I think the food was better than our previous visit, and the waitress we had rally knew what she was doing. HOWEVER, it took us 10 minutes to get on the list for a table because the people at the front end had no idea what they were doing. Someone's charge didn't go to their card or something, so the person who was supposed to take our names started helping the employee at the register, and then they just stood there talking about it for awhile... Eventually they got a manager, but then the three of them talked about it and worked on it together, all while we stood there. It took a total of 10.5 minutes to get on the list for a table.
(3)
Alli R.
I have been to First Watch two times now and while the food is good, the kitchen takes literally FOREVER. to get the food out. The menu has a good variety of choices, and the juices are great, I just wish the food could be faster coming out. The first experience going there wasn't great, our server seemed like she would rather be anywhere but at work. She didn't refill water quickly, or check in. Of course the food took a long time as I've said. The second experience was better in the fact that the server was super friendly and attentive but again, the wait is ridiculous. Especially for breakfast food. Not sure if I would go again.
(3)
Ashley K.
Their brunch/lunch selections are really tasty and I particularly like the Acapulco Express Omelet. It is delicious! I am not crazy over their location but the food is worth a visit.
(4)
Melissa W.
Yelp didn't let me down! Surprised by this place, I actually was expecting a mom & pop place. Apparently it's a chain. But it's very good. Got 2 pancakes, one chocolate chip and one pumpkin, and granola with yogurt. My eyes were bigger than my stomach. The pancakes were VERY good. Granola was home-made! Free wifi, cool atmosphere. Would definitely come back!!
(5)
Josh G.
First Watch is a chain and not especially overwhelming. I'd say for a basic meal it's reliable, but is nothing inspired. The service can be sporadic, last I was there they probably needed another server, but other than that it's a casual venue and it's reasonably priced.
(3)
Ayusa S.
Great service, a pot of coffee for $2.39, lots of food for a good price! The pumpkin pancake was the best pancake I have ever had. The crepegg was interesting, not my favorite but still good. The potatoes with the crepegg were also good not great, could use a little more seasoning for my taste. All of the food was really fresh so I felt healthy eating so much! Would become a regular here if I lived here!
(5)
Nikeita P.
I had the strawberry chicken salad minus the almonds since I am allergic to many tree nuts. He salad was good and incorporated a lot of fresh, juicy and sweet strawberries. The only downside to the salad was the small amount of Chicken that was provided. I assume because my order omitted the almonds, I noticed the lack of "protein" in the dish. I wish the cook/chief who prepared the dish would have given me something extra to substitute the absence of almonds in my salad.
(4)
Yuriy B.
Had breakfast here when visiting some friends nearby for the weekend. I'm not familiar with this particular chain, but the first impression was a good one. It's a pretty basic, straightforward restaurant along the lines of an IHOP, just with a touch of added class. Not to say that IHOP isn't classy. The experience was good for what it was. I ordered the Fall Harvest Hash which was a seasonal item, but it was tasty, but not mindblowing. Also, based on recommendation, ordered ONE cheddar pancake, which was absolutely huge and delicious. For a $1 extra you can get real maple syrup on the side as opposed to the everyday ultra-processed high fructose corn syrup variety. Our server was an excellent bearded fellow who was very friendly and pleasant. My only complaint was that the coffee was pretty subpar. For a restaurant so heavy on the breakfast/brunch aspect, good coffee was an expectation and it was really kind of bland. I do ,however, tend to be picky with coffee. Worth a visit.
(4)
Sarah B.
A nice breakfast spot. Mostly eggs, omelettes and the like. This location didn't have the sausage and gravy my husband was looking for. The server indicated that some of the southern locations carry that menu, but they didn't get much call for it in this area. I had the key west crepeggs, which was tasty and filling. The potatoes seemed to have been frozen, but they were ok. My husband had turkey avocado eggs benedict which he seemed to like. My friend had regular fruit crepes which she liked as well. The server was pleasant and the location was clean. We were on our way to a wedding nearby (bride in tow and some of the wedding party, so we wouldn't be able to eat for several hours yet), and I wouldn't make a special trip for this. Right down the middle "ok" for me.
(3)
Matthew L.
Excellent brunch place. Generous portions and fresh ingredients. Good pancake and clever specials. Plus can't beat the pricing. I wouldn't make a special trip, but definately worth a stop if in the area.
(4)
Nayoung L.
I came here for breakfast on Sunday morning and enjoyed my "healthy" breakfast. The restaurant is small, cute and no-frills. We sat down immediately and our server was excellent. I tried their kale juice which was fresh and delicious. Everything we ordered was good and I don't remember last time two of us could get brunch for about $20 at a sit down restaurant. Would love to have this option in the city!
(4)
C W.
Fantastic for families with little ones! The front of the house staff are VERY friendly and keep my son entertained. Really enjoy going first thing in the morning when it's not too crowded. Food is pretty good but maybe a little over priced. Great coffee and always a nice family outing for us.
(4)
Jania S.
Drove by this place for over a year and had no idea how amazing it is. Highly recommend for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Healthy options but for those who don't care about health they have great yummy pancakes and crab Benedict too!!
(5)
Nola M.
This was my second experience eating at First Watch and it was just as enjoyable at the first time. This time I ordered the, "The Elevated Egg sandwich", which was delectable, and filling. This order also came with a side of hash which was just as good as the sandwich.
(5)
Cori B.
Been to this location quite a few times, finally getting able to write a review! It's always busy, but relatively clean, quick, and delicious every single time. Today there was a bit of a backup seating tables, because the hostess' iPad wasn't working and one person was handling checkins, seating, and ringing up checks. The manager eventually came up and sorted it out by helping. The menu offers a wide variety of different types of breakfast/lunch foods, especially plenty of "healthier" options. The kitchen seems fairly efficient, usually only takes 10-15 minutes for food to come out hot and yummy! Overall, a solid breakfast place and a step above the nearest IHOP or Bob Evans!
(5)
Sean C.
First Watch delivers consistently good gourmet breakfast. Options for a healthy breakfast are plentiful. I enjoyed a delicious bowl of oatmeal! and what made the experience great was the fantastic service from our waitress Casey!
(5)
Pam D.
Our overall experience was "ok" - 3 stars. We had heard good things about the restaurant. Our visit last Sunday at noontime was our first. The interior of the restaurant is pretty - pale yellow walls and vibrant, attractive art work. The folks at the front desk were pleasnt. What we noticed immediately after sitting down was the noise level in the restaurant was through the roof - mind thumbing, head thumping LOUD. There were a few children there but they didn't seem unduly noisy. We honestly had trouble hearing each other (after a few tables left, things quieted down). The restaurant is very open and we didn't see anything that might help tone down the noise level. Our waiter (didn't tell us his name which I think is always a nice touch for a server to say what their name is) was pleasant and courteous but was very odd in his mannerisms and the way he talked to us (as if we were in pre-school). Hubby had eggs, sausage and an English muffin. He said it was "ok" - not good, not bad - just ok. I had the Reuben sandwich. It was a very dry Reuben - not a trace of Thousand Island so I requested and our server did bring some Thousand Island dressing. The sandwich was accompanied by some greens. I thought (but perhaps I am wrong) the greens were to have a mild dressing on them - there was no dressing whatsoever. The Reuben was "ok" - certainly a far cry from better Reubens I have had elswhere. (one of the best I have had is at Firehouse Tavern in Parkville). Prices were very reasonable. We honestly don't feel we would rush back to the restaurant given the horrific noise level that made having a conversation impossible and the fact the food was no better than "average".
This place is a chain, first and foremost. The meal was mediocre at best. Not fresh ingredients at all. Nothing special. No real effort put into the breakfast we ate. I feel bad for the suburbanites that this is their only choice.
(1)
Virginia B.
I enjoyed the simple offerings. Everything I tried was good! I'm a big soup, salad, and sandwich girl. My favorite casual chain is Panera Bread. This was a more refined version of Panera. Rather good.
(4)
Maggi R.
This was our first visit to First Watch, and it was a very pleasant one. Liz, our server, could not have been more welcoming, attentive and upbeat. The restaurant was filling up quickly and had a lively vibe. Our breakfast choices of French Toast Monte Cristo and the Parma Hash were plentiful and very good. A nice touch are the coffee and water carafes on the table. Thank you so much.
(5)
John M.
Great breakfast/lunch spot. Staff is friendly and attentive and the food is certainly a step up from something like IHOP. I usually get an omelette with fruit on the side. The eggs are nice and fluffy, not dense or over cooked. This time I got the chikkichanga, which had whipped eggs, chicken, chorizo, avocado, and onion inside a fried tortilla and topped with sour cream and some kind of delicious red sauce. I'm intrigued by the "power bowls" that have chicken, nuts, quinoa and some other stuff. Will order one of those next time. I've been here four times, always on Saturday or Sunday around noon, and have always had to wait 5-25 minutes. Understandable for what I assume is their peak time.
(4)
Brandon H.
Great menu - filled with lots of really healthy options at a reasonable price. I live in California so I was quite surprised to see this kind of food being served in Baltimore. I had the Chicichanga Burrito which was delicious. Everything on the menu looked great and everyone in my party really enjoyed their meal. If you're looking for a healthy meal - check this place out. It's only open til 2ish everyday though.
(5)
William T.
Not sure what happened to this place, I've been here over the past several years and they have been consistent on food and quality. But my recent visit was a mediocre at best. I order the traditional and my wife order the waffle, which we've order before and was very satisfied. However, this last time the pancakes and waffle came out under cooked. I told our server and she graciously took it back to have another recooked for us. The second one came out under cooked too. My only guess is that they were busy? Not sure as it was still early on Sunday, before 10AM and it wasn't busier than other weekends. Not sure if I will be coming here for breakfast again, which is too bad as the staff is wonderful.
(2)
Jody B.
I normally enjoy this chain's Rockville branch, but was pretty disappointed this morning at the Timonium location. I had a trifecta and my mom had a traditional breakfast, both with scrambled eggs. Unfortunately both eggs were not scrambled... Just a fried egg cut up, so there were distinct white and yellow sections. The place was mostly empty so in not sure what the cook's rush was. We sent one back for that reason, but they gave us new eggs prepared exactly the same. I'm not sure how a breakfast specialty place doesn't know how to scramble an egg.... but here we are. The rest of the food was fine as was the service.
(2)
Glenn S.
I love this place. I eat here 2-3 times per week. I hold my weekly staff meeting here and my family does breakfast once or twice a week. Best waffles, pancakes, eggs... wow!!! It's a great mix of great food and healthy choices. Definitely try the kale tonic! My ONLY negative is that they do not serve turkey bacon. They do serve turkey sausage however. It's good but I really wish they would add turkey bacon to the menu.
(5)
Noelle C.
Great fresh options, lots of healthy choices. Free paper and wifi, and the servers say, "take your time." Decor is cookie-cutter chain fare, but pleasant, clean, and comfortable. Made to order, no heat lamps is great, but my first pancake was a bit too cool. Servers jumped to fix the problem. Big plus is no auto-gratuity no matter how big your group. Well be back!
(4)
Chrissy S.
My fiance and I went here for the first time today after reading the great reviews but in the first 5-10 mins it was a disappointing experience. When we walked in, the guy who was seating people just stared at us from across the room before we were seated. Once seated at the table we were greeted by dirty glasses. The actual waiter for our table skipped us to take both the drink and food order for the man next to us, who came in and was seated after us. After walking past us he returned to offer us coffee or water, no inquiry on whether we were ready to order. We did not stay, it wasn't looking like it would be a promising experience.
(1)
Eliza K.
Love this place and we are regulars to this location. The staff is pleasant and attentive. The food is almost always served quickly and appropriately hot. The specials featured should make it onto the menu full-time! Would love to see the Kale Salad and the newest egg/bacon/avocado/lemon crema sandwich. It would be EXTREMELY helpful to add a gluten free dressing option so that I could bring my Mom for lunch. If Jason's Deli (literally next door) can have such a great gluten free focus...then you could certainly find at least a dressing for your menu. If you don't like eggs, then your menu for GF customers is pretty dismal. I hate being steps away from First Watch but having to go to Jason's instead to accommodate her dietary needs. Favorites: Key West Crepe Eggs, pancakes, quinoa bowls, tomato soup and beefeater sandwich, pecan chicken salad, and so many others. There is a Sun eClub to join that will email you specials and discounts. There is a Pick 2 option on the menu for 1/2 sandwich plus soup or small salad. Love their servers! Tiffany & Jeremy are particularly awesome, but we have had good service from most all of them. The few that were slow to fulfill their promises don't seem to be employed there anymore. This should help improve the reviews on the service issues that I see mentioned in some older reviews.
(5)
Caroline C.
SLOW. And cold. Food is OK but overpriced for what is it. Everything takes forever. I've been waiting for 40 min. Food finally came and my soup was lukewarm and my boyfriends sandwich was dry. Little to no effort. Terrible experience, albeit a story to tell.
(1)
Katy K.
Our first visit was a Sunday around lunch. Possibly the busiest time of the week but the staff managed the crowd very well. During the wait we looked at the menu and she took our order right before we were seated. When we were seated it didn't take long for the first meal came out quickly but we had to wait for the other 2 meals. That made it a little awkward as one of us was eating and about 1/3 done by the time the other meals came. He couldn't wait of course or he's meal would have been cold. That being said, we were all pleased with the food. Large portions and seasoned perfectly. We all had breakfast food. The breakfast scramble, which was made without spinach on request, florentine Benedict, and the kids fruit crepe (which came with some of their delicious granola). The coffee wasn't worth the price so I'll skip that next time. The large juice was a good size. We did feel a little rushed once at the table. It was so crowded though. I'm not sure if I felt rushed from the server or just all the people. Overall, good was great. Service was ok. I'll go back but maybe not on a Sunday.
