First Watch just hasn't been the same since Erin left... #missingherbigtime #bestserverever #loveher

A friend had never eaten at one of these locations prior so we decided this would be a perfect Tuesday brunch option. Service was attentive and extremely professional from the moment we entered. Knew we were in good hands when our server could be heard singing out loud to all my favorite songs played over the speakers. We were both famished and ordered a couple of menu items each to share. Everything tasty absolutely delicious. Portions were sizable enough to allow left overs even with single menu purchase. read more

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It took much longer than expected to be seated since there appeared to be ample seating available and adequate staff. There was some issue with a party in front of me that may have contributed but since they were in the process of being seated when I walked in and I was next in line, it seemed unusually longer than expected for someone else to step in and assist which led to several parties being backed up behind me by the time I was taken to a table. I had already checked out the menu ahead of time and knew I wanted to try the Shrimp and Grits (Sautéed Cajun shrimp and andouille sausage cooked Lowcountry-style with chicken stock, house-roasted tomatoes and onions, diced green bell peppers and scallions atop Bob's Red Mill Cheddar Parmesan cheese grits. Served with artisan ciabatta toast.) I expected it to be much more flavorful and found it to be fairly bland tasting. The grits did have a cheesy flavor but unfortunately was unable to overcome the disappointment I had in the rest of the dish. The bread while fresh was meh as well. The highlight was the Blackberry Tea I chose for my drink. Once seated the service was attentive. I had tried this location before years ago and think I was similarly unimpressed which had led to me skipping it until now. With many other really good brunch type options in the vicinity, I likely will not be back. read more

First Watch - Shrimp and Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

I went for the first time last week, and I was hoping for a better experience. I went on a Friday morning around 10 am, it wasn't too crowded, and it took at least 10 minutes to be greeted, not one person acknowledged us, then the server took a while to come to the table. After we ordered, out meals were wrong and had to be sent back to the kitchen, not sure if it was a server or cook problem. Once the right food came out, it was very good. We did order an item off the menu that we were looking forward to tasting but once we got it, it was nothing like the description, when we asked the waiter about it, he was clueless, so we sent it back and asked to have it removed from our tab. read more

The food was great. I had the lemon ricotta pancakes, and my mother had a maple croissant sandwich. Our server Keshia was very attentive and made our experience more memorable. We were celebrating my mother's birthday. We shared a huge booth by a window outside the patio. read more

First time eating First Watch, everyone talks about the delicious breakfast but this Salad was unbelievable while I'm on my health kick. Super fresh ingredients and tons of flavor. Good serving size too. Went with the Ranch and you can tell it's made in house. 10/10 Fair pricing considering other options on a salad. I will be a repeat customer on this. read more

First Watch - Cobb Salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

I come to this location a lot with friends and I always get a variety of items, depending on if I'm in the mood for lunch or brunch. Recently on my visit, I got the breakfast tacos and they were delicious. It has been a favorite lately, as the portion is hefty. They give you three tacos and they are usually hard shell with eggs, avocado, cheese, black beans and salsa. You can also get a side and I paired it with grits. During one visit, I also had the ham & Gruyère melt and chicken avocado chop salad. I did the pick 2 lunch special. It was so tasty. The service here is always great and I love that you can check out at the table. It helps speed things up if you are on a lunch break. I also have a shellfish allergy and they take proper precautions in ensuring that I don't have any cross contamination. I really love this location, and it is a great choice for breakfast, brunch or lunch. read more

Made a quick decision to eat at First watch on a Sunday. I love that you can put your name on the waitlist online. I'm not sure how effective it is but we never seem to wait long. I do feel like the servers are a little pushy to get everything put in but I think it's due to how long it takes the kitchen to prepare the food. I got my food and waited a good 10 minutes for my boyfriends food to come out. I didn't want to be rude and eat before he got his. Nonetheless, the food is always good! I also think it's worth signing up for their rewards program! You never know what coupons you may get. read more

