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    First Watch

    3.5 (216 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:30 pm

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    FIRST WATCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Durham, NC sign
    Lauren M.

    This was my first time visiting in quite a while, but it did not disappoint! My Florentine eggs Benedict was yummy. I opted to keep it a bit on the lighter side with the salad, and I really liked the dressing on it. Service was great! Everyone was super attentive and nice.

    Eggs, chicken sausage
    Regina K.

    First time at first watch! The seasonal French toast was very yummy. The juice was so delicious. The seasoned were pretty good too. Our server was really nice. Helped us out, especially with some of the hiccups. Cute spot and vibe.

    Paul M.

    They have wacky seasonal stuff on the menu! I wouldn't choose it, but I liked the idea. I saw a family of small children enjoying regular pancakes.

    Main cabin
    Marc K.

    The set up reminds me of like a Chilis or Fridays sort of age but the booths are not as tall. The service was a little sluggish but acceptable. The corn bread was special and the dollop of butter much appreciated. It was nicely crisped and moist inside with he right amount of bite. My egg white omelette was good-- but c'mon-- not a lot of room for anyone to make it special. That said, there are some ways. For instance, if you just dump the veggies in the egg white mixture verses cooking them first so they are soft and (when appropriate) caramelized. They did the latter so big hat-tip the FW! The potatoes were just fine-- not noteworthy but ok. In short, a fine place that i would come back to.

    Burnt pancake and mediocre bacon.

    Service was great, however the food was mediocre and not in comparison to any other chain I've visited. Also the cockroach seated next to me made me lose my appetite.

    Sad shrimp and could you even call that grits
    Nia D.

    I DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!! I literally got good poisoning here and had d*arrhea. It was the worst pain I had in my life. My friend got the shrimp and grits but the grits were overcooked. My other friend got avocado toast and the avocado was brown AND their eggs were undercooked (yes she asked for over easy BUT the whites of the eggs wasn't cooked on the bottom). I got the biscuits and gravy, I wish I took a picture. As I was eating I realized that my biscuits were overcooked and a little bit burnt. Our server also sucked. It took like 30 mins to order our drinks and another 30 for food. IT WASN'T EVEN BUSY! (They also had enough staff) The food took almost an hour to come out, honestly we were so hungry we just ate the food. I wish I could give this place zero stars.

    The wrapper for the cutlery tells it all!
    Smythe R.

    Wow, why have I waited so long to visit here?! I stopped in at noon after a morning full of medical stuff, so I needed the comfort food. A BLT Benedict really hit the spot! Some type of sour-dough-ish bun with full slices of bacon, tomato, and salad greens anchored by possibly the best hollandaise I've had in years! It was just enough, and with a never-empty coffee cup was still below $20 before tip. Service was fast and efficient without hovering. There wasn't much of a crowd this Monday, but I imagine it could get crazy in more popular time slots. Jasmyn checked back with me and several other tables regularly, bussed plates, and generally kept me feeling welcomed and well fed! Highly recommended! Looking at my bill, apparently, they have an app that will let you get on the wait list or order online. I need to check that out.

    Traditional Breakfast  Eggs Cold Sausage Cold Potatoes full of Crumbs Potatoes very hard
    Annie M.

    Not Happy At All With My Breakfast. Scrambled Eggs Arrived Cold Potatoes Hard And Surrounded By Hard Fried Particles From The Pan. Sausage Cold Ordered Coffee pot arrived like warm and almost empty. Usually a good breakfast, not sure if it's short staff or what. Extremely disappointed and plan to never return. This chain has always been our go to for breakfast.... To Make It Worst, NO ONE IS EVER AT THE REGISTER. we waited for a while to pay. Just awful, I think they short staffed. Just disappointed

    gluten free power bowl for me and lemon curd pancakes for him
    Stephany L.

    My last two visits to North Carolina I have been able to visit the Pinehurst and Durham locations, both were an enjoyable experience with excellent service, tasty eats and delicious coffee! Love that they offer gluten free options as well!

    The Farmhouse Hash.  Has potatoes, onions, peppers, cheese, bacon with eggs and avocado on top.  Comes with toast and jam.

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    2 years ago

    Jojo was such a sweet server!!!! Food came out fast and she was very friendly. First Watch is always a go to brunch place on my Saturdays!!

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    3 years ago

    Wonderful food and great service from Erika! Minimal wait and not as crowded as other First Watch locations - thoroughly enjoyed!

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    3 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food was great! Service by Roxane was superb. I would return and recommend that others show up for a hot breakfast/brunch.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Jennifer G.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great food and great service. Biscuits and gravy are wonderful. Eggs were cook perfectly.

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    4 years ago

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    Hanna F.

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    Hanna F.

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    3 years ago

    Go to Fayetteville Road location and ask for Isaiah. Great breakfast and fantastic service.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Hanna F.

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Kayla H.

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    3 years ago

    Un desayuno delicioso y muy variado. El servicio es muy profesional y todos muy amables

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    7 years ago

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    Patty M.

