Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    First Watch

    3.9 (106 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:30 pm

    Order First Watch Takeout or Delivery

    First Watch Photos

    Business Info

    FIRST WATCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - First Watch

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Robert B.

    Highly recommend getting the waffle and cold brew! Seasoned potatoes are also great. Avocado toast and sausage aren't worth a second chance though. Servers are fast and kind, bonus points for that

    Heidi M.

    I have been to First Watch in three cities/states now and they are always clean, and friendly. The menus have fresh, healthy choices and the prices are not terrible. Service is always great too. This location is my "home location" and I have been here a few times. I love to bring visiting family here for lunch when we are shopping!

    Belgian waffle with blueberry compote
    Marissa B.

    The waitress was very nice. The food was wonderfully tasty, fresh and hot. Hot syrup too! Even the fruit bowl was flavourful. Other places, the fruit has a watered down taste. Our first experience was excellent! We will be back!

    Kale tonic, partially consumed
    Maria S.

    First Watch is my Mom and Dad's favorite breakfast restaurant in Wilmington, so it was a treat to take my Mom to a late breakfast after some dress shopping nearby. It's a bright, clean and welcoming space; the staff is friendly and helpful, working to ensure a consistent, enjoyable dining experience. They can also accommodate food allergies with aplomb. Looking to get some more greens in your diet? Start off with one of their kale smoothies -- delicious and good for you. Mom and I opted for a turkey, feta, and spinach egg white omelet, which was tasty and expertly cooked. Even my GF toast was pretty good, especially with their house-made preserves. A worthwhile restaurant to consider for your breakfast and lunch needs when you're out and about in Wilmington.

    Double Crunch Breakfast Tacos
    Jean P.

    Fresh food, quick service, great host and servers!!! I have never had a bad experience at First Watch no matter how many times I go, or where the location!!! This time was no different!!! The wait was under 20 minutes, the service was quick and the food was delicious as always !!!

    Egg Benedict

    Ordered Egg Benedict and this is how it came. Both of the eggs are hard boiled, not sure how this gets served considering the egg is the main part of the meal. Terrible service, manager didn't come to apologise or talk to us or anything, waited an hour for food just for it to come out like this.

    Izzie M.

    Had a delicious breakfast at First Watch this morning. The blueberry waffle was perfectly made and very sweet! I got Turkey sausage which I also recommend! Waitress was very friendly and fast. Not too busy either. Great atmosphere, music, and lighting.

    Tri-athlete breakfast
    Rachel B.

    Had one of the healthy options on the menu- the tri-athlete breakfast with an egg white omelet packed with veggies and a side of fruit and toast. They have so many options and it's nice to have the calories included for those who like to eat healthy when on vacation :) they also have good gluten free and vegetarian options. We went in the off season so it was not too busy even on a weekend morning.

    Chicken Sausage Patties
    Malcolm F.

    My family and I ate here recently and the food was amazing. Their dragon fruit drink was very refreshing and flavorful, way better than expected. I had one of their original pancakes, the million dollar potatoes, a side of chicken sausage. I also wanted to try their caramel mini donuts. Everything I ordered was fantastic. The donuts were really good but the million dollar potatoes were the best. I would highly recommend. The service was excellent as well. We went on a Sunday afternoon and there were lots of people but we only had to wait about 20mins for a party of four. We requested outdoor seating since it was such a nice day outside. The outdoor seating was nice and way more quiet than being indoors. First watch is absolutely my favorite brunch spot in the city that I've had thus far.

    Carnitas breakfast burrito

    See all

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Food was great. Thank you for my breakfast. Can't wait to come to restaurant to eat. Looking forward to another great meal

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Charity P.
    21
    29
    102

    5 months ago

    Food is great and fresh! Always a good choice! Be prepared to wait on occasion. Always busy! That should tell you food is good!

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Had lunch here today. Excellent service by Lindsey and fantastic food as always. Great experience.

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jennifer G.

    Jennifer G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Lindsey was amazing! Very sweet and attentive. I would request her next time you come!

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jennifer G.

    Jennifer G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Perfect service from our waitress, Dana. Our food was perfect. Just love this place. Atmosphere is awesome.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jennifer G.

    Jennifer G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of First Watch Daytime Cafe

    First Watch Daytime Cafe

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jennifer G.

    Jennifer G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jennifer G.

    Jennifer G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jennifer G.

    Jennifer G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Hanna F.

    Hanna F.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jennifer G.

    Jennifer G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jennifer G.

