Great food, nice atmosphere. LOVED the community table! Our server was excellent, we look forward to our next visit.

This place is better than Denny's but has frequent long waits. It definitely has some great menu items and variety to suit multiple people's palates. I've eaten here twice and it's consistent. I don't think I'd wait more than 15 minutes to wait but that's just me. They do have a communal table that is first come first serve which is great to avoid the line! read more

Food was great and service was fast and friendly. It can be rather loud and hard to hold a conversation.

We ordered the Smoked Salmon Benedict and Brisket Corned Beef Hash. The service was very friendly, but the food was just meh. The poached eggs were hard, so I had to ask them to remake it. And they did, but my server seemed surprised that the yolks shouldn't be hard. Overall, nothing tasted fresh...like the food had been sitting out for awhile. I wouldn't go back to this location. read more

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Staffing at all levels are professional, polite and seem to enjoy their work. Orders are 95-99% accurate and on occasion suggest a new item or a new twist on long standing items. Food is great with items appearing during the year. Checkout can at times be slow but the staff tries to checkout quickly. Our one concern is for families with little children waiting outside. I fear a child could quickly leap from sidewalk to incoming vehicles and could get hurt. One of the best restaurants in and around Fairfax City. read more

Long wait, clean establishment in Bowie... but always fresh tasting food. I mean I really like the variety - tons of options, many are healthier than your average spot. I think some people are worried about whether or not they will go there "indoctrinated" but I didn't see any thing that would make it any different than a normal restaurant... read more

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

MAD GOOD BRUNCH. My party arrived 11am this past Sunday, and had about a half hour wait. It was good to see it pretty poppin'. We were ready to go HAM so we ordered plenty of food - three dishes to be exact. The service was really on top of it, got our orders taken promptly and there was not a long wait for the food either, all came out at the same time as well. It offers all your favorite brunch foods (I glanced at the menu maybe two or three times before I got there... just to scope it out... :D) I liked how there are seasonal items... pumpkin, donut holes, etc. Sidenote: I appreciate how the pictures displayed on the online menu are accurate depictions of the real thing. So I do recommend checking that out. Farmhouse Hash - (not pictured) This is a blend of your "best breakfast foods" - a heated bowl of eggs, potatoes, bacon, avocado, onions, and melted cheese. SOOO good. And all the ingredients were fresh and cooked well. Also toast and jam on the side. Smoked Salmon (Eggs) Benedict - Delicious. A big fan of the hollandaise sauce, and the eggs were cooked just right. I will say I wish the ciabatta bread were toasted, or at least less soft. Made it hard to cut easily. Also the smoked salmon wasn't the best or didn't have the strongest salmon flavor, but not complaining too much, especially due to the prices. I got greens as a side rather than potatoes and they were great, covered in a tasty dressing, and complemented the other part of the dish well, without making it heavy. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes - This dish was amazing. The lemon curd is to die for, and made the dish. Such good pancakes!!!! If you've never had before, and are hesitant when you see there's a cheese ingredient, trust me it enhances the pancake batter to make for fluffy pancakes with good volume. (Would definitely recommend sharing this dish with someone and splitting another savory, if you can. Because although it comes with a side of fruit you will probably want some savory to balance out the sweet). The Kale Tonic Fresh juice was refreshing (and felt like a good detox...) I really like the decent prices they offer at First Watch. You're getting hefty amounts of food at affordable prices (as opposed to some overpriced DC brunch places to where I've ventured). read more

First Watch - Smoked Salmon Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Absolutely solid choice for fresh and yummy breakfast. We come to First Watch often and enjoy their menu. Why 4 stars? - there's been hiccups here and there. During one of my visits my orange juice came in a dirty glass. The staff quickly corrected it. I love their eggs benny; and I think their pancakes are yummy but too expensive. I have tried many different plates from their menu. I stick with the traditional egg variations on the menu and always enjoy my plate. read more

