We love a catch up session w/ an old friend! Our server was really nice and attentive to everything that we needed. We also got sat fairly quickly but that's probably because it's a weekday lol. The vibes were very chill. Everything was very clean and the music was nice in the background. We ate their food up! The lemon ricotta pancake was really good they should definitely keep that. Bacon was cooked perfectly and the eggs were pretty good. My friend got the French toast and the bacon she ate it fairly quickly so she definitely liked it would definitely come back again! read more

First Watch - Tri-Fecta® Lemon Ricotta Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I came here on a Friday morning. I was seated immediately and greeted by the waiter within the first 5 minutes. I chose to order the morning meditation ( orange, lemon, turmeric, organic ginger, agave nectar, and beet) juice and the chimichurri steak and egg hash. The drink was refreshing. The dish was okay. It was as expected but I would have enjoyed it more if it arrived hot instead of warm. The service started off with the waiter checking in several times. However, halfway through my meal he brought me the check. He didn't ask if I wanted anything else, but he did offer a to go box. It made me feel very rushed. Overall, my experience was mediocre. I will continue to go to the Rockville location. read more

First Watch - Morning Meditation - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

First Watch is a breakfast chain that is ALWAYS so busy. It is not my first choice for breakfast/brunch, but one of my friends is obsessed w it. When we got there at 11, they told us it would be a 30-45 minute wait. We sat there, watching groups get called one-by-one and got more excited as time went on. We noticed some groups got called even though they were after us on the list but Staff told us they were parties who got called earlier and missed their call time...this confused me a little and didn't seem quite fair but its not my place. We finally got seated after waiting 65 minutes. Our server came out quickly and the whole experience was wrapped up in 40 minutes (food eaten and everything). We were clearly being rushed out when they saw our plates were mostly done, which wasn't a great feeling, especially after waiting so long for a table. Everything was fine, though...and just fine. They don't serve any specialty coffee (no lattes even, just plain coffee) so I just had their breakfast sandwich. Quality is noticeably better than IHOP, but ambiance and waits might not be worth. read more

Great food! Kids meal options were perfect! Got a half waffle and choc chip pancake for my kids and they gobbled it up. Pancake was perfectly fluffy, soft and sweet. Wish they offered hot chocolate as the included kids drink though, right now it was either juice or plain milk. The omelet and potatoes on the side were pretty good too! Almost wanna say the potatoes were too big a portion compared to the omelet. Was starving so didn't stop to take pics. Got in the waitlist ahead of time (30 mins before we left the house), so it was perfect when we reached! Servers were decently attentive and got us what we needed. read more

this is my family's goto place for breakfast & brunch, especially when i'm visiting. i always love eating breakfast food, i could eat it for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner! this cafe allows me to come for morning or lunch time only. i usually get some sort of egg dish, and my goto's are the morning market veggie omelet, power wrap or triathlete. on my most recent visit, i ordered the power wrap: cage-free egg whites, turkey, spinach, house-roasted crimini mushrooms and mozzarella in a sun-dried tomato-basil tortilla. it came with a side of fresh fruit, but i skipped the housemade pico de gallo. the wrap was tasty with fresh, savory seasoned veggies. it was very filling with the addition of the turkey breast. the tomato basil tortilla gave it that extra bit of flavour and kick. the fruit was a great way to clean off my palate after a wonderfully filling meal. customer service is always fast and friendly. we can easily be seated, fed, and have our bill settled in under an hour, even when they are busier. easy parking in the muddy branch square shopping center. read more