    Jennifer G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Jennifer G.

    Jennifer G.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kristin S.
    120
    48
    29

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Best breakfast , lots of choices definitely a must every time we travel with the family

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - First Watch

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Breakfast & Brunch 2,248 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Molly Pitcher's American Grill - Burger with bacon

    Molly Pitcher's American Grill

    4.4(208 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    The vibes here are so great! Love the story behind the restaurant's name and a powerful woman!…read more Came here on Saturday for lunch right at opening & we were surprised by how busy it got shortly after. Speaks for itself. The Saturday special was wings & a $5 selected pint! The pint special was a Oktoberfest beer which was fun because usually it's something that isn't really worth the $5 at most places. I got the BYO burger, my husband got the Betsy Ross & my daughter got the kids cheeseburger. Get the Molly's sauce with the fries- it has such great flavor! We all enjoyed our food and had 3 empty plates. Service was fast & all the staff we encountered was very nice. The outdoor patio with tables is always an added bonus for seating options!

    Nice spot for a quality Sunday brunch. When we arrived, there was a pretty significant wait…read more However, they were able to get us seated faster than the estimated 45 minutes. Unfortunately, we were by the door, and it was a little chilly with people coming in and out, but I totally understand that they have to pack in tables due to being so busy. Service was friendly and quick, and they were very patient with the fact that a member of our party was late arriving. I went with the Oh Molly, which included 3 eggs, bacon, sausage, homefries, grits & a biscuit with mollasses butter. They let me sub in double bacon since I don't eat sausage. The main draw for that dish for me was the molasses butter. The molasses flavor wasn't as strong as I was hoping, but it was still really tasty. The biscuit was soft and perfect, I liked the grits, the eggs were cooked right. There was room for improvement on the hashbrowns. For such a busy spot, the gender-segregated single stall restrooms did have a bit of a wait. So, just keep that in mind. Also, when they are busy, their parking lot does fill up. We struggled a bit with parking. I'd definitely stop in again!

    Photos
    Molly Pitcher's American Grill
    Molly Pitcher's American Grill - Shrimp & Oyster Ap

    Shrimp & Oyster Ap

    Molly Pitcher's American Grill - Inside

    See all

    Inside

    Fish Bites Seafood Restaurant - Oyster bites appetizer

    Fish Bites Seafood Restaurant

    4.4(959 reviews)
    6.8 mi
    $$

    You walk into Fish Bites hoping it's still the same place you've trusted over the years--and I'll…read moresay it right up front: it is. Maybe even a touch better. The Food We went straight for what matters. * Chilean Sea Bass -- cooked right, flaky, moist, and seasoned without trying to show off. That's how it's supposed to be done. No nonsense, just good fish handled properly. * Fish Bites (house specialty) -- lightly battered, crispy without being greasy, and paired with both Thai chili and tartar sauces. That combo works. You don't fix what isn't broken, and thankfully they didn't. * Ponzu Tuna Tacos -- these were the standout. Fresh, flavorful, balanced. The ponzu brings just enough bite without overpowering the tuna. If you're going there and skip these, that's on you. Sides held their own--fresh vegetables with a good sauté, and coleslaw that didn't taste like it came out of a tub somewhere in the back. Service Our server, Kali (K-A-L-I), did things the old-school way--attentive without hovering, friendly without being fake. That's getting rare these days, and it's worth mentioning. Value Two people, solid seafood, no corners cut: $67.15 total. In today's world? That's not just fair--that's impressive. Final Take New ownership can sometimes mean a place loses its identity. That didn't happen here. Fish Bites still delivers what made it a favorite--fresh seafood, straightforward preparation, and consistency. If anything, they've tightened things up just enough to notice

    This place had been on my list to try and I was excited to go for a team lunch. The space is small…read morebut has a back bar area and some outdoor seating too. But not the best view with the gas station. Our waitress was nice and attentive. We started with the Oyster Bombs, which were cheesy and delicious. I also got the clam chowder which was hearty and very satisfying. For my main meal, I had the stuffed flounder. It was rich and packed with flavor. I picked the mixed veggies and garlic mashed potatoes as my sides. I ended up taking half home because I was so full! Plus, we got a few slices of cake to share at the office in the afternoon. Everyone enjoyed our meal. I'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Fish Bites Seafood Restaurant - Back bar