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Payton was really attentive food was amazing. Beautiful environment and super nice staff

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Hanna F.

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    3 years ago

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    Kayla H.

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    4 years ago

    First time coming to this location, came in and got seated within minutes. Our waiter was amazing and made sure we were taken care of. 10/10

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    Jennifer G.

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    3 years ago

    Food was great the service was great everything was great Jamal and Hunter took care of me

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    5 years ago

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    Sharon F.

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    5 years ago

    Another enjoyable experience at my new favorite breakfast spot. Maria provided excellent service and the food as always was delicious.

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    Hanna F.

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    3 years ago

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    Terrace Kitchen

    Terrace Kitchen

    4.2
    (9 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    I got to admit, I came here not knowing what to expect. I'm actually from Virginia so I came down…read moreto Durham, North Carolina for a sister 's funeral . While waiting to check-in at the hotel next door and I noticed these restaurants. There were a few of them, very convenient located. One was a vegan, one was Indian, and one was the Terrence Kitchen. So I went into the Indian place and they had a buffet. I thought about getting it but I wasn't quite sure what was all in there. It didn't help that the gentleman didn't English so he couldn't really explain to me what was on there. He started saying the name that was on the labels , which I saw but I still didn't know what it was. So I decided to come to the one next door, the Terrence Kitchen, low and behold They're owned by the same people. One is the son and one is the father. The son , great personality. From the time I came in the door, just a regular American menu , so I had this burger. Really good with chorizo on it and it was good with the fries and salad. Just a pleasant attitude all around. So I was telling him about my experience next door and he explained that they didn't know English but he offered, this is top of the line, he actually offered to go over there and explain to me what each items was. I told him no, I think I'll just eat right here today. I told him I had a couple days, maybe I'll get that in before I leave but I just want to say great place, great personality, all around a pleasant young man. They've been open for three months. I wish him the best success. It's heartwarming to see that some people can be so kind and accommodating as the owner at Terrence Kitchen was . The kind of genuine hospitality he shown will definitely stick with me as the highlight of my trip to Durham NC .

    Decent breakfast. Better deal than hotel breafast. I had a bisquit and a veggie scramble which…read morewere pretty good. Kid had eggs that were a tad under-cooked. Service super friendly. Biscuit was good. Nice diner vibe.

    Photos
    View from our table into the main dining area
    View from our table into the main dining area
    Bar near the entrance
    Bar near the entrance
    Tiramisu--so good!

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    Tiramisu--so good!
    Lakewood Social

    Lakewood Social

    4.4
    (52 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    I have been to the spot several time in various guises. It's a great location. This iteration seems…read morelike the best for the area: it's very family friendly, with tons of games and playground area for the younger set. I came at 5:45 on a Monday (because no other places are open on Mondays!), and was one of maybe four me. In the place. The rest were moms with one or two (or more!) kids, some waiting for dad to join them after work. I ate in a covered patio that in a few months will be too hot to endure. But tonight, mid-March, it's a sunny delight. I ordered a smashburger and a Kingstown Negroni. Drae stirred my drink and out the order in, and it arrived with fries just minutes later. Juicy double patty burger, caramelized onions, cheese, salt & pepper fries. Fresh and very tasty. WiFi was fast, music was smooth but subdued. (Think Sade and Barry White dueling. Wish I wasn't alone!) Kids were everywhere, but very well-behaved and in explore mode, which I find adorable! There are outside areas covered in open or tarps, clear flexi-glass walled off areas, and true "indoor" places you can watch TV in. Everything from Top Gear to REN & Stimpy. A great way to spend an early dinner/very late lunch.

    Very intrigued by the unique menu so decided to stop by for dinner on Friday late afternoon…read more Very large open area both inside and outside. Casual with various seating options booths, chairs, benches. Very kid friendly, there were many young children running around inside and outside. My only negative would be the amount of flies around the food and landing on your food while you're eating. Service was great, fast and friendly. I appreciated the ordering system. You could order from the bar or order from the unique QR CODE attached to each table. You could close out from your phone or the bar. Staff brings out your drink and food order according to your unique QR code id. Food was amazing! Can't wait to come back and try something different. I had the smash burger with regular fries and the peach ginger non alcoholic drink (very yummy).

    Photos
    Lakewood Social
    Kimchi grilled cheese!
    Kimchi grilled cheese!
    Lakewood Social

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    Aaktun Coffee & Bar

    Aaktun Coffee & Bar

    4.5
    (177 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$

    If I could give this place 100 stars, I would! From the…read moreoutside, you would never guess what awaits inside. It looks like a small neighborhood spot, but the moment you walk through the doors, you're immediately welcomed by a charming bakery counter filled with fresh pastries, coffee, and sandwiches. Then, as you make your way to the restaurant in the back, the entire experience transforms into something truly special. The ambiance is absolutely stunning--warm, inviting, and thoughtfully designed. I honestly spent half the meal just taking it all in because every detail was beautiful. Now, let's talk about the food... phenomenal doesn't even begin to describe it. Everything was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Our brunch came out surprisingly fast without sacrificing quality, and every bite was bursting with flavor. The service was equally impressive. Everyone was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely seemed to enjoy making sure guests had a great experience. You could tell there was pride in both the food and the hospitality. If you're anywhere near Durham, this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Whether you're stopping in for coffee and a pastry, grabbing a sandwich, or sitting down for brunch, you won't be disappointed. I'll definitely be back, and this has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Five stars isn't enough--this place deserves 100.