First Watch - Power Wrap - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

F is for First Watch (1 of 3): My next 3 reviews will be First Watch: in this order Gaithersburg, Laurel, & Fairland/White Oak/Silver Spring. This is the order I went with my g/f. I went to this First Watch twice both times to use my birthday deal, 2020 with my EX g/f & 2024 with my g/f now. Sunday, March 1, 2020 (the more dramatic time than 2024 thankfully): It was rough getting there. While on our way less than 10 minutes into drive, my g/f overreacted to something, and I got angry back and continued to escalate most of the drive. Ultimately, I drove very fast on Diamondback in anger, and then she threw all the stuff in my glovebox out on the floor. I went in to First Watch on my own. She called her good friend (& my friend too, but a better friend of hers) to calm down. I told the host stand, here for 2. You can reserve ahead on the app because it gets very busy on a weekend. So, if it's a 45-60 minutes wait, and you want to be there about 11, then maybe you put your name in at like 10. The host took me to table, and I said get us 2 waters for now. My g/f is dealing with something now. I went back out to check since now we have our table. She got off the phone with her friend, and she suggested therapy for anger management. I agreed that it was good idea and I will work on booking something on Monday. This de-escalated things greatly. We went in, and although we were both upset with how things had gone, we proceeded to order. Service was pretty quick, cordial, & the food was good per usual for First Watch. Thankfully, I had the picture (especially since I failed to take a pic in 2024). I had the giant pancake, eggs, & sausage. Their pancake is huge, so you just need one. I really like getting their pancake here. Eggs & meat good too. Saturday, February 24, 2024 (much better situation): This was my g/f & I 4th date before officially having the talk about our relationship on our 5th date (see my Casey's Crab review in Maryland City near Odenton in western Anne Arundel County). We had my friend's board game event that day in Germantown, so this was on the way, and the first time she had met any of my friends. I think I got the omelet, potatoes, & toast, which was delicious as usual. Server was very nice. Overall, a solid choice for First Watch location. read more

First Watch - Their huge pancake, eggs, & sausage - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

First Watch is always my first choice when picking a breakfast spot! I always get their carrot pecan pancake, it's definitely a must try. It's sweet and crunchy and it's the best with their hot maple syrup. I also tried their turkey burger with a side tomato soup. I would order this again. And tried their omelette! I tried their loaded potatoes and they are good! But they are on the saltier side. So if you're being cautious about that, just keep that in mind. Their service is always great. And when you're done you can pay on your phone or at the host stand. Also keep in mind that they close mid day, so don't try to have breakfast for dinner here! read more

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The summer menu at First Watch is great! I'd recommend the elote burrito and blueberry cornbread. Our server wasn't as attentive as we would have liked but the food was fantastic. I enjoy how you can add yourself to the waitlist remotely before arriving. The seating was also very comfortable. read more

First Watch - Elote Breakfast Burrito Million Dollar Potatoes Blueberry Cornbread - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The food was delicious. The pancakes, eggs, and Apple sausage were great. The Ambiance is that of a comforting brunch place. It's here to bring food and showing that. There were some complaints with my party about the service. They explained the welcoming staff was being disrespectful. We originally wanted a bigger table and there was some service commotion about this.eventually everything was resolved and we were to get our seating for the party. read more

First Watch - Tri-Fecta Multigrain Carrot Pancake, chicken apple sausage - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I ordered the kids' half waffle meal from First Watch through Uber Eats, and while the photo showed bacon and fruit, it only came with a choice of meat--no fruit included. Still, I added an egg on the side, and the meal was more than perfect. The waffle was absolutely amazing--light, warm, and so soft it practically melted in my mouth. Paired with crispy bacon, it was a simple but satisfying breakfast. Despite the menu photo discrepancy, the flavor made up for it, and I didn't feel the need to complain. read more

Thursday 10/31/24 I've always heard about first watch but never visited until now. I made a takeout order on their website and got the stay golden cinnamon roll $6, million dollar bacon $6, French toast $11.79, and lemon ricotta pancakes $13. - the lemon ricotta pancakes were recommended by my dad and it was the best of the 4 items I had (but that's not saying much). I do wish I could've gotten more of the lemon topping because $13 for 2 pancakes is not worth it. - The French toast was recommended by my younger brother and it was AVERAGE. There was nothing special about it and the fact that it's nearly $12 for 2 slices of mid French toast is just ridiculous. - The million dollar bacon was alright and it's a cool concept but $6 for 4 strips of bacon is just not for me. - The stay golden cinnamon roll is a seasonal item and it was pretty underwhelming. I liked that there was ALOT of icing (the icing was lemon flavored) but the cinnamon roll itself was mid as it was very dense and dry in the center. Overall, the food experience average and expensive. I don't think that it's worth it as I wouldn't return or recommend at all. read more