    Back bar

    Fish Bites Seafood Restaurant - Peel and eat shrimp

    Peel and eat shrimp

    Fish Bites Seafood Restaurant

    See all

    Copper Penny - Southwest Burger

    Copper Penny

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Finally! After many years, we made it back to Copper Penny! On our return trip from Southport we…read morestopped in downtown to grab a bite before heading home. We started walking around and my wonderful wife suggested Copper Penny. Absolutely! There was a short wait for a table, but we didn't mind. The inside is almost like we remember it. We did notice the menu is a lot smaller. The last time we dined here was around ten years ago. Definitely plenty of options. We went with the onion ring appetizer, Cobb salad, and the BBQ Burger. The atmosphere of Copper Penny is the same. Definitely missed this place. After a short wait our food was brought out. Everything was delicious. This is just an update, but we still love Copper Penny and will continue to return.

    It's been a long time since I last visited the Copper Penny and it's because of my overwhelmingly…read morepositive previous experience with their food and service that I recommend it to my colleagues (who had never been to Wilmington)when we were considering a place for dinner. It was a little embarrassed after spending $192, on food and drinks for 4, with glasses still full of alcohol when we're were asked to leave. We were told that they are enforcing a 90 min in restaurant visit...to the point where they don't care if we had finished our beer/alcohol...clearly they just wanted us out. I've been to a lot of restaurants all over the world but this was the first time in my life that I was asked to leave...we weren't loitering we only wanted to finish our drinks before leaving...the person didn't look at our situation...was very black and white, "you've been here more than 90mins". Their food is good, they are as popular as ever but clearly not a place for people who want to chat and hang out...copper penny is a restaurant not a hangout spot...to me that's loud and clear. As someone who isn't in Wilmington often I rely on my previous experience as a stating point to my ( restaurant) choice. This experience was so jarring that I'll never recommend copper penny to anyone. The food is good but they really don't want or need non local business!

    Photos
    Copper Penny - Order pick up!

    Order pick up!

    Copper Penny - Onion rings with spicy ketchup.

    Onion rings with spicy ketchup.

    Copper Penny - Bbq wings delivered plain with bbq for those who like it that way

    See all

    Bbq wings delivered plain with bbq for those who like it that way

    South Front Tavern - Pan-Seared Maryland Crab Cake
Shrimp Remoulade, Charred Corn Relish

    South Front Tavern

    4.7(57 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    We made another visit here, this time for dinner, and with different friends who have not visited…read moreSouth Front Tavern before. It was great weather this night, so we opted for an outside table that was in total shade. Very comfortable. Our server came by for drink orders. We had no appetizers this visit and went right into entrees. We tried the Port City Burger, the Gnocchi with chicken, cilantro lime shrimp quesadillas and the salmon tacos. Everything was delicious. The only complaint I would have is that the Salmon Tacos was a bit small. The dish is two small tacos with a side of tortilla chips. There is no salsa, no pico de gallo, no slaw. I was actually sorry that I didn't get an appetizer. I was still a little hungry after I finished. We didn't want any of the dessert offered this time. Again, everything was great. Service, food, atmosphere, outside patio. Just my dish was a little less in size. I will keep that in mind next time we visit. I'm not sure something like this would be changed on the menu, but I still wanted to voice my opinion. Still a great place with a great menu and service. If the weather is good, opt for the patio. It is really nice sitting out there.