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First Watch originates from Pacific Grove, CA, but based in Florida. They offer various breakfast/brunch/lunch items, focusing on fresh wholesome ingredients. A group of us came here for an early lunch, and I ordered: the Chickichanga (a flour tortilla filled with shipped eggs, white-meat chicken, chorizo sausage, green chilies, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, onions, and avocado, topped with a Vera Cruz sauce and sour cream; I am a huge chimichanga fan, so I had to check this dish out; it wasn't deep-fried, but it was more of an enchilada-esque type of a dish; regardless, it was actually pretty delicious; there was a generous amount of chicken, and I loved the green chilies and that Vera Cruz sauce - nice and creamy, and a good thick consistency. The dish was also served a cup of fruit and a side of seasoned potatoes; the potatoes were forgettable, as they were not crispy, but more like the mushy steamed kind). I also tried the Million Dollar Bacon (hardwood smoked bacon with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne, and a maple syrup drizzle) - while they were not thick-cut, the taste was pretty okay; they were a bit overzealous with the maple syrup, though, and there was a slight kick from the cayenne pepper. To wash it all down, I had the Morning Meditation (orange, lemon, turmeric, organic ginger, beet, and agave nectar); this was pretty refreshing, with a slight kick from the ginger and the citrus notes from the orange and the lemon. Our server was nice, but it was pretty hard to flag her down for refills, receive our drink orders, and even getting the complete orders for our meals. Most of us did not receive the Morning Meditation drink orders until mid-meal, even though we ordered it when we first sat down. I didn't receive the bacon dish until I was done with my entree, which was pretty annoying. I guess to look at it from a positive standpoint, it doesn't hurt to finish a meal with bacon! Prices are reasonable, and the place seems to be a favorite for the locals for breakfast/lunch get-togethers. I wouldn't mind going back for their breakfast options, but most likely will go before or after a breakfast/lunch rush! +Chickichanga +Morning Meditation +good breakfast options +slow service/receipt of food orders T____T +plenty of parking in plaza lot +located in Fair City mall plaza read more

My favorite brunch spot. It's fast, casual, yet always delicious. Their menu is pretty extensive from the classics of eggs, meat, and potatoes to frittatas, Benedicts, and power bowls to pancakes and French toast. They even have soup and sandwich for the non-breakfast goers. Here's a tip, you can request Parmesan encrusted sourdough as your sandwich bread which takes it up 10 levels. Yum! The juice selection is fabulous and always makes you feel extra refreshed after one glass. They also have a specials menu that changes up every so often. My recommendation is to check the waitlist on Yelp before going. It's pretty normal on Sunday's to have a 90-120 min wait. Add yourself to the waitlist, get ready, then your table will be ready shortly after checking in. It's a bummer First Watch isn't open all day because I could definitely have breakfast for dinner. Enjoy! read more

First Watch - BLT Benedict and Blue Booster Juice - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Great breakfast and brunch spot! I understand why the wait is sooo long (70min on a Sunday around Noon) but fear not - get on the waitlist via Yelp. There are several stores in the shopping center if u want to burn time while you wait, too. Staff is very friendly and know the menu quite well. These dishes are made with some of the finest qualities of grains and locally grown ingredients. Choose what pleases your palate BUT I recommend the lemon ricotta pancakes to be shared by the table. Understandably voted Best Breakfast read more

First Watch - French toast. Lemon ricotta pancakes. Chicken chimichurri hash. Farm Stand Breakfast tacos. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I am almost embarrassed to admit it, but this was my first time at First Watch! My parents love this restaurant, so when I had an upcoming meeting where we needed to select a spot in between our two homes, we landed on First Watch. Firstly, I love brekky. Like, I could eat it all day, so this seemed like a natural fit. The space is cute, simple, and busy! There were families, retirees, and lots of happy faces as people enjoyed their meals. I decided to order the breakfast hash bowl, and I really enjoyed it. It didn't feel to heavy of a meal, and somewhat healthy....lol. It was pretty basic though, nothing special. I will, however, try something else next time I visit, to see if it changes my mind. This place is cute, and totes scratches the brekky itch. I'd come back, and for an easy, laidback, meeting, it's even more perfect. read more