    I have frequently gone here as it's my favorite place to grab curry mussels. With that being said I…read morecame here today to celebrate my girls birthday and it was one to remember for all the wrong reasons. 3/4 of us ordered the same exact meal and I never received my dish. By the time I was able to waive down the waiter , the table was finished eating and they brought out my meal 25-30 min after the fact. I was hopeful that management would own the mistake, but when my bill came nothing was comped. I had to raise my concern with a waitress and she got a manager. Frankly I am disappointed all around by the experience. "Worse birthday ever" was stated a few times by the birthday girl so idk if I'll be coming back. If I'm going to spend $200 on a meal I at least want to eat.

    Photos
    Iced autumn blaze latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny
    Iced autumn blaze latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny
    Iced dulce de leche latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny
    Iced dulce de leche latte with cold foam - lifewithhanny
    Jerk chicken

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    Jerk chicken
    Big Bad Breakfast - Durham

    Big Bad Breakfast - Durham

    4.2
    (144 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    I enjoyed a tasty breakfast in a bright and cheery place with pleasant and attentive service…read more I had a Veggie Omelet and I substituted with egg whites and also was served a hash cake. The omelette was light on the eggy outside and earthy, with lots of healthy spinach. The potatoes were good and the decaf coffee tasted fine. The server, Riley, was upbeat and positive and fun to talk to. This is a good restaurant for a better variation of breakfast in a large dining room with bright service

    We definitely will NOT be back and apparently they don't want people to know why…read more I originally posted a review about our experience on Google, but the restaurant chose to hide it rather than address what happened. So I'm sharing our experience here as well. Within three minutes of sitting at the bar, we noticed fruit flies flying around. We still hadn't seen the bartender, until we noticed a puff of smoke coming from behind the bar. She was sitting behind the counter vaping. We decided to at least order drinks and mentioned the fruit flies while she was making them. Her response? "We have roaches in the back, so don't worry about the flies," followed by a laugh. I'm sorry... WHAT?! Fruit flies were bad enough. An employee vaping behind the bar was questionable. But having an employee casually tell customers there are roaches in the back of the restaurant absolutely did it for us. Needless to say, we did not order food. What makes the experience even more disappointing is that instead of acknowledging the concerns raised in my original review, the restaurant hid the review. Customers should be able to make informed decisions based on other customers' experiences, even when those experiences aren't flattering. We will not be returning, and based on our experience, I absolutely would not recommend this restaurant.

    Photos
    Entrance
    Entrance
    Yard Work Skillet w/ cheddar
    Yard Work Skillet w/ cheddar
    Big Bad Breakfast - Durham

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    The Federal

    The Federal

    3.9
    (453 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    Good vibes all around, I feel like the Federal is the kind of bar that could be good anytime of day…read moreor night. They have impressive hours and serve food late into the night. Thank god for places like this for those of us who want to eat past 9pm. We sat at a table rather than the bar and our waitress was just the sweetest. The wines available impressed for a place that is more of a gastropub/dive bar. I just wanted a quick pre dinner glass of wine and I also admired the menu because it had a decent selection of veg options, like I could see myself hungry as an animal late at night and do well enough here. My dining companion's nachos were an absurdly huge portion, considering the reasonable price. I didn't know places like this even existed anymore!

    Pretty meh bar food. Maybe I didn't order the right thing, but when I asked which side I should get…read morewith my chicken sandwich, it was highly recommended that I order their twice-fried Fed Fries over their other fried options, as they are made from scratch, rather than being shipped in frozen in bags. I had high hopes, but there is reason why fries made from fresh potatoes aren't widely offered at restaurants and it's mostly bc they have so much water content and easily come out soggy. And these came out exactly that way - soggy and limp. The chicken sandwich I ordered was a special, limited time offering, and it was also ok. It was advertised as having a slaw on top and that's a strong word for what was served. When I think slaw, I think robust, crunchy veggies with some vinegar bite and while I got a bit of that, it wasn't enough to balance out the fried, savoriness of the breaded chicken patty and bbq sauce. Service was friendly, but I wouldn't say they went above and beyond. I was eating alone at the bar, and I'm usually accustomed to more touch points than I got here, but it wasn't bad. I they checked in more, I may have felt more comfortable bringing up my dissatisfaction with the fries. Beer selection (on tap) was only ok. Definitely a personal preference but I wouldn't say say they had a wide variety of beer styles to select from - at least while I was there. Giving two stars bc I won't come back here on purpose - especially by myself.

    Photos
    The Federal
    The Federal
    Cuban Sandwich

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    Cuban Sandwich

    First Watch - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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