(3)
Clark M.
My ideal first date always involves breakfast. It's early in the day and if the date is not going well your day isn't ruined. While on the other hand if things go well you can progress the date into a walk through the park, garage sale rummaging, weaving friendship bracelets... First Watch is my go-to for breakfast dates. There is never (even on Mother's Day!) a long wait for a table, always fresh ingredients and the friendliest staff you can imagine at such early hours. If you get nothing else, try out the Iced Tea. It's freshly brewed and fantastic in every way you want iced tea to be fantastic: light, refreshing, and deeply flavorful.
(4)
Jackie A.
You Yelpers are in serious need of a good breakfast, because this place just isn't it. You want good - run to your nearest Ihop and feast on fluffy pancakes, served with four flavored syrups, or choose from waffles, French toast, eggs and anything else your imagination can whip up, to include lunch and dinner items. I do like the idea of healthy options, which there are plenty of, at this establishment. An outdoor dining is another plus, in my opinion - but, the positives stop there. I ordered a bacon, tomato, avocado eggs benedict. A tiny wedge of avocado atop the eggs benedict, which beneath there lay a day old slice of bacon and an unripe tomato slice. My mom ordered the Caps, etc. Ample mushrooms arrived piping hot in a small bowl with melted cheese on top, not a cheese sauce - but, melted. Well, after a few minutes, the melted cheese looked like glue. Mom just peeled off the layer - how unappetizing was that? Very! Eggs are eggs, but with the runny yolk and no buttered English muffins accompanying this dish, mom waited five minutes for her waitress to return with the butter. By then, though, her muffins were no longer warm and the yolk, left on the plate. Another disappointment. The hubby wasn't very hungry, so he chose a tomato soup. He says he like it and I thought it way to acidic for my liking. One last thing, the potatoes weren't real, come to think of it - several of the menu items were either unripe, not real, missing something and not plentiful. A total disappointment.
(2)
Danielle B.
Went for breakfast. Everything was very good - pancakes, chickichonga, French toast. Service was lacking. We saw our server to order then others dropped off our food then our server brought the check. We needed a couple of things but no luck.
(3)
Michelle H.
I'm not going to go into detail about the food because every dish I've had is good and well, being a chain, it's consistently made. Perhaps it's a fluke but the service we've received here is always a bit off, especially if you compare it to their Pikesville location - hence the 3 stars. Here are some examples: 1) At our very first dining experience, I asked what the Veracruz sauce was on the Chickichanga and the server had no idea. She simply said it was good. I know this isn't a four star restaurant but what if I had a strong aversion or food allergy to an ingredient? If this is a signature menu item, the staff should be able to talk knowingly about it. 2) They tout their coffee pots, so I would think they would want to make sure you have what you need to enjoy it. During another visit, I noticed as soon as we were seated that there was only one Splenda packet available - and that just wouldn't cut it for my sweet tooth. Right after ordering coffee, I asked if the server would please bring out more Splenda, which she politely said "Right away!" and sadly, never did. Womp womp. 3) At their Pikesville location, the servers are so quick to bring out beverage refills that your glass never less than 1/3 full. Here, it's like pulling teeth to get one because they don't keep an eye on it nor do they check in regularly. And I know they change muffins daily, even sometimes even mid-day, but their servers have never been able to tell me what kind of muffin is available. 4) On our most recent visit, part of the way through my Fresh Fruit Crepes, I looked down to see that some of the banana slices that had fallen out were spoiled. When we brought this to the attention of our waiter, he said they looked fine and basically walked away. After some time, he dropped off a dish of more banana slices but we were already getting up from the table to pay. This place is fine if you're up already up the 83 corridor, but if you had the choice, I'd opt for their Pikesville location. The service is far beyond.
(3)
Amy W.
Very good breakfast place. I had the cranberry nut pancakes and enjoyed each bite. Comfortable and bright atmosphere. Staff was friendly but overworked.
(4)
Paul W.
The NoWait app is wonderful. We are 10 minutes away. There was a 15 to 30 minute wait this morning. Logged in and registered 20 minutes in advance. Three minutes after arriving we were seated. Shortest wait ever. Great feature. Thanks First Watch. Paul
(5)
Shaelyn R.
Incredible food, friendly and efficient service, great prices! You have to try this place. Been here tons and never had a complaint.
(5)
Ashlee K.
What a great little breakfast/brunch spot! The ingredients were fresh and the food was well seasoned. I love that they incorporate avocado into a variety of dishes. I had a breakfast hash, and my husband opted for a sandwich (turkey club). Both were awesome! The menu has some great choices; I can't wait to return to try something else! Also, their freshly brewed iced tea was perfect. It's a quiet little place with friendly service. It was great for a little date, but it's casual and perfect for families, too.
(5)
Carrie O.
Sweet Husband Mine and I had been meaning to get down here to try this place out for ages, but we're typically late risers on the weekends, and it was always either closed or closing up when we finally arrived. This past weekend, however, we finally lucked out. After a long, hard workout on Saturday, SHM and I said, "Hey, First Watch, it's still open. Let's go!" At first glance, we were impressed by how BUSY it was, even at 1pm. We didn't think we were even going to be able to get a seat - but it was only a short, 5 minute wait and in the meantime we were allowed to peruse the menu. Staff was very friendly and willing to answer any and all questions. They have a handy website which you can use to count up calories/nutritional stats (though the total isn't available, you have to add the numbers up yourself - I didn't mind but it can be a pain for others). Once we did that, we ordered. I decided on a Chickichanga and SHM ordered a stack of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. People, you need to order this Chickichanga. I mean that very sincerely. It is probably one of the most delicious things I have ever had in my mouth. Scrambled eggs wrap up a filling of green chilies, chorizo sausage, onions, pure deliciousness, and it's all covered in a rich, velvety spicy tomato sauce (Veracruz) with sour cream. Oh-em-effing-GEE, okay? It came with a side of seasoned potatoes and a small bowl of fruit as well, just more temptation on top of temptation. All of this was accompanied by a bottomless (or so it seemed) coffee carafe, with International Delight creamers to top it off. SHM loved his pancakes - and yes, they are as big as your face. Definitely so. The Chickichanga (as ordered) can go over 1000 calories, so be mindful of that. For what it's worth, you can order it specially (no egg yolks, sour cream and sauce on the side, etc.) and they will accomodate with no fuss whatsoever. Definitely a plus. They have other items that are not breakfast-oriented, and I may try those on my next visit. The price was stellar at 21 dollars for two, and the quantity (and quality!) of the food was very worth the money. If you want a personal "homemade" recipe - stay home and make it. If you want a good, filling breakfast at a reasonable price, you want to come here. I'll be back, for sure. Note: The restaurant closes at 3pm, but the kitchen closes at 2:30pm.
(5)
Lindsay S.
Decent breakfast. I came here with my mom and we had literally the weirdest waiter ever. I had to bite my tongue every time he came over because he was so odd. SUPER nice though. It's not close to where I live so I don't know I'll be back, but overall it was a pleasant breakfast.
(3)
Michaek S.
First not-so-bad! Eh-- my blueberry pancakes were standard issue, as was my bacon,and coffee was forgettable- not truck-stop gagging, but no so good. Real maple syrup a plus- granted you pay a premium for it. My wife's fancy salad was good- pecans and bacon and chicken and mesclun- but honestly we can whip that up at home easy, and her bread slice was a little stale and her iced coffee too sweet. My son's Monte Cristo was tasty enough, but again not outstanding- just standard fare. If I was hungry in a strange city and saw this place, I'd go because I know I'd get decent fare. Otherwise- just OK, not worth a repeat visit.
(3)
Sarah G.
I'm not a breakfast person and First Watch has me wanting to go back for more! The hostess sat our group of 5 immediately on a busy Saturday morning and our waitress was there to take drink orders within minutes. I ordered a cup of coffee, they brought me a whole 4-cup pitcher. They're fueling my addiction! The hash. They have several "flavors" of which I chose the farmhouse chicken hash (grilled chicken,onions, red peppers, zucchini, cheddar and scrambled eggs over roasted potatoes, topped with pesto hollandaise). If breakfast was like this all the time, I'd eat it more often. Great service, tasty food, and close to the climbing gym we frequent means that First Watch will become our go-to post climbing feast spot. If this place can get a thumbs up from me and 4 hungry college boys, I'd say it's worth your time.
(5)
Georgia K.
We went to First Watch last week and I still can't get over how delicious their avocado toast was! Our waitress was not great, but the food made up for it. The French toast and pancakes are also great there! We tried a little bit of everything!
(4)
Tierra C.
Waking up before 6 a.m. on a work day is unheard of unless it's to catch breakfast here.
(4)
Jonny P.
Not bad, but not great. Service mainly. Took a good while for the server to get our drink order after she said she'd be right back. I know, not a big deal but we watched her just walk around doing nothing. Food was okay, but the bacon was over cooked. Waffles were decent. Coffee hot and well priced meals. I'll attribute it to them just opening up in the last few weeks. Health fare for sure.
(2)
Allison L.
Came here for lunch with coworkers since we've pretty much exhausted most of the other lunch options in the area. Didn't realize it was a restaurant with wait service which kind of slowed things down and is why I probably wouldn't suggest this as a spot if you're on a standard hour lunch hour. It was pretty clear from the service that this place was newly opened, but, our waiter and everyone else we encountered was really nice so that made up for it. We all opted for breakfast and the food was good, but took a long time to be made and there was some confusion with what was included in each meal and things were brought out several minutes apart. The food was good though, and the menu had lots of good options, so I'll probably be back to try other stuff, just when time doesn't matter.
(3)
Nicole W.
The variety of dishes and service were great, but expect an I-hop level quality. Some of the foods looked a tad artificial in color, but was still delicious! Definitely a convenient and laid back breakfast spot. I really enjoyed my cinnamon raisin French toast! Just what I was craving!
(3)
C P.
Giving them one more star because management responded to my review. We probably won't be back but it says a lot for First Watch that they care about their customers experience. Try it for yourself. They have lots of happy diners.
(3)
Aaron P.
Great food & they'll even bring you real cream for your coffee if you don't want the nasty little chemical concoctions (international delight) on your table.
(4)
Skylar S.
Really enjoyed my brunch with the family. We went as a group on a Sunday AM, and were sat right away. Server was great, and the food was pretty great. I had the Chicknchanga. It was one of the best breakfast items I have ordered in a while. It was basically a crepe with eggs, green chilie, chorizo and deliciousness. I recommend highly, and will be back.
(5)
Joan S.
Great place!! Very friendly staff. Our server, LA (Laura Ann) was fantastic! The food was really good. I had the BLT Benedict, which was excellent. The place was very clean. Quite busy for a week day. Highly recommend this restaurant. Will definitely go there again when I am in this area.
Had brunch there yesterday. Food was delicious and our server was great. Similar to Miss Shirley's but parking is easy, food is more reasonable and it was not nearly as noisy!
(5)
M B.
We tried this place this past weekend and weren't overly impressed. I got a turkey wrap with egg whites and thought it was very tasty. However, for the amount we paid, it was quite small and ungenerous. My fiancee ordered the turkey burger and just wasn't thrilled with the presentation or the taste. I also tried the hash browns and found them to be so salty that they were inedible. Even worse was the cost of the meal which came in at around $30. $2.50 for a cup of coffee? $2.50 for a glass of Coke? At a breakfast/brunch joint? At those prices, I expect the food to be sublime and decently-sized. We are unlikely to ever go back. I will add that our waiter was attentive and the hostess was nice.
(2)
Leigh H.
Overall, this place serves great food. Whether you are looking for something healthier, or want to indulge, this is a great place to go. When watching what I eat, I had the Healthier Side dish, and the only disappointing part was the tomato slices, but they are out of season. I also appreciate the fact that if you want cholesterol free/fat-free eggs, they are an option AT NO ADDITIONAL cost. In fact, they never make a fuss when you request a substitution. When I indulged, I had a belgian waffle, and it was beyond delicious. Also, the fact that they leave you a carafe of coffee is great. I wish the place was open for dinner!
(5)
John R.
I have been to this location a bunch of times since they have opened. Food is always flavorful. Menu selection takes a little bit of time to decide sometimes (everything is so good). Staff is crazy friendly. Wait time is usually only about 25 min on a really busy morning. Drinks are a little pricey (3.50 for chocolate milk) I will be returning many more times to this location. They also have a location in Pikesville.
(5)
Jenny N.
I had breakfast there with my bf today for the very first time and we both thought the food was awesome. You get a good amount of food for the price. Our food came out pretty fast and it was delicious. Our waiter was very nice but you can tell that he was new and kinda nervous. I'm sure in time service will be better. I will take a nice inexperienced waiter over a rude experienced waiter anyway. I would 100% recommend this place. Great food, great price.
(4)
Angie B.
Great food and unique combos like the chickichanga omelette which was awesome but the service is lacking slightly. Our iced teas were never refilled and staff was not attentive after our food was served. Would be five stars otherwise.
(4)
Devon N.
