We flew into Chicago from New York for the Chicago Marathon and after getting off the plane we were hungry. We had heard about First Watch so once we picked up the rental car we decided to make it our first food stop. The restaurant is located in a shopping center so parking was super easy. As soon as we walked in I noticed how comfortable and family friendly the atmosphere was. At first the setup gave me a little IHOP vibe but once the food came out I immediately took that comparison back! We were a group of four and were seated right away. Our server came over quickly for our drinks and the food came out surprisingly fast. Everything was hot, fresh, flavorful, and seriously delicious. The staff was friendly, the restaurant felt welcoming, and even the bathrooms were clean which is always a plus. If you're in the Chicago area and looking for a good breakfast or brunch spot, First Watch is definitely worth a stop read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

Holiday weekend was surprisingly busy. Thankfully we got on the waitlist before we got there. We wanted a booth which wasn't an option to add to your online wait request. The hostess understood the assignment. She had us wait a few minutes and then nabbed us and seated us a a very nice roomy booth. Coffee all around except for a lemonade for the little guy. Their coffee is exceptional. Food, I had the Godfather which was way too much food. My husband had the chilaquiles which he said was good and spicy. Son had a side of grilled chicken breast that he devoured in no time. We also had the pumpkin donuts which were amazing for dessert. Server was very nice and helpful throughout our meal. Hope to have her again next time we're out there. read more

See all

So this place is massive and absolutely gorgeous inside. Expect a bit of a wait but you can download the app to reserve. They have fresh coffee for you as you wait and it's really really good! The service and staff are great and very courteous. I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes and they didn't blow me away and I remember having food fomo at what my friend ordered. He seemed to like his fresh juice that I believe had tumeric and ginger and orange? It was a super pretty drink. I am not racing to come back but if the opportunity presents itself I'd be open to it. The million dollar bacon is a must in my opinion! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

See all

Before I begin this review, in need to acknowledge an amazing server by the name of Carlos! Major kudos and shout out to this man. He is the poster child for stellar customer service. Somebody give this man employee of the year. Ok, now on to the review of the meal: Food was great. I wanted the potatoes a bit more crispier. The flavor was busting and popping. The chickichanga is light yet filling. Two types of meat with avocado and veggies on the inside. Not to mention they like fried a tortilla in egg so it was like a wrap/ omelet. Great option to eat. The purple haze did just that. Mmmkay! The lavender really took over and it was smooth to drink. The lemonade took a back seat and that really allowed for the beverage to flow. I didn't mention this was my first time here but chileee it won't be my last. read more

First Watch - Chickichanga - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

See all

Here's a place that I was able to see the effort in the designing of each plate . The food was very well prepared and had a fresh made to order feel. The service was great and made the restaurant feel more comfortable and friendly than I've seen in a while. The ambiance is nice but it felt like a modern day pancake house . I will say though my choice of breakfast was a bit bland and the plating could have been a little more effort other than put in a bowl tossed and then put on a plate with sauce drizzle, my plate was greasy on the side , it almost slipped. Also , my guest said that they would have liked more effort in show casing the meat on their dish rather than the eggs. Their meat was over cooked on the tacos. Pineapple Express drink didn't taste any different and was over iced. Overall it was a great experience nothing to repeat anytime soon, I enjoyed it . read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

See all

Popped in for lunch and was served by Desiree. She was AWESOME!! I have a power wrap with avocado and broccoli and cheese soup Yummy Great service Cool dining room Great price. All around perfect visit Keep up the great work guys See you soon read more

Great food, consistent, delicious and affordable. Can't wait to go back. Million dollar bacon is worth the upgrade.