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We've been here several times and appreciate the welcoming atmosphere and friendly service. Overall, the food can be hit or miss. On our most recent visit, the Chimichurri Steak & Eggs Hash fell short. The portion of steak was very small--just a thin piece, roughly 2" x 1", tucked beneath the egg. For a dish that highlights steak in the name, it didn't quite meet expectations. There are other menu items we've enjoyed, but this particular dish wasn't one we'd order again. read more

First Watch - Chimichurri Steak & Eggs Hash - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Always very inviting and cost effective. One of the best places for brunch in Gaithersburg. Try the trifecta! Light golden waffles. Syrup always heated. read more

First Watch - Heated syrup - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I've been to this location several times and I'm never too impressed nor am I too dissatisfied- just an "alright" breakfast experience with a really good juice bar. I'm reviewing this time as I tried the seasonal summer menu. They had a watermelon wake-up juice which is watermelon, pineapple, mint and lime. You know when you taste something good and it immediately makes you smile or want to dance? That's this drink. How refreshing! Our waitress said we got the last ones for the morning so I'm sad I couldn't get another! We also tried the strawberry tres leches French toast which was very good - it was sweet, almost a little too sweet but I treated it as dessert after eating the shrimp and grits. They had a good flavor but overall maybe a 6/10. My grits were a little too watery and the amount of onion was a little overboard. My partner tried the elote breakfast burrito and said it tasted good but needed to be mixed better as the first half of the burrito was nothing but egg and the second half had more of the beans and peppers. Didnt see much corn or corn salsa. Overall maybe a 7/10 experience. read more

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Love their fresh ingredients all there dishes are planned out well to enjoy Good coffee also that gives your morning a boost This the type of breakfast spot where it's worth having a breakfast you will not be able to day "oh I can make this at home and it would be the same" this breakfast spot hits different when it comes to creative dishes that feature Latin cuisine and Asian cuisine Once I found out about them it's forget ihop or Denny's this it the spot to come to or also of course I have my legendary "silver diner" near by read more

I have not done a review in awhile. Still going to eat there 4x week. Managers are great. Jon, Anthony and Jordon. Excellent kitchen staff, thanks Aracely, servers are all excellent. Thanks Franklin You are a fantastic server. Food is the best every time we go. Thank you to the friendly Host/hostess Kudos to all!!!! read more

Food was better than I expected. Service was great and the ambiance mid-level noisy. You can sign up online to "wait in line" so definitely do that before you arrive to reduce your wait. It is hugely popular on weekends and the wait can be 40-60 minutes easy. I got the works omelette which was quite good. It came with a green salad, buttered toast and jam. All of it was good. I don't usually eat toast but this multi-grain was so delicious. I tried the salmon fritatta which was also decent. Portions are reasonable as are the prices. The blazing dragon drink was tart and a bit sweet but tasty. I will definitely return to try other menu items. read more

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The place is very cute, they have an open kitchen, and it wasn't very busy but that probably has more to do with the fact that we went at 2pm. I got the Floridian French Toast and my boyfriend got the chickichanga, both were delicious. We also got coffee-- which was a good brew-- as well as a cinnamon cereal bowl, and a pomegranate drink, both were good drinks as well. The staff were all very friendly and despite having arrived 30 minutes before they closed we never felt rushed or like an inconvenience. We were checked on several times by the server and received our food and drinks in a promptly manner. Overall a great experience. read more

First Watch - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

What has happened to your food? This has always been one of my favorite places to eat. was it an off day? We go here a few times a year. it Was SO disappointing and terrible! Do you have a new cook? Everything was over cooked. I ordered a pancake, eggs and sausage. Usually the pancakes are thick and fluffy and to die for. It was thin and burnt on the bottom. It came with a tiny swatch of butter on top instead of a small wad like in the past. It really wasn' t very good. The scrambled eggs were over cooked too. The sausage was burnt also. My husband's hash browns were good because they were over cooked and burnt! No greeting when we walked in the door. Just shown to a table. The waiter was very quick and efficient but never said a word to us the entire time. Showed up and we told him the order. No smile, no greeting. dropped check on table. Never said a word the entire visit. When we paid the girl at the register she never said a word to us. Usually someone says, thanks, how was your meal? The mood was very off putting today. Hesitant to return. It was not a fun nice pleasant experience and mediocre food. We've been here so many times, sad. We've been coming here since you opened and only had one other bad experience several years ago. I hope this was just an off day. The food was really terribly overcooked. read more