Great breakfast or brunch place! Bring your family here for a nice Saturday brunch! It's not as amazing as founding farmers brunch buffet... but what really is?!? It's close to the heart of Fairfax, so Chantilly, Centreville, Burke, south riding, Herndon are all pretty close tot his hidden brunch delight! Haven't really had anything bad here... pretty clean and fresh ingredients... definitely prefer the bacon over turkey sausage :( Nice find for those looking for a great breakfast place... step above IHOP! :) read more

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Food was great. I will definitely go back. I had the Belgium waffle and bacon. Service was great. Place was packed when we got there but there was no wait. There was 6 of us there for breakfast. They were able to quickly accommodate us. I have got to try the lemon ricotta pancakes next. read more

Over the years this place in Fairfax branch especially is the meetup place for everyone. Using the ahead seating app has changed it into a much better experience rather than sitting on benches outside waiting. Service is quick and happy. Food very good. My current fave is the elevated egg sandwich and pecan salad 2 fer with Monterey club. Great Christmas gift card! Coffee yummy. Phone a friend and go. Then wander to HomeGoods or Ulta and exercise it off read more

Our new fav breakfast place. The Belgian waffle was better than my dad's from scratch (don't tell him I said that). Very friendly and fast service. Also, very popular for breakfast on weekends. Starts getting real busy around 9 read more

I GOT FOOD POISONING. On 2/22 I ordered from ubereats for lunch. I ordered a iced coffee and ham Gruyère sandwich with a side of tomato soup. Everything tasted ok until two hours later I was vomiting having chills and extreme muscle aches. I'm still recovering and still not fully better. It's either their ham was old and was left out or someone who was preparing my food was sick and contaminated my food in the process. read more

I've been here twice, and the first visit was better than the second. The food is good. The service is about average. The wait time is long, so it's up to you if you want to wait. The setting inside is nice, not too crowded but not very spacious. Overall, it's worth checking out. read more

Our first First Watch experience was in Florida. We thought we had found some kind of healthy-ish retiree brunch spot. So we were really surprised when we saw this one and had to try it out. It's almost exactly the same as the few we previously dined in. Same menu, same drinks, etc. Not a bad thing, it's just that sometimes restaurants will have local specials. Also almost the same exact clientele. The food and drinks are good. We come here sometimes when we are looking for something a little out of our ordinary. And we're never disappointed. It's always busy so if you're short of time you may want to call ahead to see if they have space. read more

I'm glad I could put us on the waitlist because this place was PACKED. The staff are very friendly and super nice. Our food came out at a reasonable time so we didn't have to wait for too long. Also, I decided to substitute my frittata with egg white instead and it was very delicious. Super savory and light. The ciabatta spread was toasted nicely, and the coffee was perfect for an early start. The only complaint I have is about the potatoes. The taste is inconsistent. Some of the potatoes were crispy and cooked all the way through while the rest tasted undercooked and at times, had a stale texture to it. As much as I wanted to finish all of my food, the potatoes ruined my appetite. I'd come back but I probably just wouldn't order the potatoes for next time. read more

First Watch - Frittata Rustica - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Very busy on weekends. You have to come super early to make reservations to be on the list. The service here is friendly and warm. The food here is likewise. The egg Benedict I had tasted clean, simple and satisfying. They had a seasonal waffle which was quite decadent, but still not as sweet as other restaurants. The waitress was welcoming and very nice to us. My order came out in a timely manner and it was fantastic. It was a pleasant brunch experience. read more

Usually a long line, so I've heard, but we got in right away early on a Sunday morning. I like that they have coffee available for people waiting, it's a nice touch. I ordered a smoked salmon frittata. A little salty, but was balanced out with the white sauce on top. And coffee was dark and smooth! read more