I love the trifecta!!! Pancakes or waffles.... It's a 10 out of 10! It's amazing every time! read more

First Watch - The Trifecta - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

Great service and food. Nice healthy fare; decent variety of menu options. The iced mint mocha was delicious. Although i wish the hours were longer... closes kinda early at 2:30 pm. read more

Coming in right around 8:30 is key if you want to avoid the lines. I drove by later around 10 and there was a mob outside the door. We were less than impressed with the food. Kids menu only has a chocolate chip pancake (no other option) yet it came out with no chocolate. We didn't want to wait for a remake so we just asked for some chips on the side and literally got about a half tablespoon. Gee, thanks? "Two slices" of toast will be one slice cut into two pieces. Sausage is not good. Pancake was falling apart and not fully cooked as well. For almost $80 we won't be back. The extra star on what would be two is for the very friendly staff. read more

We came here during the soft opening weekend. We got seated right the way outside in the patio area. This's my favorite breakfast spot in Florida, glad they opened one closer to downtown! We ordered the Floridian French toast and smoked salmon eggs Benedict, and of course can't forget their infamous Floridian French toast. Everything came out fairly quick, nice and hot! The best of all is the bacon, make sure you order it when you go! The only thing is I wish the potato is crispier, but that's just our personal preference ! As far as the drinks, the purple haze is like a lavender lemonade, very refreshing! I love my kale tonic, but if you don't like the taste of nature, it might not be for you!!! Overall, great service! The server was very attentive throughout our meal, will definitely be going back again! Plenty of parking in the strip mall! read more

See all

The food and service were great. We had a short wait to be seated, as they do not take reservations. In speaking with the waitress, we learned that it was their opening day! They did a great job and you never would've known. The food came out quickly and everything was delicious for our party of four. We sat on the back patio, which was nice. read more

I'm so sorry that this establishment couldn't understand what it means to serve EVERYONE all at once..understand that it's a busy place...however there are some normal protocols that restaurants typically conform to...our party (4) was waiting quite awhile after we were seated..proceeded to bring the entrees for 3 of the patrons..i happened to have been the 4th person with no food for over 10 minutes..i insisted that my group proceed without me (since there entrees were getting cold)...finally I got my omelette (without the toast)..waited another 5 minutes..I asked our server to compensate my meal..I thought she agreed..but when I saw the check she didn't acknowledge a thing I had said...I proceeded to ask for the manager (Joseph Martinez) ...I was told that's what happens at times and there's no type of compensation...very disappointed in that outcome..I'm a business owner and would never risk a poor review like I'm giving...thank you to all that understand read more

First Watch - Our group - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

Very unique menu. Got to try the Candy Bacon upgrade. Had some Lavender drink that was delicious and I felt it for a long time. read more

First Watch - First time here. Good coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

Walked in 30 minutes after they opened and no employee was visible for 5 minutes. No host, no waiter, no one at the bar, nobody at all. If it hadn't been for the two other parties seated, I would have thought the restaurant was closed. Overall, food is Ok but overpriced. Menu only lists some of the items they have which is annoying. For example for coffee, they don't list anything besides a black coffee and maybe a special seasonal item. Latte? Not on the menu. Cappuccino? Maybe they can make one, I wouldn't know by looking at the menu. Even looking online they aren't listed. Neither are prices. Another disappointing breakfast spot in the area. read more

As a new first watch location, I think they are still finding their rhythm. Food is still great, but other locations nearby have been better (food and service-wise). I am still very glad that we have a location closer to us. They have seating indoors and outdoors. read more

Service was lax. We waited 15 minutes for a server to arrive. The server was nice and friendly when she arrived. We were told by the host that they were unstaffed. Food was good but over priced compared to other nearby breakfast spots. read more

We are super excited to have First Watch in the OPRF area. I have been here twice and thankfully both times there was no wait as we arrived at 8:30am. We did try to come on a Sunday around noon and the wait was 45 min. My recommendation is to come as early as you can. The waffles, chocolate chip pancakes, egg bacon hash, coffee, million dollar bacon and turmeric drink are all fantastic. Can't wait to return and try other menu items. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

See all

My husband and I went there on a rainy day and it was still few people in there. This place is walking distance from our house so we had to try the service was prompt. Cozy vibes and the food was delicious. Must try place!! We both enjoyed our food. read more