First Watch - Side of Hardwood Smoked Bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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It's ALWAYS a pleasure to come to First Watch. I dig all the locations (though vestavia is my fave!!) I ordered from the seasonal menu this time, which is always a good decision apart from the fact that the delicious items change just as soon as you get addicted to them lol. But there are plenty of choice on the main menu to keep you happy and satisfied. The coffee is excellent and perfectly caffeinated but also smooth and delicious. Even the BREAD is AHMAXING. You can buy both to take home too. Overall, always a 6 of 5 stars. PS: use the app too. It helps with wait times and menu-perusing read more

This is one of my fav go to brunch! I have been here about 5 times. My family and friends love it so its just an easy choice! read more

First Watch - Frittata Rustica - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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First Watch never disappoints. The breakfast tacos were absolutely delicious. My waffle was cooked to perfection. We had some of the best service. My son got sick at the table and they promptly moved us to another table. Everyone was smiling and their energy was contagious. The bathroom was extremely clean. Definitely coming back here soon to try some additional items this summer. read more

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I knew I could trust First Watch with my dietary restriction, and they absolutely delivered. The waitress was very kind and helped me find things that were vegetarian. Due to her help, I then ordered half of the fresh veggie sandwich and half of the chicken avocado chop without bacon and chicken. The food came out quickly. Eating in a rustic style restaurant was the perfect touch. Although I was seated at the beginning of the restaurant, the foot traffic was light, and it felt secluded. The sandwich was very flavorful. I enjoyed the bright taste of the pesto with the meaty mushrooms. The salad was also very good. Presented with the greens on top with corn and black beans on the bottom. The dressing was a lemon vignette that was a great contrast from the greens themselves. Overall, experience and food are a perfect way to eat delicious food with a rustic atmosphere. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

We had a great experience here. Our server, Will, was excellent. He answered all of our questions, and even cracked a few jokes!! This First Watch is huge!! They have lots of seating, and it's spaced out well. We sat in a booth, but they also have tables. I tried one of their fall specials - honey bacon Brussels hash. It was a hash made of potatoes, brussel sprouts, bacon, onions, arugula, 2 eggs (your choice), and goat cheese. It was oh so yummy!! I also appreciate they had nondairy milk to go with my coffee. I also got a side of gluten-free French toast, and chicken sausage. We will definitely go back when in Birmingham! read more

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First Watch is a good friend's favorite place to meet for Brunch. This was my second visit to this location in Vestavia Hills. We always enjoy ourselves; the bright, windowed dining room is spacious and not over packed with tables. Lots of booth options. Service is friendly, casual and quick, but, when they are busy, the kitchen can get a little backed up. I've only ever eaten a basic breakfast in the past and today I had the ham and cheese with a cup of tomato basil soup. All the food was good, but, not really special. They were very busy, with a line at the door. I think I prefer their breakfast options. My husband had a chefs salad and it looked great! He said it was, but, thought they were a little stingy with the ranch. My friend that frequents First Watch loves that they accommodate her gluten allergy and allow substitutions with a smile. It's a great place. We will go back. The blueberry cornbread was not warm when it came out (at all) but it was SO good! The happy vibe of the place is a plus. read more

First watch provides lots of fresh, healthy options! The salmon eggs benedict was really good, but nothing spectacular. I would definitely come back, but may try something else! The ambiance was bright and welcoming, with a cozy yet modern vibe that made it a great spot for brunch. The service was also excellent and very attentive. Our food arrived quickly without any delays, and the staff made sure we had everything we needed. Overall, it was a solid experience for a good, no-fuss brunch in a pleasant setting. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

The breakfast is very good. It's a really good breakfast place. Not expensive and the staff is very nice and attentive.