3.5 stars The food is good but not great. Try the carrot cake pancakes they will not dissapoint. Service was friendly but confused our order a bit.
(3)
Josh R.
This is one of my favorite breakfast places in Baltimore co. I have gone here 3 times now and each time the food has gone beyond my expectations. Portions are medium large. You will be able to finish it and feel very satisfied. My wife and I both love savory breakfast and have no complaints. There fresh fruit was also great. They had all ripe fruit and was fantastic. Would definitely recommend you check this place out.
(5)
Ada G.
This is the best breakfast place in Timonium. They have some great choices on the menu that are super healthy. I like to eat as close to paleo as possible, and they have some great gluten free options. You can substitute a salad and fruit for the potatoes and toast with your omelet. I had the chorizo omelet with sauteed onions, mushrooms, yummy cheese, salsa and sour cream. It was awesome - I actually considered licking the plate. My hubby had "the works" omelet and he was really happy with it as well. My daughter had the kid's egg, toast and bacon combo. Everything came out warm and delish. The staff are pretty young and they messed up our order the first time we were there. Service is kind of slow. That said, I still give the place four stars because there is nothing close to the selection and freshness within 10 miles of this place for breakfast. Highly recommend this place!
(4)
Thad G.
First Watch is an awesome place for a healthy, ingredient conscious breakfast. The Key West Crepe-eggs are outstanding - slightly sweet crepe, fresh turkey, bacon, avocado, super duper. Fresh English muffins are great- ask them to toast them to crispy because they can be mildly doughy if that's not your style. They are almost always on a wait, but they offer free coffee and there's only been one time where I had to wait for that. Overall an outstanding breakfast place, especially if you are looking for healthy options.
(5)
Megan P.
Food is ok, but they try to hurry it so potatoes are under cooked. Their bowls are mainly potatoes with very little other substance. Overall, a decent restaurant if you are bored and looking for something semi healthy.
(3)
Candice M.
Service was quick, but not rushed. Creative and mouth-watering menu. I had the Eggs Benedict with Ham and Tomato and my husband had the Baja Turkey Burger. Both were equally good. I just wish the Eggs Benedict had a little bit more Hollandaise, but other than that, I would definitely get it again. Husband had no complaints about the turkey burger either, and he is normally not a fan of burgers that is not made of ground beef. Yay for great breakfast/lunch places like this. Oh and best of all, FREE WI-FI
(4)
Alan B.
Previous reviewers are letting this place off easy. This is like a re-branded IHOP. The food is not bad, nor is it good. The price point is above the quality. They are just riding the wave of mediocrity here. There are eye catching ingredients and menu items that lure the buyer in, but it is the method of preparation and flavor that keeps the food from standing out. For example, the eggs taste like they came from a bulk pre-whipped bag and the highly advertised pancakes come from a mix. I make my pancakes from scratch and cook them in a cast iron skillet with abnormal amounts of butter. When I go out to eat, I expect my recipe and method of cooking to be trumped and rightly so. I'm an amateur and these guys are supposed to be the pros. I'll stick to Fells Point locals for my breakfast cravings.
(3)
Jennifer J.
Fresh and delicious! Wish I lived closer, I would be a regular. BLT Eggs benedict was a 10.
(5)
Erin P.
Food was excellent - fresh & delicious...staff was courteous & responsive...will definitely go back!
(5)
Howard A.
Great new restaurant in Timonium. Breakfast was outstanding. Plenty if hot coffee and ample room to read the paper. Sidewalk breakfast was a nice addition. The omelette was one of the best I've had in the area. We will return for breakfast and am looking forward to trying lunch.
(4)
Austin E.
Great new place for breakfast /lunch in the 'ville. It's a full service cafe that is bright, comfortable, new and clean. Food is great w large breakfast/lunch menu you can order all day. Good coffee, friendly staff. They serve 10 types of pancakes!
(5)
Sophia L.
Great service and food =) my girlfriend and I had brunch one day and sat there for a few hours eating and talking =)
(4)
Bryan P.
The new fall special, pumpkin pancakes, is the go to breakfast now. Very fresh, nicely textured and expertly seasoned. The omlettes are Also yummy. Be warned the accompanying potatoes are more onions than potatoes but are still tasty. A little pricey at $22 for an omlette and two pancakes, but tasty enough to be a special breakfast outing every once in a while.
(4)
Jan T.
After recently being introduced to the concept of brunch (yes, it is odd), we made the trek here last Saturday following the receipt of a two-for-one coupon to celebrate the opening. Well worth it. The space is well lit, open, and has a diner-level of noise (though without the flimsy booths and juke box), as well as a menu consisting entirely of breakfast items (omeletts, burritos, etc) and lunch selections. They close at 2 pm daily, so no dinner here. Our server was friendly, quick, and not overly aggressive (three checks throughout the meal). The food was excellent and, as a nice touch, you get an entire pot of coffee with your order. Good coffee too, with a nice wake-me-up burn to it. Prices are very reasonable, with the two meals coming out to less than $25, even before applying the coupon. We will be back. PS: There is free wi-fi if anyone needs it.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Service was initially inattentive, no one greeted us at the door and we had to wait to be seated, but the food looked so good that we gave them a few minutes before leaving. I ordered the chicken bacon pecan salad, which I could have easily made at home, with higher quality ingredients (I would have used duck bacon rather than pork bacon, and would have used larger pieces of organic white meat chicken, and would have substituted actual carrot slices in place of shredded salad mix carrots). The side ciabatta was stale and hard, like it was a day old. The iced coffee was overly sweet, since I prefer to sweeten my beverages myself. My son and husband rated the coffee "just OK." My husband's ridiculously annoying diet app on his iphone was able to pull up the nutritional value of every single menu option and some options were worse than others. My husband's pancakes were prepared with a basic bisquick mix, and I could have made them at home quicker. My son's Monte Cristo was "just OK"per him.
(3)
Christopher T.
This First Watch just opened this past week, but this was also my first time at any First Watch. I can easily say that I will be back here many more times. The coffee and food were delicious, and the service was great. The menu had a lot of variety, but also carried a lot of standards as well. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Kathryn P.
Really like this place! Great breakfast options - healthy and not much... Something for everyone. The pancakes are huge and delicious! 4/5 for service really...
(4)
William T.
Not sure what happened to this place, I've been here over the past several years and they have been consistent on food and quality. But my recent visit was a mediocre at best. I order the traditional and my wife order the waffle, which we've order before and was very satisfied. However, this last time the pancakes and waffle came out under cooked. I told our server and she graciously took it back to have another recooked for us. The second one came out under cooked too. My only guess is that they were busy? Not sure as it was still early on Sunday, before 10AM and it wasn't busier than other weekends. Not sure if I will be coming here for breakfast again, which is too bad as the staff is wonderful.
(2)
Jody B.
I normally enjoy this chain's Rockville branch, but was pretty disappointed this morning at the Timonium location. I had a trifecta and my mom had a traditional breakfast, both with scrambled eggs. Unfortunately both eggs were not scrambled... Just a fried egg cut up, so there were distinct white and yellow sections. The place was mostly empty so in not sure what the cook's rush was. We sent one back for that reason, but they gave us new eggs prepared exactly the same. I'm not sure how a breakfast specialty place doesn't know how to scramble an egg.... but here we are. The rest of the food was fine as was the service.
(2)
Glenn S.
I love this place. I eat here 2-3 times per week. I hold my weekly staff meeting here and my family does breakfast once or twice a week. Best waffles, pancakes, eggs... wow!!! It's a great mix of great food and healthy choices. Definitely try the kale tonic! My ONLY negative is that they do not serve turkey bacon. They do serve turkey sausage however. It's good but I really wish they would add turkey bacon to the menu.
(5)
Noelle C.
Great fresh options, lots of healthy choices. Free paper and wifi, and the servers say, "take your time." Decor is cookie-cutter chain fare, but pleasant, clean, and comfortable. Made to order, no heat lamps is great, but my first pancake was a bit too cool. Servers jumped to fix the problem. Big plus is no auto-gratuity no matter how big your group. Well be back!
(4)
Ashlee K.
What a great little breakfast/brunch spot! The ingredients were fresh and the food was well seasoned. I love that they incorporate avocado into a variety of dishes. I had a breakfast hash, and my husband opted for a sandwich (turkey club). Both were awesome! The menu has some great choices; I can't wait to return to try something else! Also, their freshly brewed iced tea was perfect. It's a quiet little place with friendly service. It was great for a little date, but it's casual and perfect for families, too.
(5)
Eliza K.
Love this place and we are regulars to this location. The staff is pleasant and attentive. The food is almost always served quickly and appropriately hot. The specials featured should make it onto the menu full-time! Would love to see the Kale Salad and the newest egg/bacon/avocado/lemon crema sandwich. It would be EXTREMELY helpful to add a gluten free dressing option so that I could bring my Mom for lunch. If Jason's Deli (literally next door) can have such a great gluten free focus...then you could certainly find at least a dressing for your menu. If you don't like eggs, then your menu for GF customers is pretty dismal. I hate being steps away from First Watch but having to go to Jason's instead to accommodate her dietary needs. Favorites: Key West Crepe Eggs, pancakes, quinoa bowls, tomato soup and beefeater sandwich, pecan chicken salad, and so many others. There is a Sun eClub to join that will email you specials and discounts. There is a Pick 2 option on the menu for 1/2 sandwich plus soup or small salad. Love their servers! Tiffany & Jeremy are particularly awesome, but we have had good service from most all of them. The few that were slow to fulfill their promises don't seem to be employed there anymore. This should help improve the reviews on the service issues that I see mentioned in some older reviews.
(5)
Caroline C.
SLOW. And cold. Food is OK but overpriced for what is it. Everything takes forever. I've been waiting for 40 min. Food finally came and my soup was lukewarm and my boyfriends sandwich was dry. Little to no effort. Terrible experience, albeit a story to tell.
(1)
Katy K.
Our first visit was a Sunday around lunch. Possibly the busiest time of the week but the staff managed the crowd very well. During the wait we looked at the menu and she took our order right before we were seated. When we were seated it didn't take long for the first meal came out quickly but we had to wait for the other 2 meals. That made it a little awkward as one of us was eating and about 1/3 done by the time the other meals came. He couldn't wait of course or he's meal would have been cold. That being said, we were all pleased with the food. Large portions and seasoned perfectly. We all had breakfast food. The breakfast scramble, which was made without spinach on request, florentine Benedict, and the kids fruit crepe (which came with some of their delicious granola). The coffee wasn't worth the price so I'll skip that next time. The large juice was a good size. We did feel a little rushed once at the table. It was so crowded though. I'm not sure if I felt rushed from the server or just all the people. Overall, good was great. Service was ok. I'll go back but maybe not on a Sunday.
(3)
Clark M.
My ideal first date always involves breakfast. It's early in the day and if the date is not going well your day isn't ruined. While on the other hand if things go well you can progress the date into a walk through the park, garage sale rummaging, weaving friendship bracelets... First Watch is my go-to for breakfast dates. There is never (even on Mother's Day!) a long wait for a table, always fresh ingredients and the friendliest staff you can imagine at such early hours. If you get nothing else, try out the Iced Tea. It's freshly brewed and fantastic in every way you want iced tea to be fantastic: light, refreshing, and deeply flavorful.
(4)
Michelle H.
I'm not going to go into detail about the food because every dish I've had is good and well, being a chain, it's consistently made. Perhaps it's a fluke but the service we've received here is always a bit off, especially if you compare it to their Pikesville location - hence the 3 stars. Here are some examples: 1) At our very first dining experience, I asked what the Veracruz sauce was on the Chickichanga and the server had no idea. She simply said it was good. I know this isn't a four star restaurant but what if I had a strong aversion or food allergy to an ingredient? If this is a signature menu item, the staff should be able to talk knowingly about it. 2) They tout their coffee pots, so I would think they would want to make sure you have what you need to enjoy it. During another visit, I noticed as soon as we were seated that there was only one Splenda packet available - and that just wouldn't cut it for my sweet tooth. Right after ordering coffee, I asked if the server would please bring out more Splenda, which she politely said "Right away!" and sadly, never did. Womp womp. 3) At their Pikesville location, the servers are so quick to bring out beverage refills that your glass never less than 1/3 full. Here, it's like pulling teeth to get one because they don't keep an eye on it nor do they check in regularly. And I know they change muffins daily, even sometimes even mid-day, but their servers have never been able to tell me what kind of muffin is available. 4) On our most recent visit, part of the way through my Fresh Fruit Crepes, I looked down to see that some of the banana slices that had fallen out were spoiled. When we brought this to the attention of our waiter, he said they looked fine and basically walked away. After some time, he dropped off a dish of more banana slices but we were already getting up from the table to pay. This place is fine if you're up already up the 83 corridor, but if you had the choice, I'd opt for their Pikesville location. The service is far beyond.
(3)
Amy W.
Very good breakfast place. I had the cranberry nut pancakes and enjoyed each bite. Comfortable and bright atmosphere. Staff was friendly but overworked.
(4)
Paul W.
The NoWait app is wonderful. We are 10 minutes away. There was a 15 to 30 minute wait this morning. Logged in and registered 20 minutes in advance. Three minutes after arriving we were seated. Shortest wait ever. Great feature. Thanks First Watch. Paul
(5)
Chrissy S.