Hello Foodzies, today we went to a restaurant in River Forest; First Watch at 7215 w Lake St. the restaurant officially opens Sept. 1st., but they had a tasting. All the meals were free; they just only asked that we tip the server and if we chose donate to the local food pantry. The restaurant is brand new so it was bright and clean. The restaurant was bustling so it was a little loud, but tolerable. Our server Ju Ju was awesome. She was helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. We were given, what they called a limited menu; which was quite voluminous. The menu covered many different categories (healthy, omelets and frittatas, power bowls, pancakes and waffles) each of us had an entree and we were also given a choice of a side dish to share. We ordered the A.M. superfoods bowl (Coconut milk chia seed pudding, fresh bananas and berries, mixed berry compote, housemade granola with almonds and our whole grain artisan toast with almond butter and Maldon sea salt) this was hearty, flavorful and healthy, Eggs Benedict (Two poached cage-free eggs atop toasted ciabatta with hollandaise. Served with lemon-dressed organic mixed greens) the mix of these items made for a tasty bite, Chicken Avocado Chop (Chopped romaine and arugula, all-natural chicken breast, avocado, tomatoes, corn, black beans, reta cheese and crispy tortila strips with citrus chipotle dressing) this was an explosion of flavor and texture and the Works omelet (Ham, bacon, sausage, house-roasted Crimini mushrooms, onions and tomatoes with Cheddar and Monterey Jack. Topped with all-natural sour cream). Another tasty meal, the cheese, mushrooms and array of meat meld together well and the arugula salad and whole grain toast added a nice refreshing textural experience. There were a couple miss steps (the one of poached eggs was over cooked and the million dollar bacon was cold) these were brought to the attention of Ju Ju who in turn notified the manager; Danielle who took care of everything she had them remake the bacon and eggs and also included the million dollar potatoes (potatoes, grilled onions, sour cream and bacon) these were awesome. I added the newly poached eggs to it and I could have made this a meal all by itself. I definitely give this restaurant 5 stars. Give it a try and let me know your opinion. Ciao, Ciao for now. Don't forget to follow me on TikTok (smoking Papa). read more

First Watch - Entrance - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

See all

Was looking for someplace near Rush University Medical Center in Oak Park and this was what we happened upon. It's a cute space, homey yet modern and was busy. So many restaurants are mostly empty at mid morning, this was refreshing and gave us the feeling that it was good or it wouldn't have been so busy. I had the smoked salmon fritatta, it was amazing! I've never had anything like this since i was in the pacific north west 27 years ago. My husband had a meat lovers omelet and was quite satisfied. The bonus was that you get a small green salad on the plate so they make sure you're eating your veggies. We'll be back. read more

Ford was all I by the it would be. The BEC my new go to and the strawberry there's leches French toads was delicious. No wait, service was attentive and friendly and beverages were delicious read more

Poor Service from Hostess and Waiter. I was given a glass for water, that appeared to be dirty. I asked waiter for another glass and was told all the glasses looked that way. Not true, as the other glass on table was clean as well as the neighbor's table. He informed me that he would be bringing back the same glass. I informed him, that I'm the paying customer, why is there a discussion about another glass? Needless to say, that i don't know what he might do to my food. Spoke with a nonchalant Manager, no different. I perceived from that visit that I'm not welcome at FW and can be treated anyway. So, I went and spent my $$$ + tip somewhere else. Never again will I attempt to eat here and will tell everyone I know how I was treated as a non-Latino at First Watch in River Forest, IL Be careful how you treat people! read more

Met family for lunch. Place had a good crowd there, usually a good sign. The good: The food was very good. My roast beef & harvati sandiwch was very nice, I got a salad for a side and the portions were very good, nice side of horseradish. My father ordered and enjoyed a Cobb Salad, my sister and her husband got the Market Hash which they both enjoyed. We all left pretty full. The not so good: Arrived at noon, fifteen minute wait to sit down, no big deal, it's lunch. Then another 15 minutes before any servers came to acknowledge us. Then another 15 minutes before drinks were brought out. My dad had ordered a soup with his salad which they had apparently run out of and neglected to tell us until the rest of the food was served. Server told us they'd be back to check on us. They did not come back to check on us. A simple lunch took about 90 minutes. Food was good but was it worth the time? We agreed, not really. Probably won't be back. read more

