure from many hungry guests waiting for a table. His sunny disposition brightened the rainy morning. Thanks, Trent! read more

When I first entered First Watch, I thought it had a very nice ambiance. It is a chain restaurant, so there is a minimum quality that I expect, but I don't expect to be blown away with anything special or unique. The menu is geared for breakfast and lunch (look at their hours), and it is a good size menu with enough variety to accommodate most tastes. I ordered the bisuits with turkey gravy, eggs and potatoes. The price was reasonable and the food was honestly really good. The biscuits were fluffy and the gravy was full of flavor. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. The potatoes and eggs were both cooked well too. Our server was friendly and did not rush us. This is a very popular breakfast spot. It was pretty busy by around 930am when I was here. There was not a line, but most all of the tables were occupied at this time. So, if you wish to eat in, don't come too late. read more

This place is amazing everybody that works here is awesome. Their food is delicious. I came here for breakfast twice and I love it. I couldn't ever ask for a better place to eat. The pancakes are good The blazing dragon drink is delicious. There are pumpkin spice donuts are delicious and breakfast tacos are amazing. Also they are my and their mint mocha iced coffee is out of bounds one of the best drinks I've had I come here, especially with the dragon blaze juice. Thank you for making Columbia strong and better and I will be back for more every time before I go to work on Sundays and Saturdays read more

We love conscientious and friendly Naomi and the regular menu and seasonal specials are interesting and tasty. Q and L

First watch is always a hit or miss. The service is slow... so be ready to wait for that cup of coffee to finally get to your table. The food is always a hit or miss. One day you can have the best eggs and the next day you wish you would have ordered the pancakes. But then the pancakes are either great or wtheck happened. And the fruit has been the same one day fresh...one day gross. So it's hard to say which day your luck will win at First Watch... just don't look at your watch when waiting to be waited on. read more

First Watch, although a chain, does a lot of things right that make it feel "small-businessy." For one, they have a rotating seasonal menu that includes a mix between entrees, small plates, and drinks. I've been here a few times and I do think the quality of the plates can be consistent depending on who's putting together your order (e.g. portion sizes can vary +/- 10% in size). I had the tacos al pastor hash this time around and it was very good. Well-balanced and tasty. The hashes in general are solid go-tos. The coffee isn't anything spectacular, but it still hits the spot. The speciality drinks are also usually solid options. They have outdoor seating (albeit it's pretty low-quality metal patio furniture), but they still fill up very quickly. I would utilize their app to get added to their waitlist if you do plan on going during a busy hour. Pro tip: as of writing this review, they have a birthday promotion where you can buy an entree and get one free if you want to celebrate here (it expires after like a month of obtaining the code). read more

First Watch - Tacos Al Pastor Hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

We really enjoyed our breakfast here. Our server Johana suggested their new item: crispy crunchy breakfast tacos...which were delicious!! Also the fruit salad with Tajin was delicious everything was perfectly ripe!! The million dollar bacon drew rave reviews from group...multigrain pancakes were ginormous. Oh wait...we tried the juices. Our fav was the Kale Tonic!! read more

First Watch - Banana pancakes double stack - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Hongreh?! In between appointments?! First Watch was the perfect place for me to stop by and satiate my hunger. I almost forgot this place existed because of its location. My wait was non-existent (woohoo) and I was able to sit down and enjoy myself. The menu here is plentiful and I love how it changes for the seasons. They had a pumpkin pancake breakfast option that I almost got until I saw the breakfast tacos. The order came with black beans, three tacos with eggs, pico, avocado, and chicken chorizo. I enjoyed them, but had to add some more pico and hot sauce for a bit more flavor. I only wish there was a bit more chorizo. The service was stellar, my server was super sweet and polite. My food came out super fast too. I need to go back and try those pumpkin pancakes! read more

First Watch - Breffis tacos #nommers - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Front of house staff was friendly. Food was mediocre. Not what we have been accustomed to getting at other locations.

Solid breakfast place. Not overly fancy, offers heathier options...while being in a quiet, clean place. Seems like many places try hard to have some special vibe and First Watch just makes good food. Period. I'm here for it! Good prices, experienced, friendly staff, food not overly seasoned, heathier menu options, love the preserves. The kale juice I got was refreshingly healthy, light, just sweet enough! read more

Matthew was great as well as the food. Quick seating and a good day to brunch out doors read more

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The food is always good the service was incredible. Love the skillets . First Watch continues to be consistently good

It's new and clean decor but some of the food isn't worth the calories. It doesn't matter which location you go to, no cook in this organization can make decent fried potatoes. read more

Came here one early morning for breakfast and was met with a very friendly server. I ordered my usual- a French toast breakfast with eggs and breakfast potatoes. You can't really go wrong with First Watch, so no complaints at all! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Just wanted to update based on the comment below; no one from the restaurant ever reached out to me. I emailed like Hanna asked. Checked in again a month later and a week after that check-in, still no word from the Restaurant. I won't change my star rating, just wanted others to know. read more