My fiance and I went here for the first time today after reading the great reviews but in the first 5-10 mins it was a disappointing experience. When we walked in, the guy who was seating people just stared at us from across the room before we were seated. Once seated at the table we were greeted by dirty glasses. The actual waiter for our table skipped us to take both the drink and food order for the man next to us, who came in and was seated after us. After walking past us he returned to offer us coffee or water, no inquiry on whether we were ready to order. We did not stay, it wasn't looking like it would be a promising experience.
(1)
Shaelyn R.
Incredible food, friendly and efficient service, great prices! You have to try this place. Been here tons and never had a complaint.
(5)
Carrie O.
Sweet Husband Mine and I had been meaning to get down here to try this place out for ages, but we're typically late risers on the weekends, and it was always either closed or closing up when we finally arrived. This past weekend, however, we finally lucked out. After a long, hard workout on Saturday, SHM and I said, "Hey, First Watch, it's still open. Let's go!" At first glance, we were impressed by how BUSY it was, even at 1pm. We didn't think we were even going to be able to get a seat - but it was only a short, 5 minute wait and in the meantime we were allowed to peruse the menu. Staff was very friendly and willing to answer any and all questions. They have a handy website which you can use to count up calories/nutritional stats (though the total isn't available, you have to add the numbers up yourself - I didn't mind but it can be a pain for others). Once we did that, we ordered. I decided on a Chickichanga and SHM ordered a stack of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. People, you need to order this Chickichanga. I mean that very sincerely. It is probably one of the most delicious things I have ever had in my mouth. Scrambled eggs wrap up a filling of green chilies, chorizo sausage, onions, pure deliciousness, and it's all covered in a rich, velvety spicy tomato sauce (Veracruz) with sour cream. Oh-em-effing-GEE, okay? It came with a side of seasoned potatoes and a small bowl of fruit as well, just more temptation on top of temptation. All of this was accompanied by a bottomless (or so it seemed) coffee carafe, with International Delight creamers to top it off. SHM loved his pancakes - and yes, they are as big as your face. Definitely so. The Chickichanga (as ordered) can go over 1000 calories, so be mindful of that. For what it's worth, you can order it specially (no egg yolks, sour cream and sauce on the side, etc.) and they will accomodate with no fuss whatsoever. Definitely a plus. They have other items that are not breakfast-oriented, and I may try those on my next visit. The price was stellar at 21 dollars for two, and the quantity (and quality!) of the food was very worth the money. If you want a personal "homemade" recipe - stay home and make it. If you want a good, filling breakfast at a reasonable price, you want to come here. I'll be back, for sure. Note: The restaurant closes at 3pm, but the kitchen closes at 2:30pm.
(5)
Lindsay S.
Decent breakfast. I came here with my mom and we had literally the weirdest waiter ever. I had to bite my tongue every time he came over because he was so odd. SUPER nice though. It's not close to where I live so I don't know I'll be back, but overall it was a pleasant breakfast.
(3)
Michaek S.
First not-so-bad! Eh-- my blueberry pancakes were standard issue, as was my bacon,and coffee was forgettable- not truck-stop gagging, but no so good. Real maple syrup a plus- granted you pay a premium for it. My wife's fancy salad was good- pecans and bacon and chicken and mesclun- but honestly we can whip that up at home easy, and her bread slice was a little stale and her iced coffee too sweet. My son's Monte Cristo was tasty enough, but again not outstanding- just standard fare. If I was hungry in a strange city and saw this place, I'd go because I know I'd get decent fare. Otherwise- just OK, not worth a repeat visit.
(3)
Jackie A.
You Yelpers are in serious need of a good breakfast, because this place just isn't it. You want good - run to your nearest Ihop and feast on fluffy pancakes, served with four flavored syrups, or choose from waffles, French toast, eggs and anything else your imagination can whip up, to include lunch and dinner items. I do like the idea of healthy options, which there are plenty of, at this establishment. An outdoor dining is another plus, in my opinion - but, the positives stop there. I ordered a bacon, tomato, avocado eggs benedict. A tiny wedge of avocado atop the eggs benedict, which beneath there lay a day old slice of bacon and an unripe tomato slice. My mom ordered the Caps, etc. Ample mushrooms arrived piping hot in a small bowl with melted cheese on top, not a cheese sauce - but, melted. Well, after a few minutes, the melted cheese looked like glue. Mom just peeled off the layer - how unappetizing was that? Very! Eggs are eggs, but with the runny yolk and no buttered English muffins accompanying this dish, mom waited five minutes for her waitress to return with the butter. By then, though, her muffins were no longer warm and the yolk, left on the plate. Another disappointment. The hubby wasn't very hungry, so he chose a tomato soup. He says he like it and I thought it way to acidic for my liking. One last thing, the potatoes weren't real, come to think of it - several of the menu items were either unripe, not real, missing something and not plentiful. A total disappointment.
(2)
Danielle B.
Went for breakfast. Everything was very good - pancakes, chickichonga, French toast. Service was lacking. We saw our server to order then others dropped off our food then our server brought the check. We needed a couple of things but no luck.
(3)
Sarah G.
I'm not a breakfast person and First Watch has me wanting to go back for more! The hostess sat our group of 5 immediately on a busy Saturday morning and our waitress was there to take drink orders within minutes. I ordered a cup of coffee, they brought me a whole 4-cup pitcher. They're fueling my addiction! The hash. They have several "flavors" of which I chose the farmhouse chicken hash (grilled chicken,onions, red peppers, zucchini, cheddar and scrambled eggs over roasted potatoes, topped with pesto hollandaise). If breakfast was like this all the time, I'd eat it more often. Great service, tasty food, and close to the climbing gym we frequent means that First Watch will become our go-to post climbing feast spot. If this place can get a thumbs up from me and 4 hungry college boys, I'd say it's worth your time.
(5)
Georgia K.
We went to First Watch last week and I still can't get over how delicious their avocado toast was! Our waitress was not great, but the food made up for it. The French toast and pancakes are also great there! We tried a little bit of everything!
(4)
Tierra C.
Waking up before 6 a.m. on a work day is unheard of unless it's to catch breakfast here.
(4)
Ayusa S.
Great service, a pot of coffee for $2.39, lots of food for a good price! The pumpkin pancake was the best pancake I have ever had. The crepegg was interesting, not my favorite but still good. The potatoes with the crepegg were also good not great, could use a little more seasoning for my taste. All of the food was really fresh so I felt healthy eating so much! Would become a regular here if I lived here!
(5)
Nikeita P.
I had the strawberry chicken salad minus the almonds since I am allergic to many tree nuts. He salad was good and incorporated a lot of fresh, juicy and sweet strawberries. The only downside to the salad was the small amount of Chicken that was provided. I assume because my order omitted the almonds, I noticed the lack of "protein" in the dish. I wish the cook/chief who prepared the dish would have given me something extra to substitute the absence of almonds in my salad.
(4)
Yuriy B.
Had breakfast here when visiting some friends nearby for the weekend. I'm not familiar with this particular chain, but the first impression was a good one. It's a pretty basic, straightforward restaurant along the lines of an IHOP, just with a touch of added class. Not to say that IHOP isn't classy. The experience was good for what it was. I ordered the Fall Harvest Hash which was a seasonal item, but it was tasty, but not mindblowing. Also, based on recommendation, ordered ONE cheddar pancake, which was absolutely huge and delicious. For a $1 extra you can get real maple syrup on the side as opposed to the everyday ultra-processed high fructose corn syrup variety. Our server was an excellent bearded fellow who was very friendly and pleasant. My only complaint was that the coffee was pretty subpar. For a restaurant so heavy on the breakfast/brunch aspect, good coffee was an expectation and it was really kind of bland. I do ,however, tend to be picky with coffee. Worth a visit.
(4)
Some D.
Been here 4 or 5 times now and I must say I am quite pleased every time. While some may feel the food isn't that inspired I would kinda disagree and argue that most typical breakfast items at the dinners in this part of Baltimore county are not going to offer things like avocado toast, an energy bowl, or even different sausage options like turkey instead of pork. Let alone seasonally inspired dishes and special juices. No its probably not as creative as say the Blue Moon cafe downtown but are you really going to venture downtown every weekend to eat there? Or even eat like that with their huge portions? No I don't think so. But this place also wins on getting the basics right on some of the more creative breakfast options out there. For instance, their banana pancake. While most places just do banana on top the pancake or add weird cream or filling to it (see IHOP) FW actually cooks the bananna into the pancake and adds granola in as well. And its this item that keeps me coming back because its exactly the type of thing I want for breakfast when I want something unique. And they don't over do it either portion wise which is actually a good thing. The Tri-fecta is a perfectly balanced breakfast meal, just enough, consisting of one big pancake anyway you want it, eggs anyway you like, and a side of meat that can be either two strips of thick sliced bacon, or two sausage links; your choice of pork or turkey. Quite honestly I prefer this rather than getting overloaded with home fries at most breakfast locations in the B-more metropolitan area. The coffee brand they serve is also very good (Sunrise) and the Day Glow juice is definitely worth a try. Only complaint is it seems they can get understaffed and so moving people in and out quickly and then seating new people seems to be a bit of a challenge for them sometimes. Service is usually pretty good even though they seem rather understaffed at times. Found if there's a hiccup here or there with your order they'll usually fix it.
(4)
Jeff K.
So I returned to First Watch after my initial poor experience. The second time around was better. THE GOOD... -minimal wait for table -glass bottles now with water for the table -pumpkin pancakes were good -kale, apple and lemon juice drink was good THE BAD... -again, the food took forever to come out -server not once visited the table to give any kind of update Although this visit was better than the first, the overall service is in need of training. I'm talking the basics fundamentals of waiting tables.
(3)
Jude T.
I think the food was better than our previous visit, and the waitress we had rally knew what she was doing. HOWEVER, it took us 10 minutes to get on the list for a table because the people at the front end had no idea what they were doing. Someone's charge didn't go to their card or something, so the person who was supposed to take our names started helping the employee at the register, and then they just stood there talking about it for awhile... Eventually they got a manager, but then the three of them talked about it and worked on it together, all while we stood there. It took a total of 10.5 minutes to get on the list for a table.
(3)
Nancy S.
I have very mixed feelings about First Watch. Food is fresh and decently priced. I enjoy the creative seasonal breakfast features (avocado on toast, fresh berries, yum!) Service however is not that great. The last time I went in I was carrying my son. My waiter watched me carrying him and trying to at the same time pick up and carry a high chair. Not only did he watch me carry both, he was standing at the table next to me and wouldn't move in a little so I could get past. Annoying, but not enough to write a bad yelp review. Today, I went for breakfast and stood at the front for about 10 minutes before even being acknowledged. When I was acknowledged, it wasn't until another customer came to the front to pay his bill and was finished. No good morning. No sorry for the wait. Nothing. I was seated with 2 small children for about 15 minutes and every employee in that restaurant walked past and ignored me! A waitress who was working in another section finally came over and apologized and took our order, even though we weren't her assigned table. She was very polite and helpful. I am patient to an extent, but it wasn't even that busy. I would have even been satisfied with a "I'll be with you shortly." Bottom line: Despite being mildly busy, 2 strikes in a row for poor customer service. There is one waitress there however who is always helpful and friendly. Tiffany I think? Tiffany was the one who made me give 3 stars instead of 2. This place would be more enjoyable if customer service was better!
(3)
Alli R.
I have been to First Watch two times now and while the food is good, the kitchen takes literally FOREVER. to get the food out. The menu has a good variety of choices, and the juices are great, I just wish the food could be faster coming out. The first experience going there wasn't great, our server seemed like she would rather be anywhere but at work. She didn't refill water quickly, or check in. Of course the food took a long time as I've said. The second experience was better in the fact that the server was super friendly and attentive but again, the wait is ridiculous. Especially for breakfast food. Not sure if I would go again.
(3)
Ashley K.
Their brunch/lunch selections are really tasty and I particularly like the Acapulco Express Omelet. It is delicious! I am not crazy over their location but the food is worth a visit.
(4)
Melissa W.
Yelp didn't let me down! Surprised by this place, I actually was expecting a mom & pop place. Apparently it's a chain. But it's very good. Got 2 pancakes, one chocolate chip and one pumpkin, and granola with yogurt. My eyes were bigger than my stomach. The pancakes were VERY good. Granola was home-made! Free wifi, cool atmosphere. Would definitely come back!!
(5)
Josh G.
First Watch is a chain and not especially overwhelming. I'd say for a basic meal it's reliable, but is nothing inspired. The service can be sporadic, last I was there they probably needed another server, but other than that it's a casual venue and it's reasonably priced.
(3)
Sarah B.
A nice breakfast spot. Mostly eggs, omelettes and the like. This location didn't have the sausage and gravy my husband was looking for. The server indicated that some of the southern locations carry that menu, but they didn't get much call for it in this area. I had the key west crepeggs, which was tasty and filling. The potatoes seemed to have been frozen, but they were ok. My husband had turkey avocado eggs benedict which he seemed to like. My friend had regular fruit crepes which she liked as well. The server was pleasant and the location was clean. We were on our way to a wedding nearby (bride in tow and some of the wedding party, so we wouldn't be able to eat for several hours yet), and I wouldn't make a special trip for this. Right down the middle "ok" for me.
(3)
Matthew L.
Excellent brunch place. Generous portions and fresh ingredients. Good pancake and clever specials. Plus can't beat the pricing. I wouldn't make a special trip, but definately worth a stop if in the area.