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

If I could give zero stars I would! What happened to first watch? it used to be inviting, fresh with good ambiance and great food. Well That all went out the window. I came in this morning the place smelled like chemicals, the waitress was rude. I got seated at a table that had not been cleaned. When the waitress came to swipe it down she swiped everything on me. When I asked her how her morning was going she said it's alright dude. I ordered a oatmeal it came with a muffin it cost me 15$ it was sub par, tasted horrible. Service was terrible. I don't recommend this place to anyone anymore. What a waste! read more

Nothing has been an issue when it comes to their food!! All of there menu items are superb. I r been coming to this specific restaurant for more than 10 years!! Always terrific read more

My favorite. Everything is wonderful. I keep going back. I usually have eggs with whatever specials of the day

First the positive - our waiter, Asher, was amazing. He was funny and attentive. He was a breath of fresh air after we waited 75 minutes for a table. I was committed to pancakes this morning, or I wouldn't have waited. Our party of 4 was very disappointed when we found out there was an app for getting a table. One of us had called prior to arriving and was told we had to come and put our name on a list. Had we known there was an app, it would have saved us A LOT OF TIME! Asher handled the group of 4 50 year old women with finesse and grace. Our food was good, but took a long time to come out. My eggs were pretty cold when they came out, but the blueberry pancake was good and I liked the sausage patty. The other three women in the party also enjoyed their meals. Unlimited coffee is great, too. So, would I return? Definitely not without the use of the app. If Asher was guaranteed to be my waiter, yes. I just would say that the food is not worth the 75 minute wait we had today. read more

After looking for a brunch spot we decided on a chain - good ole First Watch. Make sure you put your name on the list!! (Formerly NoWait app not it's integrated into the Yelp app). It doesn't mean you're at the top of the list but it helps mitigate the insane wait times they have. The service was pretty slow which was my one qualm. It seemed like everyone (including us) was seated with a drink but hardly anyone had their food. They were cranking out the to-go orders so fast I guess it impacted the in-store ones. The food was solid and I'd rec the salmon benedict. Would go back but please be cognizant about the wait times...it's a brunch joint afterall. read more

Every place deserves a second chance. I suggest you get one of their fresh juices. I like sticking to their traditional breakfast. The wait can be long. read more

I always wanted to give First Watch a try. AND today is the day! Overhyped! Waited an hour to get seated and another hour for my food to be served (because our waitress forgot to put in our order. No kidding!) It tasted all right, nothing outstanding. Coffee there tasted like coffee favor water. DEFINITELY not going back again! EVER! Even IHOP is better. BTW, food here is not really healthy. Don't get tricked by them. My sincere advice, if you want a brunch, PLEASE...Just go somewhere else. read more

Burnt chickichanga and pancakes. I can't believe first watch would serve food like this! I was a fan of first watch back in Ohio. The franchise has really gone downhill since. How does the kitchen think it's okay to serve this??? read more

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Restaurant interior is very nice and the service was absolutely excellent. I'm not sure I loved the smoked salmon Benedict (perhaps a bit too much lemon in the hollandaise), but it's worth 4 stars for that alone. read more

First Watch - Smoked salmon Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

This place has a great breakfast. I had the traditional breakfast and my friend had the quinoa with eggs. We enjoyed both meals. The give you a whole pot of coffee for your table. The server was extremely pleasant. The only downside is the possible wait. Larger parties seem to have to wait a while on the weekends. read more

First Watch - Eggs and Power Breakfast Quinoa Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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The food is excellent, well priced, and so fresh! The staff was awesome and we had great service!