I absolutely love First Watch! My sister introduced me to it, and when I say they never miss--I mean it. The food is always delicious, well-portioned, and reasonably priced. After my first visit, I ended up ordering five times that same week (yes, I know it's ridiculous--but it was that good). Definitely one of my top go-to spots! read more

Late breakfast before heading into DC for adventures. I had the sunrise granola bowl, which comes with a muffin, yum! This was my second visit and it made me wonder why it's been so long since I was there. Love the food, great atmosphere, and friendly and hospitable staff. I'll be back soon! read more

First Watch - Sunrise - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I don't know the guy's name, but the manager here and the new layout has changed the game here. The wait is annoying, but to have a wait in this area to eat brunch is pretty amazing. I told Jim's so once. read more

First Watch - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I ordered a bacado. The avocado was mostly brown. There was a minimal smear of sour cream. Potatoes were dry and actually hard to swallow. Coffee and toast were ok. read more

I've always been a fan of First Watch, and I came here to catch up with a friend. We went at about 1pm on a weekday--so the restaurant was pretty empty. I got a chocolate chip pancake, which was good but not anything special (especially for it's price of ~$6), and the service was incredibly slow (took us almost 30 minutes to just get our water. I would definitely come back, but not my #1 choice for brunch. read more

First Watch - mint mocha & purple haze - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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I got coffee and a breakfast burrito, it was delicious! The restaurant was clean and staff were friendly. Lots of options to incase you're a picky eater! read more

First Watch - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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My favorite restaurant of all time! I recommend using the app to check the wait time/get in line. The wait can be long on weekends, otherwise. read more

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Food: Simply put - amazing. Items consist of a perfectly synchronized symphony of flavors. The drinks were also extremely notable, a balance of perfection, and smooth and refreshing delight. Atmosphere: From the moment of enter, you are greeted by a sense of warmth accompanied by the welcoming sounds of satisfied patrons. The perfect balance for a great meal. Staff: friendly and inviting. The wait staff was on point! Although the establishment was packed to the brim, the customers were treated as if they were dignitaries at a world event. Kudos to the staff on a job well done. Highly recommended and well worth the long lines and wait time. It's not ofte that I can say the juice was definitely worth the squeeze. read more

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I ordered a takeout of the Classic and the Taco Breakfast. My wife and I loved the dishes so much that we can't help but to give the restaurant a 5-star. The Classic: for $12, I got plenty of food! The scrambled eggs were well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The bacon was crunchy and tasty! The bread and potatoes were nice complementary carbs that balanced out the heavier tastes of the other elements. I've gotten this dish at least 5 times over the last couple of years, and the Classic has yet to disappoint. Lastly, there was at least a 20 minute gap from picking up to eating. The dish tasted as good as when I went to dine in. 5/5. My wife had the Taco Breakfast and I stole a couple of bites. Both of us gave the tacos a 5/5 for simple and but different reasons. My wife really liked the various elements found within the taco and she thought everything was balanced. I liked the taco because the taste still tasted as good as when I dined in. Consistency made this dish a solid 5/5. This is my wife's second encounter with First Watch, and she no longer wants to wait any longer to give the establishment the highest score. As for me, I've been here probably over 15 times (dine-in and takeout combined) over the past couple of years and I can honestly say I've never had a subpar experience. This restaurant is a 5/5 all the way!!! read more

First Watch - The Classic and the Taco Breakfast - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Food was good, wait time was not too bad considering the number of patrons waiting. Spacious booth seating. Waitress was very pleasant and attentive. read more

I did an order pickup. Food was ready, no long wait, under 2 minutes. The pancakes were good, everyone confirmed. However, the Bacado Omelette was disgusting. The avocado was mostly black, the egg had no flavor and was folded over large stripes of bacon. There appears to be a large salad with no dressing and multi-grain toast. The morning medication was good, strong turmeric taste but it blended well. read more