4 Star restaurant experience The restaurant has vibe, atmosphere and the food was delicious read more

Me and my friend went here for brunch today. First of all I do u understand it's Labor Day and all breakfast restaurants will be packed and me and my friend love the food here! We sat down after 20ish minutes when our server finally came after a little while. We ordered our food and drinks, Our drinks came after 10 mins and we just ordered 2 coffee (btw) and we asked for waters and never received until we asked one the bus boys. 20 mins later we finally got our food but my pancakes were cold not even slightly warm and I asked for crispy potatoes and they came not crispy and slightly undercooked. The severe didn't even come once to check up on us or to even see if we enjoyed the food, we also had to get syrup from the bus boys cause our server never brought it. I understand someone might be having an off day but we had this server 3 times already and she always had an attitude with us because I assume she didn't want to deal with 16 year old kids and I understand teenagers could be very annoying to serve but I'm in the restaurant industry and everyone should be treated the same, this was honestly unacceptable and service was terrible! read more

The food is horrible. I tried them 3 times and I will never go back. They cannot cook, the bacon is very salty and I ask them to cook it crispy and they never do. I ask them to scramble my eggs soft and they make them hard. I ordered an omelette once and it was hard. I'm done with them. read more

First Watch gets it right every time. It's such a pleasant atmosphere with friendly staff and comfort foods. Million Dollar Bacon is a must. The Iced Mint Mocha is my favorite. The Ham & Gruyère sandwich with pecan salad is the perfect combo for brunch! This location has a welcoming outdoor patio! Nice seeing a company like First Watch continue to expand. Wee deserved! Best Mark S. read more

See all

I live in River Forest and was excited to see the place open. It's a really nice space. While the menu is limited, the food has always been good. My issue is the poor service. Even when not busy, I've waited 15 minutes before a server stops by the table. The front reception desk is often unattended. While some servers are friendly, in my experience, most have been indifferent and not particularly attentive or polite. I voiced this concern to the manager, who didn't seem to care either. I don't plan on going back. read more

We came for the first time on a Sunday, party of 4. I was able to get in-line on the phone with a minimum wait time of 30 mins. We waited a bit longer than 30 mins. but the restaurant was already closing.. Service was slow but our server was friendly. Utensils, napkins, straws, syrup and water was forgotten to where we had to ask for it. Our food consisted of the elevated egg sandwich, frittata rustica & a kids chocolate chip pancake. We did not receive our food until after 3:30, as the restaurant is already half empty. Our kids pancake was forgotten & not cooked properly to where the server apologized for the presentation. That was very nice of him as it wasn't his fault. The sandwich was delicious and airy!!! Definitely recommend. Overall, food was good but not over the top as we expected. As we were eating a gentleman came to tell us they were already closed & we said we understand, continued to pay and left. Didn't take any leftovers. I think to avoid awkward conversation doors should close sooner to avoid having to rush customers like we were. Overall, cute brunch spot, prices are fine for the food but service can be a lot better. read more

First Watch - Frittata rustica & elevated egg sandwich. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

See all

Food and service were outstanding. Had called to be added to waitlist. Was seated right away. Food was delivered precisely as ordered. Will be coming back often read more

This new restaurant in town is so good. The food is great as well great portions. The coffee is the best and is not weak. They have a bar so you can your specialty coffee. Service is fantastic! Didn't have to wait long for our food. The place has the feel of new and modern feel to it. Im coming back here here soon. read more

Brianna was so attentive, especially patient because it was our first time. She was extremely knowledgeable and was able to guide our choices to a Fantastic Eating Experience. We will come back and rave about the Food and Service. read more