First Watch is always a great place for breakfast. When our son is in town, it is always a go-to for us. On the weekends, it can be difficult to get into because the long wait. This time, we went on a Friday morning around 9:00 am, right after Christmas, and we were able to get a table immediately. If they are still on the menu, you have to try the gingerbread spiced doughnuts. You get a nice size order for around $6, and they come with a caramel dipping sauce as well as icing for dipping. They were absolutely delicious, and there was plenty to share between the three of us. My go-to breakfast is the Floridian French Toast. It is a thick-cut brioche bread with wheat germ and powdered cinnamon sugar, and they cover it with fresh bananas, kiwi, and strawberries. I prefer it over their other French toast option because it comes with fresh fruit. read more

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First Watch in Vestavia Hills is a great go-to spot for breakfast or brunch. I ate there not too long ago, and everything was fresh, well-prepared, and exactly what you expect from First Watch--quality ingredients and consistent flavors. The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, the service was friendly, and it's an easy place to enjoy a solid meal whether you're meeting friends or grabbing a casual bite. Definitely worth the stop. read more

Once I find a place I like-- and they are consistent, I'm all in! I've come here with my family, had DoorDash and dined by myself and it's always good. Keep it up First Watch Vestavia read more

After a 5-mile walk, what a great way to start the day with delicious pancakes and parmesan cheese cream sauce on roasted potatoes. I could not finish all the food, so I had to get a bag, and they had a new drink. It's a dragon fruit with lemon that is so refreshing. The service at Vestavia is top-tier. You must stop by and see the staff. They were so friendly and pleasant, and the dining area had enough natural light. read more

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My husband and I were visiting the area for a wedding. We asked our hotel valet for a good breakfast restaurant and they recommended First Watch. We decided to give it a try since it was close. Let me tell you, he was RIGHT! My husband ordered The Works breakfast burrito and a side of cheese grits. I ordered the Triathlete Omelet and a Bloody Mary. Everything was DELICIOUS! Even the bottomless coffee and water! And I cannot complete this review without talking about our awesome server, Lyndsay! She was pleasant, engaging and gave great advice regarding our choices! It's a cozy family friendly restaurant that has a nice, diverse team and customers! If you're in the area, don't miss this amazing restaurant! read more

First Watch - The Works burrito The Millionaire Bloody Mary Triathlete Omelet with fresh fruit Honey Crunch Iced Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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Solid, kind and hard working staff. Food is plentiful and fairly priced. Feel comfortable and cared for. Food has great flavor

So Nutter Butter and I have enjoyed an early morning breakfast at this location twice this past month. Journee was our most recent server, my apologies for not remembering the other. Both ladies were what you'd hope for...friendly and helpful checking in on us without going overboard. The food came out quick, hot and as requested. The establishment is kept clean. No complaints, keep up the good work! read more

I tried first watch for the first time last year and I loved it, first watch is a breakfast/ brunch place, it gives a cozy vibe. I tried the lemon ricotta pancakes, with sausages and biscuits dipped with something that looked like gravy, and I would rate everything a 10. They also serve you with warm syrup, the servers were so nice and welcoming, I would definitely go back to try the place again, the people there are really nice. The only thing that I noticed is that it sometimes gets very crowded and noisy, but if you go very early, this should not be a problem. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

I went to First Watch to grab a quick brunch, and I honestly have no complaints. I chose to dine in and the vibe was nice, it was bright, clean and pretty chill. The atmosphere and design make it feel like a relaxing morning breakfast place. I ordered the market veggie omelet and added turkey sausage, with side of potatoes. I loved the omelet, the mix of goat cheese with the grilled veggies make a great combo. I will say the potatoes were a little too burnt for my liking, but they were still good. Service was also not bad. My server was friendly, checked on us often, and the food came out pretty quick despite being a little busy. Oh I also got a chocolate chip pancake. ITS SO GOOD!!! You have to eat it warm while the chocolate chips are melting. I feel like I can never get myself to try other things, but I need to. read more