(4)
Nayoung L.
I came here for breakfast on Sunday morning and enjoyed my "healthy" breakfast. The restaurant is small, cute and no-frills. We sat down immediately and our server was excellent. I tried their kale juice which was fresh and delicious. Everything we ordered was good and I don't remember last time two of us could get brunch for about $20 at a sit down restaurant. Would love to have this option in the city!
(4)
C W.
Fantastic for families with little ones! The front of the house staff are VERY friendly and keep my son entertained. Really enjoy going first thing in the morning when it's not too crowded. Food is pretty good but maybe a little over priced. Great coffee and always a nice family outing for us.
(4)
Jania S.
Drove by this place for over a year and had no idea how amazing it is. Highly recommend for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Healthy options but for those who don't care about health they have great yummy pancakes and crab Benedict too!!
(5)
Nola M.
This was my second experience eating at First Watch and it was just as enjoyable at the first time. This time I ordered the, "The Elevated Egg sandwich", which was delectable, and filling. This order also came with a side of hash which was just as good as the sandwich.
(5)
Cori B.
Been to this location quite a few times, finally getting able to write a review! It's always busy, but relatively clean, quick, and delicious every single time. Today there was a bit of a backup seating tables, because the hostess' iPad wasn't working and one person was handling checkins, seating, and ringing up checks. The manager eventually came up and sorted it out by helping. The menu offers a wide variety of different types of breakfast/lunch foods, especially plenty of "healthier" options. The kitchen seems fairly efficient, usually only takes 10-15 minutes for food to come out hot and yummy! Overall, a solid breakfast place and a step above the nearest IHOP or Bob Evans!
(5)
Pam D.
Our overall experience was "ok" - 3 stars. We had heard good things about the restaurant. Our visit last Sunday at noontime was our first. The interior of the restaurant is pretty - pale yellow walls and vibrant, attractive art work. The folks at the front desk were pleasnt. What we noticed immediately after sitting down was the noise level in the restaurant was through the roof - mind thumbing, head thumping LOUD. There were a few children there but they didn't seem unduly noisy. We honestly had trouble hearing each other (after a few tables left, things quieted down). The restaurant is very open and we didn't see anything that might help tone down the noise level. Our waiter (didn't tell us his name which I think is always a nice touch for a server to say what their name is) was pleasant and courteous but was very odd in his mannerisms and the way he talked to us (as if we were in pre-school). Hubby had eggs, sausage and an English muffin. He said it was "ok" - not good, not bad - just ok. I had the Reuben sandwich. It was a very dry Reuben - not a trace of Thousand Island so I requested and our server did bring some Thousand Island dressing. The sandwich was accompanied by some greens. I thought (but perhaps I am wrong) the greens were to have a mild dressing on them - there was no dressing whatsoever. The Reuben was "ok" - certainly a far cry from better Reubens I have had elswhere. (one of the best I have had is at Firehouse Tavern in Parkville). Prices were very reasonable. We honestly don't feel we would rush back to the restaurant given the horrific noise level that made having a conversation impossible and the fact the food was no better than "average".
This place is a chain, first and foremost. The meal was mediocre at best. Not fresh ingredients at all. Nothing special. No real effort put into the breakfast we ate. I feel bad for the suburbanites that this is their only choice.
(1)
Virginia B.
I enjoyed the simple offerings. Everything I tried was good! I'm a big soup, salad, and sandwich girl. My favorite casual chain is Panera Bread. This was a more refined version of Panera. Rather good.
(4)
Maggi R.
This was our first visit to First Watch, and it was a very pleasant one. Liz, our server, could not have been more welcoming, attentive and upbeat. The restaurant was filling up quickly and had a lively vibe. Our breakfast choices of French Toast Monte Cristo and the Parma Hash were plentiful and very good. A nice touch are the coffee and water carafes on the table. Thank you so much.
(5)
John M.
Great breakfast/lunch spot. Staff is friendly and attentive and the food is certainly a step up from something like IHOP. I usually get an omelette with fruit on the side. The eggs are nice and fluffy, not dense or over cooked. This time I got the chikkichanga, which had whipped eggs, chicken, chorizo, avocado, and onion inside a fried tortilla and topped with sour cream and some kind of delicious red sauce. I'm intrigued by the "power bowls" that have chicken, nuts, quinoa and some other stuff. Will order one of those next time. I've been here four times, always on Saturday or Sunday around noon, and have always had to wait 5-25 minutes. Understandable for what I assume is their peak time.
(4)
John R.
I have been to this location a bunch of times since they have opened. Food is always flavorful. Menu selection takes a little bit of time to decide sometimes (everything is so good). Staff is crazy friendly. Wait time is usually only about 25 min on a really busy morning. Drinks are a little pricey (3.50 for chocolate milk) I will be returning many more times to this location. They also have a location in Pikesville.
(5)
Jenny N.
I had breakfast there with my bf today for the very first time and we both thought the food was awesome. You get a good amount of food for the price. Our food came out pretty fast and it was delicious. Our waiter was very nice but you can tell that he was new and kinda nervous. I'm sure in time service will be better. I will take a nice inexperienced waiter over a rude experienced waiter anyway. I would 100% recommend this place. Great food, great price.
(4)
Angie B.
Great food and unique combos like the chickichanga omelette which was awesome but the service is lacking slightly. Our iced teas were never refilled and staff was not attentive after our food was served. Would be five stars otherwise.
(4)
Devon N.
3.5 stars The food is good but not great. Try the carrot cake pancakes they will not dissapoint. Service was friendly but confused our order a bit.
(3)
Josh R.
This is one of my favorite breakfast places in Baltimore co. I have gone here 3 times now and each time the food has gone beyond my expectations. Portions are medium large. You will be able to finish it and feel very satisfied. My wife and I both love savory breakfast and have no complaints. There fresh fruit was also great. They had all ripe fruit and was fantastic. Would definitely recommend you check this place out.
(5)
Ada G.
This is the best breakfast place in Timonium. They have some great choices on the menu that are super healthy. I like to eat as close to paleo as possible, and they have some great gluten free options. You can substitute a salad and fruit for the potatoes and toast with your omelet. I had the chorizo omelet with sauteed onions, mushrooms, yummy cheese, salsa and sour cream. It was awesome - I actually considered licking the plate. My hubby had "the works" omelet and he was really happy with it as well. My daughter had the kid's egg, toast and bacon combo. Everything came out warm and delish. The staff are pretty young and they messed up our order the first time we were there. Service is kind of slow. That said, I still give the place four stars because there is nothing close to the selection and freshness within 10 miles of this place for breakfast. Highly recommend this place!
(4)
Thad G.
First Watch is an awesome place for a healthy, ingredient conscious breakfast. The Key West Crepe-eggs are outstanding - slightly sweet crepe, fresh turkey, bacon, avocado, super duper. Fresh English muffins are great- ask them to toast them to crispy because they can be mildly doughy if that's not your style. They are almost always on a wait, but they offer free coffee and there's only been one time where I had to wait for that. Overall an outstanding breakfast place, especially if you are looking for healthy options.
(5)
Jan T.
After recently being introduced to the concept of brunch (yes, it is odd), we made the trek here last Saturday following the receipt of a two-for-one coupon to celebrate the opening. Well worth it. The space is well lit, open, and has a diner-level of noise (though without the flimsy booths and juke box), as well as a menu consisting entirely of breakfast items (omeletts, burritos, etc) and lunch selections. They close at 2 pm daily, so no dinner here. Our server was friendly, quick, and not overly aggressive (three checks throughout the meal). The food was excellent and, as a nice touch, you get an entire pot of coffee with your order. Good coffee too, with a nice wake-me-up burn to it. Prices are very reasonable, with the two meals coming out to less than $25, even before applying the coupon. We will be back. PS: There is free wi-fi if anyone needs it.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Service was initially inattentive, no one greeted us at the door and we had to wait to be seated, but the food looked so good that we gave them a few minutes before leaving. I ordered the chicken bacon pecan salad, which I could have easily made at home, with higher quality ingredients (I would have used duck bacon rather than pork bacon, and would have used larger pieces of organic white meat chicken, and would have substituted actual carrot slices in place of shredded salad mix carrots). The side ciabatta was stale and hard, like it was a day old. The iced coffee was overly sweet, since I prefer to sweeten my beverages myself. My son and husband rated the coffee "just OK." My husband's ridiculously annoying diet app on his iphone was able to pull up the nutritional value of every single menu option and some options were worse than others. My husband's pancakes were prepared with a basic bisquick mix, and I could have made them at home quicker. My son's Monte Cristo was "just OK"per him.
(3)
Christopher T.
This First Watch just opened this past week, but this was also my first time at any First Watch. I can easily say that I will be back here many more times. The coffee and food were delicious, and the service was great. The menu had a lot of variety, but also carried a lot of standards as well. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Kathryn P.
Really like this place! Great breakfast options - healthy and not much... Something for everyone. The pancakes are huge and delicious! 4/5 for service really...
(4)
Megan P.
Food is ok, but they try to hurry it so potatoes are under cooked. Their bowls are mainly potatoes with very little other substance. Overall, a decent restaurant if you are bored and looking for something semi healthy.
(3)
Candice M.
Service was quick, but not rushed. Creative and mouth-watering menu. I had the Eggs Benedict with Ham and Tomato and my husband had the Baja Turkey Burger. Both were equally good. I just wish the Eggs Benedict had a little bit more Hollandaise, but other than that, I would definitely get it again. Husband had no complaints about the turkey burger either, and he is normally not a fan of burgers that is not made of ground beef. Yay for great breakfast/lunch places like this. Oh and best of all, FREE WI-FI
(4)
Alan B.
Previous reviewers are letting this place off easy. This is like a re-branded IHOP. The food is not bad, nor is it good. The price point is above the quality. They are just riding the wave of mediocrity here. There are eye catching ingredients and menu items that lure the buyer in, but it is the method of preparation and flavor that keeps the food from standing out. For example, the eggs taste like they came from a bulk pre-whipped bag and the highly advertised pancakes come from a mix. I make my pancakes from scratch and cook them in a cast iron skillet with abnormal amounts of butter. When I go out to eat, I expect my recipe and method of cooking to be trumped and rightly so. I'm an amateur and these guys are supposed to be the pros. I'll stick to Fells Point locals for my breakfast cravings.
(3)
Jennifer J.
Fresh and delicious! Wish I lived closer, I would be a regular. BLT Eggs benedict was a 10.
(5)
Erin P.
Food was excellent - fresh & delicious...staff was courteous & responsive...will definitely go back!
(5)
Howard A.
Great new restaurant in Timonium. Breakfast was outstanding. Plenty if hot coffee and ample room to read the paper. Sidewalk breakfast was a nice addition. The omelette was one of the best I've had in the area. We will return for breakfast and am looking forward to trying lunch.
(4)
Austin E.
Great new place for breakfast /lunch in the 'ville. It's a full service cafe that is bright, comfortable, new and clean. Food is great w large breakfast/lunch menu you can order all day. Good coffee, friendly staff. They serve 10 types of pancakes!
(5)
Sophia L.
Great service and food =) my girlfriend and I had brunch one day and sat there for a few hours eating and talking =)
(4)
Bryan P.
The new fall special, pumpkin pancakes, is the go to breakfast now. Very fresh, nicely textured and expertly seasoned. The omlettes are Also yummy. Be warned the accompanying potatoes are more onions than potatoes but are still tasty. A little pricey at $22 for an omlette and two pancakes, but tasty enough to be a special breakfast outing every once in a while.
(4)
M B.
We tried this place this past weekend and weren't overly impressed. I got a turkey wrap with egg whites and thought it was very tasty. However, for the amount we paid, it was quite small and ungenerous. My fiancee ordered the turkey burger and just wasn't thrilled with the presentation or the taste. I also tried the hash browns and found them to be so salty that they were inedible. Even worse was the cost of the meal which came in at around $30. $2.50 for a cup of coffee? $2.50 for a glass of Coke? At a breakfast/brunch joint? At those prices, I expect the food to be sublime and decently-sized. We are unlikely to ever go back. I will add that our waiter was attentive and the hostess was nice.
(2)
Leigh H.
Overall, this place serves great food. Whether you are looking for something healthier, or want to indulge, this is a great place to go. When watching what I eat, I had the Healthier Side dish, and the only disappointing part was the tomato slices, but they are out of season. I also appreciate the fact that if you want cholesterol free/fat-free eggs, they are an option AT NO ADDITIONAL cost. In fact, they never make a fuss when you request a substitution. When I indulged, I had a belgian waffle, and it was beyond delicious. Also, the fact that they leave you a carafe of coffee is great. I wish the place was open for dinner!
(5)
Jonny P.
Not bad, but not great. Service mainly. Took a good while for the server to get our drink order after she said she'd be right back. I know, not a big deal but we watched her just walk around doing nothing. Food was okay, but the bacon was over cooked. Waffles were decent. Coffee hot and well priced meals. I'll attribute it to them just opening up in the last few weeks. Health fare for sure.
(2)
Allison L.
Came here for lunch with coworkers since we've pretty much exhausted most of the other lunch options in the area. Didn't realize it was a restaurant with wait service which kind of slowed things down and is why I probably wouldn't suggest this as a spot if you're on a standard hour lunch hour. It was pretty clear from the service that this place was newly opened, but, our waiter and everyone else we encountered was really nice so that made up for it. We all opted for breakfast and the food was good, but took a long time to be made and there was some confusion with what was included in each meal and things were brought out several minutes apart. The food was good though, and the menu had lots of good options, so I'll probably be back to try other stuff, just when time doesn't matter.