    Came in for dinner at South Front Tavern with two colleagues who between them have nearly fifty…read moreyears of North Carolina under their belts. I'm the St. Louis visitor in the group, here to be educated on what Southern cooking is supposed to taste like. The verdict by the end of the night was mixed. The space itself is cute and clean, with an industrial-chic, open feel inside, but it gets very loud once it fills up, like hard to hear your side neighbor loud. We lucked into a set of club chairs in a corner away from the main dining area, which knocked the noise down enough that we could hear each other. Without that, I'm honestly not sure we would have stayed. The host didn't blink at seating us over there, and the wait staff throughout the night was friendly. Drinks were fine across the table. My grilled peach old fashioned was the only one I tried, and I was hoping for a sharper, smokier profile, what I got leaned peachy without much else going on. The clams my friend ordered had a little grit in them, so not perfectly cleaned, but the flavor was there. The six-hour baby back ribs was a great start, great sauce, not smothered, fall-off-the-bone tender, the kind of thing I'd come back for. I didn't get a photo because we tore into them too fast, which tells you most of what you need to know. After that, things got uneven. The pork empanadas are listed with an ancho chili jam, but no jam or sauce came with ours. The pastry was crisp and tasty, but the pork inside was under-seasoned, and we left a whole empanada on the plate. The crab cakes was the bigger letdown, my friend, who grew up in Maryland and knows what a crab cake should be, said hers tasted more like a flat, minced patty (possibly with fish filler) than actual crab. She didn't finish it. My gumbo ya-ya had chicken, shrimp, and andouille, but the sauce was thin and tomato-forward where I was hoping for, and a richer sauce. Spice was fine; the whole thing just landed middle-of-the-road. Desserts split the difference. The key lime crème brûlée was genuinely excellent, I'd order it again on its own. The North Carolina blueberry bread pudding was beautifully plated but a little dry in execution for use. We left half of it. One thing worth flagging: the restaurant closes at 8:30, and at 8:30 sharp, with us still finishing dessert, the music came on with the unmistakable "we're closed" energy, even though we'd arrived at 7 and no one else was wandering in late. It made the end of the meal feel rushed in a way that didn't match the otherwise warm service. 3.4 starts out of 5. To be fair: we didn't leave feeling the food was bad, just that we'd ordered into the weaker half of the menu. Our server highly recommended the skillet mac and cheese and the quesadillas, and the skillet cornbread looked great online - we just didn't pull the triggers. We have generous optimism a version of this meal that goes much better than ours did, and on a second visit I'd lean into those recommendations. For now, though, with friends in town and a list of places I haven't tried yet, I probably won't be steering people here for your one night in Wilmington. I'd come back to give it a fairer second shot if I lived here.

    Photos
    South Front Tavern - Interior of South Front Tavern in Wilmington's South  Front District.

    Interior of South Front Tavern in Wilmington's South Front District.

    South Front Tavern - South Front Tavern's Plancha Burger features Gruyere, Mushroom, Arugula, Tobacco Onion and Garlic Aioli on a Brioche Bun.

    South Front Tavern's Plancha Burger features Gruyere, Mushroom, Arugula, Tobacco Onion and Garlic Aioli on a Brioche Bun.

    South Front Tavern - South Front Tavern's Bayou Paella
Shrimp, Clams, Andouille Sausage, Crawfish, Saffron, Bomba Rice

    See all

    South Front Tavern's Bayou Paella Shrimp, Clams, Andouille Sausage, Crawfish, Saffron, Bomba Rice

    Two Guys Grille - Chicken Philly Freddies Special Salad

    Two Guys Grille

    4.6(151 reviews)
    8.7 mi
    $$

    The ambiance is great here! I was greeted immediately as I walked inside. I was told I could sit…read moreanywhere. It was just me today so I chose the bar. Closed captioned tvs playing MLB and I'm able to watch the expeditor get the food out, but place a close eye on orders as they go out. I love this because she is on point and I even heard her say to the kitchen, "Guys, this cheesesteak has been sitting too long for me! Re-Fire!! My type of lady and I love how they made the quick re-fire. Everyone seems happy from the staff to the customers! I found this place on YELP and while I'm drinking a few beers, I already know what I am going to order--Large Garden salad, no tomatoes or cucumbers, and add a crab cake! The crab cakes that I've have seen coming out the kitchen look authentic and not made with fillers! I'm excited! They have pickle spears so you already know that I need at least 4. I'm a happy camper hanging out at the bar! I'm here for a week but it's already looking like I'll be back before I leave! Great job Two Guys!! Only question is: Who are these two guys with this concept?!? Lol. Andddd, it's getting crowded in here! It's 6:45p on a Sunday! I picked a great spot. Thanks YELP!

    The place was decently full for a Saturday night around 5:30. We sat inside since it was a bit warm…read moreand we had a baby with the group. They had 8 or so beers on tap, and a couple more choices in cans. For food, I chose a bacon ranch sandwich in hopes of finding something that wouldn't bother my stomach later. When it was brought out I was surprised to find shredded chicken and not a chicken breast, so that was a little weird. Honestly it tasted more like a Philly cheesesteak in some ways than bacon ranch chicken. It was a little greasy...which did irritate my stomach later. My friends enjoyed their sandwiches/burgers. Staff were friendly and helpful, checking to see if we needed anything a few times.

    Photos
    Two Guys Grille - The dinning area.

    The dinning area.

    Two Guys Grille - Blackened Mahi Tacos

    Blackened Mahi Tacos

    Two Guys Grille - Tropical Lightning IPA-- 07-20-2025

    See all

    Tropical Lightning IPA-- 07-20-2025

    First Watch - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...