First Watch - Bacado Omelette - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Place is usually packed and doesn't take reservations. The food quality is good however my reason for the mid rating is the value of what you're paying for and what you get in return. Ordered avocado toast and a farmhouse hash mix both $15 each, roughly. The avocado toast was literally one slice of bread cut in halves with avocado on top and two fried eggs. I don't believe this is worth $15. It tasted great however for a single slice of toast for $15 I was at a loss for words. The hash mix was good and provided in good portion. read more

First Watch - Avocado toast - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Typically a 3 for an avg brunch spot. However service has gotten worse. Today our food came out staggered over 10+ mins. The quality has declined with time Cherry on top. My 3 yr old niece fell and hurt her back in the bathroom as the floor was soaking wet. Told the manager and his response was, "sorry it wasn't us." Nothing else. No understanding or kindness. Very cold. Won't be back. Founding Farmers it is read more

Have you ever ogled pictures posted on a review, saying I have to try this place. Well, that happened to me with First Watch. I saw pictures of their waffles with whipped cream and other yummy menu items. I had heard they have long lines waiting to get in. We did not have that problem. Unfortunately, I have been trying to take off some of those pandemic pounds, so I didn't go for the menu items I drooled over. But, don't feel sorry for me...I had an omelet called, "The Works." It had ham, bacon, sausage, and cheese and it was delicious. The bread there must be homemade, because it was soft and tasty. They served it with some homemade jam that was really good. The restaurant has a cute interior and extensive menu. My friend had the frittata and salad. She really enjoyed her meal too. My only complaint was our server, she was really slow. I ordered coffee and it took her ten minutes to bring some over. When, we wanted to order something sweet, at the end of our meal, she disappeared for 15 minutes. So, the food was excellent... sometimes you get good service and other times you don't. I would definitely go back and maybe, next time I will order those fine looking waffles. read more

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I'm actreally surprised I've never done a review of First Watch. Its one of my favorite breakfast spots because of the options they offer, especially for someone who is GF. I generally go for breakfast and really enjoy their hash bowl. I get the potatoes with cheese,bacon, avocado and a over medium egg. Its so good! The GF toast isn't bad either, but the strawberry preserves are what makes it! I have been to the laurel and Gaithersburg locations, and overall have always experienced good quality service. Their coffee isn't bad, but I do appreciate that they offer flavored creamer, where many other places do not. The ambiance is good and they seem to enforce and practice safe measures. Overal, First Watch is a good place to grab some breakfast. Just be sure to make a reservation online or put your name on the waiting list ahead of time. It definitely saved us some time read more

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Service was very good (unfortunately, I do not remember the young lady's name but she was super attentive). Two of us stopped in early on an a weekday morning. Food was ok-good - their new breakfast tacos. The tacos were a little cold, but the coffee was hot and plentiful. And if you need a police officer in Gaithersburg - you can find at least one there! read more

I visited First Watch on a Tuesday morning and I was surprised to find that it was still filled and our group of 3 still had to wait approximately 15 minutes before being seated. it took a while for someone to come to give us menus and take our orders. one of my friends ordered the market hash but a while after we ordered, our waitress came back to inform her that the kitchen somehow did not have any of the ingredients. i ordered the smoked salmon eggs benedict, but compared to all the eggs benedicts i've previously had, it was disappointing. the potatoes were undercooked, the bread was not toasted, and the raw onions were not a great addition to the meal. i did enjoy the hollandaise sauce and poached eggs, but i overall will not be ordering this again. we shared a chocolate chip pancake, which was humongous as stated on the menu and had a nice crisp to it. overall, as a fan of first watch, this experience was a bit disappointing. read more

First Watch - smoked salmon eggs benedict - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

The service was pretty good, the ambiance was nice, the meals were really picturesque but taste was mediocre. Eggs benedict were overcooked and ruined. read more

Slow service, soggy food and rude staff. Bad experience won't be returning and I think there are better places with kinder people.

Food was great, fresh ingredients, average price for a place these days, quick service, comfortable, friendly, and I wish I could take the chair home with me. read more

First Watch - Stay Golden Cinnamon Roll, Frittata Rustica, and Healthy Turkey. - Cafes Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

DONT GO HERE. Over priced and small portions. Always mediocre food and served with issues