First Watch is one of my absolute favorite places to have brunch/breakfast. My girlfriends and I decided to go for breakfast. This location is always crowded but efficient. The wait for 4 was maybe 30 minutes which is not common on weekends. We were called and immediately when we went to our table, we were provided a menu and asked what we wanted to drink. The kale tonic is my go-to for beverages. It is always a refreshing drink. I thought about trying something new as the menu has so many different options. I ordered my regular which was the trifecta. I had egg whites, bacon, and a waffle with a side of strawberries. Unfortunately, I sent it back due to the temperature of the food. This happens frequently when I visit. The food is always good but its just cold. I am not sure if they cook the items one at a time but this is just about every time I visit. The waitress took the food back and when it came back out it was hot and good. Overall, I enjoyed the family friendly environment but would want to them to do a better job when it comes to the temperature of the food. Other than that I enjoyed. read more

First time visit. I'd never heard about this place so I went in with zero expectations and didn't know what kind of food they even served. I was SOOOO pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was! I ordered the BLT Benedict and I simply couldn't believe how fresh and tasty it was. I truly felt like I was in some really fancy restaurant! Our party of 3 had to wait about 15 minutes before we were seated but the waiter was right there and our food arrived within 10 minutes or so. Parking was very ample, the (female) restroom was super clean, our table was properly stocked and clean, and the overall vibe of the place was modern farmhouse. I loved every bite and so did my friends. The manager, Kish Austrie, was super pleasant and kind. I'll definitely search out other locations closer to my home--and I'll bring my other foodie friends and family, too! GO NOW! You're welcome ;) read more

This is one of my favorite franchises for breakfast. The staff was friendly and courteous. They did however seemed to be pulled in different directions. Our wait person was nice and inviting. Our orders were taken and the food came out rather quickly. You can never go wrong with the cheese grits and toast. The million dollar bacon was a hit with the other orders at the table. The food was good, the staff was pleasant and I would definitely go back! read more

First Watch - Cheese grits, fried eggs and toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

We visited another location in Georgia. I remember it fondly, but still haven't found the right dish for me here. The kid's pancake is huge and so light! The Benedict was well done-except for the slightly over cooked eggs. I felt mine was just too heavy for my taste. read more

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One of my favorite brunch spots in town. I highly recommend joining the online waitlist, especially if you plan to visit over the weekend. Some highlights from the menu that I recommend: iced coffee, million-dollar bacon, and the pumpkin donut holes (on their seasonal menu). I went to catch up with friends and got the trifecta breakfast platter. It comes with eggs of your choice, the meat of your choice (chicken, pork, bacon), and either a fluffy Belgium waffle or a pancake. I highly recommend their Belgium waffle. I even added a side of breakfast potatoes and it was a perfect brunch size for me. Overall great atmosphere, easy parking, and spacious seating! read more

First Watch - Pumpkin Spiced Donuts - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Great service. Great food. What more can I say. 85 characters is just too much. Some people just can rattle on about nothing.

We have been here a LOT if you couldn't tell (RE: photos from different dining experiences lol.) But I must say it is mainly out of convenience with this being in Vestavia. I have just never been a fan of any of the sweeter items at First Watch. I always find myself having two, maybe three bites of the sweeter dish and while really focusing on its savory counterpart. Their pancakes are way too dry for me, not fluffy enough, same with the french toast. The hash bowl is definitely my go-to, it's something I must say I genuinely do love here. My all time favorite item here was a temporary dish unfortunately- Vegetarian Chorizo Tacos. I DREAM of having those tacos again! Wish the service were a tad better- I've noticed that when the restaurant is more empty the service is much slower? Too many times have we tried to hail down our waiter for something and they were either completely missing or just walking around the restaurant doing random tasks (e.g. cleaning up/organizing misplaced tableware at empty tables) Lastly- we were SO excited for the Morning Meditation drink pictured below. Craved it for days after seeing an ad. It looked so refreshing... we both hated it lol. In my friend's words "it tasted like sushi." I don't necessarily second that but I still didn't love it:( read more