(3)
Nicole W.
The variety of dishes and service were great, but expect an I-hop level quality. Some of the foods looked a tad artificial in color, but was still delicious! Definitely a convenient and laid back breakfast spot. I really enjoyed my cinnamon raisin French toast! Just what I was craving!
(3)
C P.
Giving them one more star because management responded to my review. We probably won't be back but it says a lot for First Watch that they care about their customers experience. Try it for yourself. They have lots of happy diners.
(3)
Aaron P.
Great food & they'll even bring you real cream for your coffee if you don't want the nasty little chemical concoctions (international delight) on your table.
(4)
Skylar S.
Really enjoyed my brunch with the family. We went as a group on a Sunday AM, and were sat right away. Server was great, and the food was pretty great. I had the Chicknchanga. It was one of the best breakfast items I have ordered in a while. It was basically a crepe with eggs, green chilie, chorizo and deliciousness. I recommend highly, and will be back.
(5)
Joan S.
Great place!! Very friendly staff. Our server, LA (Laura Ann) was fantastic! The food was really good. I had the BLT Benedict, which was excellent. The place was very clean. Quite busy for a week day. Highly recommend this restaurant. Will definitely go there again when I am in this area.
Had brunch there yesterday. Food was delicious and our server was great. Similar to Miss Shirley's but parking is easy, food is more reasonable and it was not nearly as noisy!
(5)
Sean C.
First Watch delivers consistently good gourmet breakfast. Options for a healthy breakfast are plentiful. I enjoyed a delicious bowl of oatmeal! and what made the experience great was the fantastic service from our waitress Casey!
(5)
Brandon H.
Great menu - filled with lots of really healthy options at a reasonable price. I live in California so I was quite surprised to see this kind of food being served in Baltimore. I had the Chicichanga Burrito which was delicious. Everything on the menu looked great and everyone in my party really enjoyed their meal. If you're looking for a healthy meal - check this place out. It's only open til 2ish everyday though.
(5)
Some D.
Been here 4 or 5 times now and I must say I am quite pleased every time. While some may feel the food isn't that inspired I would kinda disagree and argue that most typical breakfast items at the dinners in this part of Baltimore county are not going to offer things like avocado toast, an energy bowl, or even different sausage options like turkey instead of pork. Let alone seasonally inspired dishes and special juices. No its probably not as creative as say the Blue Moon cafe downtown but are you really going to venture downtown every weekend to eat there? Or even eat like that with their huge portions? No I don't think so. But this place also wins on getting the basics right on some of the more creative breakfast options out there. For instance, their banana pancake. While most places just do banana on top the pancake or add weird cream or filling to it (see IHOP) FW actually cooks the bananna into the pancake and adds granola in as well. And its this item that keeps me coming back because its exactly the type of thing I want for breakfast when I want something unique. And they don't over do it either portion wise which is actually a good thing. The Tri-fecta is a perfectly balanced breakfast meal, just enough, consisting of one big pancake anyway you want it, eggs anyway you like, and a side of meat that can be either two strips of thick sliced bacon, or two sausage links; your choice of pork or turkey. Quite honestly I prefer this rather than getting overloaded with home fries at most breakfast locations in the B-more metropolitan area. The coffee brand they serve is also very good (Sunrise) and the Day Glow juice is definitely worth a try. Only complaint is it seems they can get understaffed and so moving people in and out quickly and then seating new people seems to be a bit of a challenge for them sometimes. Service is usually pretty good even though they seem rather understaffed at times. Found if there's a hiccup here or there with your order they'll usually fix it.
(4)
Jeff K.
So I returned to First Watch after my initial poor experience. The second time around was better. THE GOOD... -minimal wait for table -glass bottles now with water for the table -pumpkin pancakes were good -kale, apple and lemon juice drink was good THE BAD... -again, the food took forever to come out -server not once visited the table to give any kind of update Although this visit was better than the first, the overall service is in need of training. I'm talking the basics fundamentals of waiting tables.
(3)
Nancy S.
I have very mixed feelings about First Watch. Food is fresh and decently priced. I enjoy the creative seasonal breakfast features (avocado on toast, fresh berries, yum!) Service however is not that great. The last time I went in I was carrying my son. My waiter watched me carrying him and trying to at the same time pick up and carry a high chair. Not only did he watch me carry both, he was standing at the table next to me and wouldn't move in a little so I could get past. Annoying, but not enough to write a bad yelp review. Today, I went for breakfast and stood at the front for about 10 minutes before even being acknowledged. When I was acknowledged, it wasn't until another customer came to the front to pay his bill and was finished. No good morning. No sorry for the wait. Nothing. I was seated with 2 small children for about 15 minutes and every employee in that restaurant walked past and ignored me! A waitress who was working in another section finally came over and apologized and took our order, even though we weren't her assigned table. She was very polite and helpful. I am patient to an extent, but it wasn't even that busy. I would have even been satisfied with a "I'll be with you shortly." Bottom line: Despite being mildly busy, 2 strikes in a row for poor customer service. There is one waitress there however who is always helpful and friendly. Tiffany I think? Tiffany was the one who made me give 3 stars instead of 2. This place would be more enjoyable if customer service was better!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jude T.
I think the food was better than our previous visit, and the waitress we had rally knew what she was doing. HOWEVER, it took us 10 minutes to get on the list for a table because the people at the front end had no idea what they were doing. Someone's charge didn't go to their card or something, so the person who was supposed to take our names started helping the employee at the register, and then they just stood there talking about it for awhile... Eventually they got a manager, but then the three of them talked about it and worked on it together, all while we stood there. It took a total of 10.5 minutes to get on the list for a table.
(3)Alli R.
I have been to First Watch two times now and while the food is good, the kitchen takes literally FOREVER. to get the food out. The menu has a good variety of choices, and the juices are great, I just wish the food could be faster coming out. The first experience going there wasn't great, our server seemed like she would rather be anywhere but at work. She didn't refill water quickly, or check in. Of course the food took a long time as I've said. The second experience was better in the fact that the server was super friendly and attentive but again, the wait is ridiculous. Especially for breakfast food. Not sure if I would go again.
(3)Ashley K.
Their brunch/lunch selections are really tasty and I particularly like the Acapulco Express Omelet. It is delicious! I am not crazy over their location but the food is worth a visit.
(4)Melissa W.
Yelp didn't let me down! Surprised by this place, I actually was expecting a mom & pop place. Apparently it's a chain. But it's very good. Got 2 pancakes, one chocolate chip and one pumpkin, and granola with yogurt. My eyes were bigger than my stomach. The pancakes were VERY good. Granola was home-made! Free wifi, cool atmosphere. Would definitely come back!!
(5)Josh G.
First Watch is a chain and not especially overwhelming. I'd say for a basic meal it's reliable, but is nothing inspired. The service can be sporadic, last I was there they probably needed another server, but other than that it's a casual venue and it's reasonably priced.
(3)Ayusa S.
Great service, a pot of coffee for $2.39, lots of food for a good price! The pumpkin pancake was the best pancake I have ever had. The crepegg was interesting, not my favorite but still good. The potatoes with the crepegg were also good not great, could use a little more seasoning for my taste. All of the food was really fresh so I felt healthy eating so much! Would become a regular here if I lived here!
(5)Nikeita P.
I had the strawberry chicken salad minus the almonds since I am allergic to many tree nuts. He salad was good and incorporated a lot of fresh, juicy and sweet strawberries. The only downside to the salad was the small amount of Chicken that was provided. I assume because my order omitted the almonds, I noticed the lack of "protein" in the dish. I wish the cook/chief who prepared the dish would have given me something extra to substitute the absence of almonds in my salad.
(4)Yuriy B.
Had breakfast here when visiting some friends nearby for the weekend. I'm not familiar with this particular chain, but the first impression was a good one. It's a pretty basic, straightforward restaurant along the lines of an IHOP, just with a touch of added class. Not to say that IHOP isn't classy. The experience was good for what it was. I ordered the Fall Harvest Hash which was a seasonal item, but it was tasty, but not mindblowing. Also, based on recommendation, ordered ONE cheddar pancake, which was absolutely huge and delicious. For a $1 extra you can get real maple syrup on the side as opposed to the everyday ultra-processed high fructose corn syrup variety. Our server was an excellent bearded fellow who was very friendly and pleasant. My only complaint was that the coffee was pretty subpar. For a restaurant so heavy on the breakfast/brunch aspect, good coffee was an expectation and it was really kind of bland. I do ,however, tend to be picky with coffee. Worth a visit.
(4)Sarah B.
A nice breakfast spot. Mostly eggs, omelettes and the like. This location didn't have the sausage and gravy my husband was looking for. The server indicated that some of the southern locations carry that menu, but they didn't get much call for it in this area. I had the key west crepeggs, which was tasty and filling. The potatoes seemed to have been frozen, but they were ok. My husband had turkey avocado eggs benedict which he seemed to like. My friend had regular fruit crepes which she liked as well. The server was pleasant and the location was clean. We were on our way to a wedding nearby (bride in tow and some of the wedding party, so we wouldn't be able to eat for several hours yet), and I wouldn't make a special trip for this. Right down the middle "ok" for me.
(3)Matthew L.
Excellent brunch place. Generous portions and fresh ingredients. Good pancake and clever specials. Plus can't beat the pricing. I wouldn't make a special trip, but definately worth a stop if in the area.
(4)Nayoung L.
I came here for breakfast on Sunday morning and enjoyed my "healthy" breakfast. The restaurant is small, cute and no-frills. We sat down immediately and our server was excellent. I tried their kale juice which was fresh and delicious. Everything we ordered was good and I don't remember last time two of us could get brunch for about $20 at a sit down restaurant. Would love to have this option in the city!
(4)C W.
Fantastic for families with little ones! The front of the house staff are VERY friendly and keep my son entertained. Really enjoy going first thing in the morning when it's not too crowded. Food is pretty good but maybe a little over priced. Great coffee and always a nice family outing for us.
(4)Jania S.
Drove by this place for over a year and had no idea how amazing it is. Highly recommend for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Healthy options but for those who don't care about health they have great yummy pancakes and crab Benedict too!!
(5)Nola M.
This was my second experience eating at First Watch and it was just as enjoyable at the first time. This time I ordered the, "The Elevated Egg sandwich", which was delectable, and filling. This order also came with a side of hash which was just as good as the sandwich.
(5)Cori B.
Been to this location quite a few times, finally getting able to write a review! It's always busy, but relatively clean, quick, and delicious every single time. Today there was a bit of a backup seating tables, because the hostess' iPad wasn't working and one person was handling checkins, seating, and ringing up checks. The manager eventually came up and sorted it out by helping. The menu offers a wide variety of different types of breakfast/lunch foods, especially plenty of "healthier" options. The kitchen seems fairly efficient, usually only takes 10-15 minutes for food to come out hot and yummy! Overall, a solid breakfast place and a step above the nearest IHOP or Bob Evans!
(5)Sean C.
First Watch delivers consistently good gourmet breakfast. Options for a healthy breakfast are plentiful. I enjoyed a delicious bowl of oatmeal! and what made the experience great was the fantastic service from our waitress Casey!
(5)Pam D.
Our overall experience was "ok" - 3 stars. We had heard good things about the restaurant. Our visit last Sunday at noontime was our first. The interior of the restaurant is pretty - pale yellow walls and vibrant, attractive art work. The folks at the front desk were pleasnt. What we noticed immediately after sitting down was the noise level in the restaurant was through the roof - mind thumbing, head thumping LOUD. There were a few children there but they didn't seem unduly noisy. We honestly had trouble hearing each other (after a few tables left, things quieted down). The restaurant is very open and we didn't see anything that might help tone down the noise level. Our waiter (didn't tell us his name which I think is always a nice touch for a server to say what their name is) was pleasant and courteous but was very odd in his mannerisms and the way he talked to us (as if we were in pre-school). Hubby had eggs, sausage and an English muffin. He said it was "ok" - not good, not bad - just ok. I had the Reuben sandwich. It was a very dry Reuben - not a trace of Thousand Island so I requested and our server did bring some Thousand Island dressing. The sandwich was accompanied by some greens. I thought (but perhaps I am wrong) the greens were to have a mild dressing on them - there was no dressing whatsoever. The Reuben was "ok" - certainly a far cry from better Reubens I have had elswhere. (one of the best I have had is at Firehouse Tavern in Parkville). Prices were very reasonable. We honestly don't feel we would rush back to the restaurant given the horrific noise level that made having a conversation impossible and the fact the food was no better than "average".
(3)Shirlé K.
This place is a chain, first and foremost. The meal was mediocre at best. Not fresh ingredients at all. Nothing special. No real effort put into the breakfast we ate. I feel bad for the suburbanites that this is their only choice.
(1)Virginia B.
I enjoyed the simple offerings. Everything I tried was good! I'm a big soup, salad, and sandwich girl. My favorite casual chain is Panera Bread. This was a more refined version of Panera. Rather good.
(4)Maggi R.
This was our first visit to First Watch, and it was a very pleasant one. Liz, our server, could not have been more welcoming, attentive and upbeat. The restaurant was filling up quickly and had a lively vibe. Our breakfast choices of French Toast Monte Cristo and the Parma Hash were plentiful and very good. A nice touch are the coffee and water carafes on the table. Thank you so much.