Nothing special at all, overpriced, very very salty-thought they had salt as a side order (no need for al that salt)...potatoes burnt, eggs not properly cooked (c'mon, they're eggs!) Sandwich I got was meh, again very salty (again no need for salt-in fact don't add any and if someone wants salt they can add what they want) We had a gift card from here, only reason we went, and I usually don't write reviews, but, plant of other options out there. Visit with caution. read more

There was a First Watch that opened in my city, but because it's so new the wait time is always 2-3 so while I was running errands in a neighboring city, I decided to take a chance and get on the wait list and it was only 10 minutes! I hurried over to the location and checked in with the hostess who was extremely nice and hospitable. Since I was dining alone I expected to get a crappy seat, but surprisingly I was seated by the window (which I love, because perfect natural lighting for photos, of course). The menu had so many different options I wanted to explore, but unfortunately my appetite would only allow for one meal and side so I decided to go with the lemon ricotta pancakes (those seemed to have been a special) and breakfast potatoes. To wash everything down I got a green juice which was surprisingly amazing. I was sipping it so slow because I wanted to bring some to-go, haha! The food arrived FAST! The pancakes were amazing, after I asked for some syrup. The lemon ricotta definitely gives a different taste that I enjoyed. The potatoes were not done enough for me and didn't have much flavor. I brought them home and cooked them a bit more in the air fryer, added seasoning, and the were great. Overall, I would definitely visit First Watch again because the menu is extensive! read more

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I have recently tried this place a few times and I am a big fan. Why? Fresh ingredients prepared very well. I have tasted a few different items ... the Farmhouse hash (delightfully filling) and the Waffles (light and tasty), but nothing compares with the Cornbread Carnitas Bowl ... and mixture of poached eggs, carnitas, black beans, pico, avocado, and cheese, with a toasted piece of cornbread on the side. Oh my! A great combination of flavors that work so well together. But this is a seasonal item, so you will need to try it before they change the menu. I can't wait to work my way through the rest of the menu! read more

Always always a wonderful experience and definitely worth the wait. Great staff,environment,&&fresh food!

Love the ambiance, the food is homemade, farm to table, this company started in the west coast and this was the first location I tried and fell in love. Since they opened I have got the opportunity to try all the locations in the country. Their menu have a variety that caters to all. I have tried everything. I personally love the eggs Benedict and pancakes. Regarding drinks their mimosa, coffee and detox drinks esp the green drink. This location has great customer service and staff who have loving personality and enthusiasm. I also highly recommend Ashley who a server here who been seeing my wonderful face on Saturdays and most of my guests I bring who are first-timers. They love the moment when you arrive, seating , not being rushed, and the whole CS experience. Thank you for being wonderful on the CS experience of dining. read more

Came back to First Watch on a dreary, rainy Thursday and it was just the pick-me-up I needed. I always enjoy the food here, and I appreciate how kid-friendly they are as well. Weekdays are definitely your best bet, because this place gets packed to the gills quickly on the weekends (but luckily they use the Yelp Waitlist system, so you can easily get on the Waitlist digitally before you even head out the door!). I got the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes this time, which are huge, fluffy, and served with a delightful tart and sweet lemon curd. I split them and the Millionaire's Bacon with my friend, who ordered an old favorite: the Chickichanga. I think they may have changed the sauce on the Chickichanga since the last time I've eaten it (you can see from my previous photo of it as well), but it was still very tasty. The Millionaire's Bacon was delicious as always, but they definitely used a much thinner cut bacon than they used to, which makes the pricetag on it a wee bit harder to beach ($4.99 for 4 strips). If I'm gonna pay more than a dollar per slice of bacon, I'd love for it to have a little more heft, is all. Still tasted great though -- love the sweetness of the maple and the tiny hint of spice it has. Our server was super nice but unfortunately as has always been my experience here, things moved a little bit slowly. We ordered a kid's waffle and asked if it could come out as soon as possible for my friend's baby, but it didn't arrive until literally seconds before our main entrees, for example. But everything was still very tasty, everyone was friendly (love how the employees seem to love babies here!), and I'm sure I'll be back again very soon. read more

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In the area and looking for a bite to eat, here we were. First Watch is always a great brunch option. They offer a variety of good eats on their menu. The hostess was welcoming and friendly. Our server was also very sweet and attentive. Service here is wonderful. Our dishes were all well prepared and everything was seasoned perfectly. Nothing was overly salty. I love the ambiance of First Watch, it's relaxed and a great place to meet up with a friend for some good conversation. Thank you C! read more

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