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Hands done the most covid-compliant restaurant I have seen to date. Seating in for real a fraction of capacity. Tables are 12 feet apart, maybe 8 for the two closest to each other. Tables are sparklingly cleaned in between usage. Sauces come in sealed mini containers, no big bottles nasty to touch. See pic. Payment is at the register and virtually contactless. Food always top notch. Delicious! Absolutely recommend, even during Covid time. read more

First Watch is one of my favorite breakfast/brunch places. I went to the Vestavia Location with two of my friends, and we had a great time. The service was really nice and friendly; the waitress came to check on us every now and then. I was craving something sweet, so I got the Belgian Waffle, which was pretty delicious. My friends had the Avocado Toast and the French Toast, which I had also taken a bite out of. The French Toast was, in my opinion, better than the waffle; the avocado toast was lacking a little in flavor for my taste. The food took a normal amount of time to come out. We had also gone midweek at a slower time, so it was a lot less crowded. I'd say it's in a pretty nice location, surrounded by many other different places, so the parking can get full quickly. They do both have indoor and outdoor seating, but very few outdoor tables. I would definitely recommend trying this place; they have many different brunch options. read more

Brea was absolutely amazing. Great server will come back to see her!!!! Love the chili corizo omelet and toast. Left very full read more

A friend and I met up for brunch and to catch up at First Watch and we enjoyed every part of the experience. When we arrived it was pretty busy so there was a wait time of about twenty minutes and we were called for our table. We went close to closing time which was about 2 in the afternoon but we still received exceptional service and good food. We had the option to eat outside or inside but we opted for inside. Our waiter was really kind and her energy definitely made the experience more enjoyable. I ordered French toast, eggs, and bacon, it was really good my favorite part being the fluffy eggs. We also ordered mocktails which were okay. Overall I enjoyed the food and the experience. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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Never been here before! My first thought was this place was a supply store for first responders. It's a bit of a strange name for a restaurant, but a book ain't it's cover most of the time. It's a very clean restaurant and the staff is very friendly. We didn't have to wait. I noticed there was outdoor seating. At first glance of the menu I was very concerned. It's not a lot of the foods my fiancé and I are accustomed to. There are a lot of choices, most of them a little off of our beaten path, but I'm willing to give most things a chance. There are a lot of healthy options here. Most of them I did not recognize, so I had to ask. If you're looking for traditional breakfast, it's not here. I did have a meat omelet and it was very good! The home potatoes are excellent as well! My fiancé had the turkey sausage with gravy and I was surprised how much I liked it! The fruit cup is a tiny and a bit disappointing. The waffles looked strange, but another in our party said the banana pancakes are the best anywhere! I'll take her word for it. In all we enjoyed it, but it's a little too much for me. While it's good to visit, it won't be on my regular schedule. But the service was great and they have a beautiful restaurant. I'm sure the health conscious will very much enjoy this place! read more

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I had brunch here with some friends. It's definitely kid friendly and has many drink options and food options. I had an iced coffee and lemon ricotta pancakes. My iced coffee was very good and not so sweet. My pancakes were huge and there were two of them with a lemon flavor texture of pudding on top. There were also some strawberries on top. Everyone else enjoyed their food as well. Service was great and the location has lots of parking. We didn't have a wait at 1:30pm on a Sunday. I will definitely be back because I saw many things on the menu I wanted to eat. You could tell the food was fresh. The portions were very fair. You won't be disappointed. Keep in mind they have a few locations to choose from. read more

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Excellent menu and a great ambience. We'll be returning often!! The wait staff was also quick and pleasant. read more

First Watch - Lemon curd uhmmm! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

This place is HORRIBLE!! The service here was so bad! Our waiter lied to us saying it was almost ready but then came back and said that the food still is being made. Worst breakfast experience EVER! I would give it 0 stars if that was an option! read more