(5)John M.
Great breakfast/lunch spot. Staff is friendly and attentive and the food is certainly a step up from something like IHOP. I usually get an omelette with fruit on the side. The eggs are nice and fluffy, not dense or over cooked. This time I got the chikkichanga, which had whipped eggs, chicken, chorizo, avocado, and onion inside a fried tortilla and topped with sour cream and some kind of delicious red sauce. I'm intrigued by the "power bowls" that have chicken, nuts, quinoa and some other stuff. Will order one of those next time. I've been here four times, always on Saturday or Sunday around noon, and have always had to wait 5-25 minutes. Understandable for what I assume is their peak time.
(4)Brandon H.
Great menu - filled with lots of really healthy options at a reasonable price. I live in California so I was quite surprised to see this kind of food being served in Baltimore. I had the Chicichanga Burrito which was delicious. Everything on the menu looked great and everyone in my party really enjoyed their meal. If you're looking for a healthy meal - check this place out. It's only open til 2ish everyday though.
(5)William T.
Not sure what happened to this place, I've been here over the past several years and they have been consistent on food and quality. But my recent visit was a mediocre at best. I order the traditional and my wife order the waffle, which we've order before and was very satisfied. However, this last time the pancakes and waffle came out under cooked. I told our server and she graciously took it back to have another recooked for us. The second one came out under cooked too. My only guess is that they were busy? Not sure as it was still early on Sunday, before 10AM and it wasn't busier than other weekends. Not sure if I will be coming here for breakfast again, which is too bad as the staff is wonderful.
(2)Jody B.
I normally enjoy this chain's Rockville branch, but was pretty disappointed this morning at the Timonium location. I had a trifecta and my mom had a traditional breakfast, both with scrambled eggs. Unfortunately both eggs were not scrambled... Just a fried egg cut up, so there were distinct white and yellow sections. The place was mostly empty so in not sure what the cook's rush was. We sent one back for that reason, but they gave us new eggs prepared exactly the same. I'm not sure how a breakfast specialty place doesn't know how to scramble an egg.... but here we are. The rest of the food was fine as was the service.
(2)Glenn S.
I love this place. I eat here 2-3 times per week. I hold my weekly staff meeting here and my family does breakfast once or twice a week. Best waffles, pancakes, eggs... wow!!! It's a great mix of great food and healthy choices. Definitely try the kale tonic! My ONLY negative is that they do not serve turkey bacon. They do serve turkey sausage however. It's good but I really wish they would add turkey bacon to the menu.
(5)Noelle C.
Great fresh options, lots of healthy choices. Free paper and wifi, and the servers say, "take your time." Decor is cookie-cutter chain fare, but pleasant, clean, and comfortable. Made to order, no heat lamps is great, but my first pancake was a bit too cool. Servers jumped to fix the problem. Big plus is no auto-gratuity no matter how big your group. Well be back!
(4)Chrissy S.
My fiance and I went here for the first time today after reading the great reviews but in the first 5-10 mins it was a disappointing experience. When we walked in, the guy who was seating people just stared at us from across the room before we were seated. Once seated at the table we were greeted by dirty glasses. The actual waiter for our table skipped us to take both the drink and food order for the man next to us, who came in and was seated after us. After walking past us he returned to offer us coffee or water, no inquiry on whether we were ready to order. We did not stay, it wasn't looking like it would be a promising experience.
(1)Eliza K.
Love this place and we are regulars to this location. The staff is pleasant and attentive. The food is almost always served quickly and appropriately hot. The specials featured should make it onto the menu full-time! Would love to see the Kale Salad and the newest egg/bacon/avocado/lemon crema sandwich. It would be EXTREMELY helpful to add a gluten free dressing option so that I could bring my Mom for lunch. If Jason's Deli (literally next door) can have such a great gluten free focus...then you could certainly find at least a dressing for your menu. If you don't like eggs, then your menu for GF customers is pretty dismal. I hate being steps away from First Watch but having to go to Jason's instead to accommodate her dietary needs. Favorites: Key West Crepe Eggs, pancakes, quinoa bowls, tomato soup and beefeater sandwich, pecan chicken salad, and so many others. There is a Sun eClub to join that will email you specials and discounts. There is a Pick 2 option on the menu for 1/2 sandwich plus soup or small salad. Love their servers! Tiffany & Jeremy are particularly awesome, but we have had good service from most all of them. The few that were slow to fulfill their promises don't seem to be employed there anymore. This should help improve the reviews on the service issues that I see mentioned in some older reviews.
(5)Caroline C.
SLOW. And cold. Food is OK but overpriced for what is it. Everything takes forever. I've been waiting for 40 min. Food finally came and my soup was lukewarm and my boyfriends sandwich was dry. Little to no effort. Terrible experience, albeit a story to tell.
(1)Katy K.
Our first visit was a Sunday around lunch. Possibly the busiest time of the week but the staff managed the crowd very well. During the wait we looked at the menu and she took our order right before we were seated. When we were seated it didn't take long for the first meal came out quickly but we had to wait for the other 2 meals. That made it a little awkward as one of us was eating and about 1/3 done by the time the other meals came. He couldn't wait of course or he's meal would have been cold. That being said, we were all pleased with the food. Large portions and seasoned perfectly. We all had breakfast food. The breakfast scramble, which was made without spinach on request, florentine Benedict, and the kids fruit crepe (which came with some of their delicious granola). The coffee wasn't worth the price so I'll skip that next time. The large juice was a good size. We did feel a little rushed once at the table. It was so crowded though. I'm not sure if I felt rushed from the server or just all the people. Overall, good was great. Service was ok. I'll go back but maybe not on a Sunday.
(3)Clark M.
My ideal first date always involves breakfast. It's early in the day and if the date is not going well your day isn't ruined. While on the other hand if things go well you can progress the date into a walk through the park, garage sale rummaging, weaving friendship bracelets... First Watch is my go-to for breakfast dates. There is never (even on Mother's Day!) a long wait for a table, always fresh ingredients and the friendliest staff you can imagine at such early hours. If you get nothing else, try out the Iced Tea. It's freshly brewed and fantastic in every way you want iced tea to be fantastic: light, refreshing, and deeply flavorful.
(4)Jackie A.
You Yelpers are in serious need of a good breakfast, because this place just isn't it. You want good - run to your nearest Ihop and feast on fluffy pancakes, served with four flavored syrups, or choose from waffles, French toast, eggs and anything else your imagination can whip up, to include lunch and dinner items. I do like the idea of healthy options, which there are plenty of, at this establishment. An outdoor dining is another plus, in my opinion - but, the positives stop there. I ordered a bacon, tomato, avocado eggs benedict. A tiny wedge of avocado atop the eggs benedict, which beneath there lay a day old slice of bacon and an unripe tomato slice. My mom ordered the Caps, etc. Ample mushrooms arrived piping hot in a small bowl with melted cheese on top, not a cheese sauce - but, melted. Well, after a few minutes, the melted cheese looked like glue. Mom just peeled off the layer - how unappetizing was that? Very! Eggs are eggs, but with the runny yolk and no buttered English muffins accompanying this dish, mom waited five minutes for her waitress to return with the butter. By then, though, her muffins were no longer warm and the yolk, left on the plate. Another disappointment. The hubby wasn't very hungry, so he chose a tomato soup. He says he like it and I thought it way to acidic for my liking. One last thing, the potatoes weren't real, come to think of it - several of the menu items were either unripe, not real, missing something and not plentiful. A total disappointment.
(2)Danielle B.
Went for breakfast. Everything was very good - pancakes, chickichonga, French toast. Service was lacking. We saw our server to order then others dropped off our food then our server brought the check. We needed a couple of things but no luck.
(3)Michelle H.
I'm not going to go into detail about the food because every dish I've had is good and well, being a chain, it's consistently made. Perhaps it's a fluke but the service we've received here is always a bit off, especially if you compare it to their Pikesville location - hence the 3 stars. Here are some examples: 1) At our very first dining experience, I asked what the Veracruz sauce was on the Chickichanga and the server had no idea. She simply said it was good. I know this isn't a four star restaurant but what if I had a strong aversion or food allergy to an ingredient? If this is a signature menu item, the staff should be able to talk knowingly about it. 2) They tout their coffee pots, so I would think they would want to make sure you have what you need to enjoy it. During another visit, I noticed as soon as we were seated that there was only one Splenda packet available - and that just wouldn't cut it for my sweet tooth. Right after ordering coffee, I asked if the server would please bring out more Splenda, which she politely said "Right away!" and sadly, never did. Womp womp. 3) At their Pikesville location, the servers are so quick to bring out beverage refills that your glass never less than 1/3 full. Here, it's like pulling teeth to get one because they don't keep an eye on it nor do they check in regularly. And I know they change muffins daily, even sometimes even mid-day, but their servers have never been able to tell me what kind of muffin is available. 4) On our most recent visit, part of the way through my Fresh Fruit Crepes, I looked down to see that some of the banana slices that had fallen out were spoiled. When we brought this to the attention of our waiter, he said they looked fine and basically walked away. After some time, he dropped off a dish of more banana slices but we were already getting up from the table to pay. This place is fine if you're up already up the 83 corridor, but if you had the choice, I'd opt for their Pikesville location. The service is far beyond.
(3)Amy W.
Very good breakfast place. I had the cranberry nut pancakes and enjoyed each bite. Comfortable and bright atmosphere. Staff was friendly but overworked.
(4)Paul W.
The NoWait app is wonderful. We are 10 minutes away. There was a 15 to 30 minute wait this morning. Logged in and registered 20 minutes in advance. Three minutes after arriving we were seated. Shortest wait ever. Great feature. Thanks First Watch. Paul
(5)Shaelyn R.
Incredible food, friendly and efficient service, great prices! You have to try this place. Been here tons and never had a complaint.
(5)Ashlee K.
What a great little breakfast/brunch spot! The ingredients were fresh and the food was well seasoned. I love that they incorporate avocado into a variety of dishes. I had a breakfast hash, and my husband opted for a sandwich (turkey club). Both were awesome! The menu has some great choices; I can't wait to return to try something else! Also, their freshly brewed iced tea was perfect. It's a quiet little place with friendly service. It was great for a little date, but it's casual and perfect for families, too.
(5)Carrie O.
Sweet Husband Mine and I had been meaning to get down here to try this place out for ages, but we're typically late risers on the weekends, and it was always either closed or closing up when we finally arrived. This past weekend, however, we finally lucked out. After a long, hard workout on Saturday, SHM and I said, "Hey, First Watch, it's still open. Let's go!" At first glance, we were impressed by how BUSY it was, even at 1pm. We didn't think we were even going to be able to get a seat - but it was only a short, 5 minute wait and in the meantime we were allowed to peruse the menu. Staff was very friendly and willing to answer any and all questions. They have a handy website which you can use to count up calories/nutritional stats (though the total isn't available, you have to add the numbers up yourself - I didn't mind but it can be a pain for others). Once we did that, we ordered. I decided on a Chickichanga and SHM ordered a stack of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. People, you need to order this Chickichanga. I mean that very sincerely. It is probably one of the most delicious things I have ever had in my mouth. Scrambled eggs wrap up a filling of green chilies, chorizo sausage, onions, pure deliciousness, and it's all covered in a rich, velvety spicy tomato sauce (Veracruz) with sour cream. Oh-em-effing-GEE, okay? It came with a side of seasoned potatoes and a small bowl of fruit as well, just more temptation on top of temptation. All of this was accompanied by a bottomless (or so it seemed) coffee carafe, with International Delight creamers to top it off. SHM loved his pancakes - and yes, they are as big as your face. Definitely so. The Chickichanga (as ordered) can go over 1000 calories, so be mindful of that. For what it's worth, you can order it specially (no egg yolks, sour cream and sauce on the side, etc.) and they will accomodate with no fuss whatsoever. Definitely a plus. They have other items that are not breakfast-oriented, and I may try those on my next visit. The price was stellar at 21 dollars for two, and the quantity (and quality!) of the food was very worth the money. If you want a personal "homemade" recipe - stay home and make it. If you want a good, filling breakfast at a reasonable price, you want to come here. I'll be back, for sure. Note: The restaurant closes at 3pm, but the kitchen closes at 2:30pm.
(5)Lindsay S.
Decent breakfast. I came here with my mom and we had literally the weirdest waiter ever. I had to bite my tongue every time he came over because he was so odd. SUPER nice though. It's not close to where I live so I don't know I'll be back, but overall it was a pleasant breakfast.
(3)Michaek S.
First not-so-bad! Eh-- my blueberry pancakes were standard issue, as was my bacon,and coffee was forgettable- not truck-stop gagging, but no so good. Real maple syrup a plus- granted you pay a premium for it. My wife's fancy salad was good- pecans and bacon and chicken and mesclun- but honestly we can whip that up at home easy, and her bread slice was a little stale and her iced coffee too sweet. My son's Monte Cristo was tasty enough, but again not outstanding- just standard fare. If I was hungry in a strange city and saw this place, I'd go because I know I'd get decent fare. Otherwise- just OK, not worth a repeat visit.
(3)Sarah G.