We usually drive far for breakfast every weekend. It's the one day of the week where get to just sit down get waited sip coffee and talk. Our favorite place is Stray Hen at elmhurst but it's quite a drive from River Forest so we were hoping a new restaurant would come up within the area. Then Egg Harbor opened but it was so so at best. Then Breakfast House which is even worse and finally First Watch opened. We've tried their Oak Brook location and the food was ok at best. When River Forest opened we tried it twice and it was more than decent. But one Saturday morning was perhaps the worst experience I've had service-wise. We ordered Frittata and a f***ing waffle. The whole place was quiet when we got in then it got crowded in less than 20 minutes. We waited for almost half an hour for a simple breakfast. Simple in the sense that you can make it in less than 5 minutes. The whole crew looked chaotic at best. There's no cohesion. Plates broken, food all over the floor, waitresses bumping to each other it was just pure and utter chaos that morning. I know they're new and I hope they'll get better. We'll never step foot in this restaurant again although it's a walking distance. I'd rather drive to Elmhurst to get a good meal and a great service. read more

So excited to see First Watch arrive in town. The service was lacking. I sat for twenty minutes after my order was taken. No water for the table. No food for me. By the time I was able to flag our waitress, everyone else at the table had finished the meal. I will give them this one pass as it's a new launch. I will return. They are still my favorite breakfast spot. read more

First the glitch... where to enter? We arrived on foot and there was no entrance from the patio or on Harlem, we did discover if we walked all the way around the building to the parking lot there was the entrance. Our server Mimi was spot on, described the specials and was attentive to the needs of one of our diners who is vegan. She stuck just the right balance of being there when needed but not annoyingly in your face. The food was very good. We had the superfoods bowl which was great, the chickichanga which was also tasty including the Vera Cruz sauce which was a bit of a gamble. We also had a waffle, fresh fruit and the one of their specials. Highly recommended. We arrived around 8:30 on a weekday and it was not crowded, I expect the weekend would be a different story. read more

Ordered online for pick up on a Sunday afternoon (12pm). I expected it to be crowded but it was very crowded, couldn't even get through the door. Although a very nice looking location, much too crowded for my liking so I'm glad I did pickup! A customer came in pushing someone else on a wheelchair and hit my leg, they didn't even give me time to move. My back was facing the door so obviously I can't see right away. I grabbed my food and went home only to find my sandwich made incorrectly and the fruit moldy! Lost my appetite and decided to give them a call. I was placed on hold multiple times but each time they disconnected. I had to call back a total of 3 times and even then, the communication skills were lacking. I tried it out based on a local's suggestion, but will not be returning unfortunately. read more

First Watch - Monterey sandwich but made incorrectly; bread was dry and unappetizing - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - River Forest, Illinois

See all

First Watch is a great breakfast place. Wonderful selections for healthy breakfasts. Large dining room so no long waits. Service is excellent. Nice Oak Park location. read more

Very disappointed in the Market Veggie sandwich. There was literally 1 small mushroom cut in half, a few small grilled zucchini pieces, and a couple leaves of spinach on there. It looked absolutely nothing at all like the picture on-line. Like, not even close. First Watch should be embarrassed to have served this. Will not be returning. read more

Upon arrival we were seated quickly at a clean two-top. The dining room is well lit with enough space between tables not to feel crowded. Mimi, our server, efficiently described the specials and quickly brought us coffee and left an insulated carafe of coffee on our table. We ordered the smoked salmon frittata and the frittata rustico, a side of bacon and a side of avocado. Our entire order in timely manner. The bacon was cooked perfectly, the avocado was fresh and properly ripe. We both agreed that the arugula salad that accompanied the frittatas was very good. The salad was lightly dressed with a mild vinaigrette that added a valuable brightness to the meal. The frittatas, however, were disappointing. The eggs exhibited a rubbery texture similar to frozen microwaved scrambled eggs. Moreover, the ingredients in the frittatas were very unevenly distributed. I would not recommend ordering either frittata. Mimi continued to provide outstanding service throughout the meal and made us feel welcome while bussing the table regularly. If we return, we will certainly ask to be seated in her section. read more