I'm not a breakfast person and First Watch has me wanting to go back for more! The hostess sat our group of 5 immediately on a busy Saturday morning and our waitress was there to take drink orders within minutes. I ordered a cup of coffee, they brought me a whole 4-cup pitcher. They're fueling my addiction! The hash. They have several "flavors" of which I chose the farmhouse chicken hash (grilled chicken,onions, red peppers, zucchini, cheddar and scrambled eggs over roasted potatoes, topped with pesto hollandaise). If breakfast was like this all the time, I'd eat it more often. Great service, tasty food, and close to the climbing gym we frequent means that First Watch will become our go-to post climbing feast spot. If this place can get a thumbs up from me and 4 hungry college boys, I'd say it's worth your time.
(5)Georgia K.
We went to First Watch last week and I still can't get over how delicious their avocado toast was! Our waitress was not great, but the food made up for it. The French toast and pancakes are also great there! We tried a little bit of everything!
(4)Tierra C.
Waking up before 6 a.m. on a work day is unheard of unless it's to catch breakfast here.
(4)Jonny P.
Not bad, but not great. Service mainly. Took a good while for the server to get our drink order after she said she'd be right back. I know, not a big deal but we watched her just walk around doing nothing. Food was okay, but the bacon was over cooked. Waffles were decent. Coffee hot and well priced meals. I'll attribute it to them just opening up in the last few weeks. Health fare for sure.
(2)Allison L.
Came here for lunch with coworkers since we've pretty much exhausted most of the other lunch options in the area. Didn't realize it was a restaurant with wait service which kind of slowed things down and is why I probably wouldn't suggest this as a spot if you're on a standard hour lunch hour. It was pretty clear from the service that this place was newly opened, but, our waiter and everyone else we encountered was really nice so that made up for it. We all opted for breakfast and the food was good, but took a long time to be made and there was some confusion with what was included in each meal and things were brought out several minutes apart. The food was good though, and the menu had lots of good options, so I'll probably be back to try other stuff, just when time doesn't matter.
(3)Nicole W.
The variety of dishes and service were great, but expect an I-hop level quality. Some of the foods looked a tad artificial in color, but was still delicious! Definitely a convenient and laid back breakfast spot. I really enjoyed my cinnamon raisin French toast! Just what I was craving!
(3)C P.
Giving them one more star because management responded to my review. We probably won't be back but it says a lot for First Watch that they care about their customers experience. Try it for yourself. They have lots of happy diners.
(3)Aaron P.
Great food & they'll even bring you real cream for your coffee if you don't want the nasty little chemical concoctions (international delight) on your table.
(4)Skylar S.
Really enjoyed my brunch with the family. We went as a group on a Sunday AM, and were sat right away. Server was great, and the food was pretty great. I had the Chicknchanga. It was one of the best breakfast items I have ordered in a while. It was basically a crepe with eggs, green chilie, chorizo and deliciousness. I recommend highly, and will be back.
(5)Joan S.
Great place!! Very friendly staff. Our server, LA (Laura Ann) was fantastic! The food was really good. I had the BLT Benedict, which was excellent. The place was very clean. Quite busy for a week day. Highly recommend this restaurant. Will definitely go there again when I am in this area.
(5)Kristen J.
Awesome! I got the brûlée banana waffle and it was amazeballs. It's on the summer menu.
(5)D C.
Had brunch there yesterday. Food was delicious and our server was great. Similar to Miss Shirley's but parking is easy, food is more reasonable and it was not nearly as noisy!
(5)M B.
We tried this place this past weekend and weren't overly impressed. I got a turkey wrap with egg whites and thought it was very tasty. However, for the amount we paid, it was quite small and ungenerous. My fiancee ordered the turkey burger and just wasn't thrilled with the presentation or the taste. I also tried the hash browns and found them to be so salty that they were inedible. Even worse was the cost of the meal which came in at around $30. $2.50 for a cup of coffee? $2.50 for a glass of Coke? At a breakfast/brunch joint? At those prices, I expect the food to be sublime and decently-sized. We are unlikely to ever go back. I will add that our waiter was attentive and the hostess was nice.
(2)Leigh H.
Overall, this place serves great food. Whether you are looking for something healthier, or want to indulge, this is a great place to go. When watching what I eat, I had the Healthier Side dish, and the only disappointing part was the tomato slices, but they are out of season. I also appreciate the fact that if you want cholesterol free/fat-free eggs, they are an option AT NO ADDITIONAL cost. In fact, they never make a fuss when you request a substitution. When I indulged, I had a belgian waffle, and it was beyond delicious. Also, the fact that they leave you a carafe of coffee is great. I wish the place was open for dinner!
(5)John R.
I have been to this location a bunch of times since they have opened. Food is always flavorful. Menu selection takes a little bit of time to decide sometimes (everything is so good). Staff is crazy friendly. Wait time is usually only about 25 min on a really busy morning. Drinks are a little pricey (3.50 for chocolate milk) I will be returning many more times to this location. They also have a location in Pikesville.
(5)Jenny N.
I had breakfast there with my bf today for the very first time and we both thought the food was awesome. You get a good amount of food for the price. Our food came out pretty fast and it was delicious. Our waiter was very nice but you can tell that he was new and kinda nervous. I'm sure in time service will be better. I will take a nice inexperienced waiter over a rude experienced waiter anyway. I would 100% recommend this place. Great food, great price.
(4)Angie B.
Great food and unique combos like the chickichanga omelette which was awesome but the service is lacking slightly. Our iced teas were never refilled and staff was not attentive after our food was served. Would be five stars otherwise.
(4)Devon N.
3.5 stars The food is good but not great. Try the carrot cake pancakes they will not dissapoint. Service was friendly but confused our order a bit.
(3)Josh R.
This is one of my favorite breakfast places in Baltimore co. I have gone here 3 times now and each time the food has gone beyond my expectations. Portions are medium large. You will be able to finish it and feel very satisfied. My wife and I both love savory breakfast and have no complaints. There fresh fruit was also great. They had all ripe fruit and was fantastic. Would definitely recommend you check this place out.
(5)Ada G.
This is the best breakfast place in Timonium. They have some great choices on the menu that are super healthy. I like to eat as close to paleo as possible, and they have some great gluten free options. You can substitute a salad and fruit for the potatoes and toast with your omelet. I had the chorizo omelet with sauteed onions, mushrooms, yummy cheese, salsa and sour cream. It was awesome - I actually considered licking the plate. My hubby had "the works" omelet and he was really happy with it as well. My daughter had the kid's egg, toast and bacon combo. Everything came out warm and delish. The staff are pretty young and they messed up our order the first time we were there. Service is kind of slow. That said, I still give the place four stars because there is nothing close to the selection and freshness within 10 miles of this place for breakfast. Highly recommend this place!
(4)Thad G.
First Watch is an awesome place for a healthy, ingredient conscious breakfast. The Key West Crepe-eggs are outstanding - slightly sweet crepe, fresh turkey, bacon, avocado, super duper. Fresh English muffins are great- ask them to toast them to crispy because they can be mildly doughy if that's not your style. They are almost always on a wait, but they offer free coffee and there's only been one time where I had to wait for that. Overall an outstanding breakfast place, especially if you are looking for healthy options.
(5)Megan P.
Food is ok, but they try to hurry it so potatoes are under cooked. Their bowls are mainly potatoes with very little other substance. Overall, a decent restaurant if you are bored and looking for something semi healthy.
(3)Candice M.
Service was quick, but not rushed. Creative and mouth-watering menu. I had the Eggs Benedict with Ham and Tomato and my husband had the Baja Turkey Burger. Both were equally good. I just wish the Eggs Benedict had a little bit more Hollandaise, but other than that, I would definitely get it again. Husband had no complaints about the turkey burger either, and he is normally not a fan of burgers that is not made of ground beef. Yay for great breakfast/lunch places like this. Oh and best of all, FREE WI-FI
(4)Alan B.
Previous reviewers are letting this place off easy. This is like a re-branded IHOP. The food is not bad, nor is it good. The price point is above the quality. They are just riding the wave of mediocrity here. There are eye catching ingredients and menu items that lure the buyer in, but it is the method of preparation and flavor that keeps the food from standing out. For example, the eggs taste like they came from a bulk pre-whipped bag and the highly advertised pancakes come from a mix. I make my pancakes from scratch and cook them in a cast iron skillet with abnormal amounts of butter. When I go out to eat, I expect my recipe and method of cooking to be trumped and rightly so. I'm an amateur and these guys are supposed to be the pros. I'll stick to Fells Point locals for my breakfast cravings.
(3)Jennifer J.
Fresh and delicious! Wish I lived closer, I would be a regular. BLT Eggs benedict was a 10.
(5)Erin P.
Food was excellent - fresh & delicious...staff was courteous & responsive...will definitely go back!
(5)Howard A.
Great new restaurant in Timonium. Breakfast was outstanding. Plenty if hot coffee and ample room to read the paper. Sidewalk breakfast was a nice addition. The omelette was one of the best I've had in the area. We will return for breakfast and am looking forward to trying lunch.
(4)Austin E.
Great new place for breakfast /lunch in the 'ville. It's a full service cafe that is bright, comfortable, new and clean. Food is great w large breakfast/lunch menu you can order all day. Good coffee, friendly staff. They serve 10 types of pancakes!
(5)Sophia L.
Great service and food =) my girlfriend and I had brunch one day and sat there for a few hours eating and talking =)
(4)Bryan P.
The new fall special, pumpkin pancakes, is the go to breakfast now. Very fresh, nicely textured and expertly seasoned. The omlettes are Also yummy. Be warned the accompanying potatoes are more onions than potatoes but are still tasty. A little pricey at $22 for an omlette and two pancakes, but tasty enough to be a special breakfast outing every once in a while.
(4)Jan T.
After recently being introduced to the concept of brunch (yes, it is odd), we made the trek here last Saturday following the receipt of a two-for-one coupon to celebrate the opening. Well worth it. The space is well lit, open, and has a diner-level of noise (though without the flimsy booths and juke box), as well as a menu consisting entirely of breakfast items (omeletts, burritos, etc) and lunch selections. They close at 2 pm daily, so no dinner here. Our server was friendly, quick, and not overly aggressive (three checks throughout the meal). The food was excellent and, as a nice touch, you get an entire pot of coffee with your order. Good coffee too, with a nice wake-me-up burn to it. Prices are very reasonable, with the two meals coming out to less than $25, even before applying the coupon. We will be back. PS: There is free wi-fi if anyone needs it.
(4)Jennifer S.
Service was initially inattentive, no one greeted us at the door and we had to wait to be seated, but the food looked so good that we gave them a few minutes before leaving. I ordered the chicken bacon pecan salad, which I could have easily made at home, with higher quality ingredients (I would have used duck bacon rather than pork bacon, and would have used larger pieces of organic white meat chicken, and would have substituted actual carrot slices in place of shredded salad mix carrots). The side ciabatta was stale and hard, like it was a day old. The iced coffee was overly sweet, since I prefer to sweeten my beverages myself. My son and husband rated the coffee "just OK." My husband's ridiculously annoying diet app on his iphone was able to pull up the nutritional value of every single menu option and some options were worse than others. My husband's pancakes were prepared with a basic bisquick mix, and I could have made them at home quicker. My son's Monte Cristo was "just OK"per him.
(3)Christopher T.
This First Watch just opened this past week, but this was also my first time at any First Watch. I can easily say that I will be back here many more times. The coffee and food were delicious, and the service was great. The menu had a lot of variety, but also carried a lot of standards as well. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Kathryn P.
Really like this place! Great breakfast options - healthy and not much... Something for everyone. The pancakes are huge and delicious! 4/5 for service really...
(4)William T.
Not sure what happened to this place, I've been here over the past several years and they have been consistent on food and quality. But my recent visit was a mediocre at best. I order the traditional and my wife order the waffle, which we've order before and was very satisfied. However, this last time the pancakes and waffle came out under cooked. I told our server and she graciously took it back to have another recooked for us. The second one came out under cooked too. My only guess is that they were busy? Not sure as it was still early on Sunday, before 10AM and it wasn't busier than other weekends. Not sure if I will be coming here for breakfast again, which is too bad as the staff is wonderful.
(2)Jody B.
I normally enjoy this chain's Rockville branch, but was pretty disappointed this morning at the Timonium location. I had a trifecta and my mom had a traditional breakfast, both with scrambled eggs. Unfortunately both eggs were not scrambled... Just a fried egg cut up, so there were distinct white and yellow sections. The place was mostly empty so in not sure what the cook's rush was. We sent one back for that reason, but they gave us new eggs prepared exactly the same. I'm not sure how a breakfast specialty place doesn't know how to scramble an egg.... but here we are. The rest of the food was fine as was the service.
(2)Glenn S.
I love this place. I eat here 2-3 times per week. I hold my weekly staff meeting here and my family does breakfast once or twice a week. Best waffles, pancakes, eggs... wow!!! It's a great mix of great food and healthy choices. Definitely try the kale tonic! My ONLY negative is that they do not serve turkey bacon. They do serve turkey sausage however. It's good but I really wish they would add turkey bacon to the menu.
(5)Noelle C.
Great fresh options, lots of healthy choices. Free paper and wifi, and the servers say, "take your time." Decor is cookie-cutter chain fare, but pleasant, clean, and comfortable. Made to order, no heat lamps is great, but my first pancake was a bit too cool. Servers jumped to fix the problem. Big plus is no auto-gratuity no matter how big your group. Well be back!
(4)Ashlee K.
What a great little breakfast/brunch spot! The ingredients were fresh and the food was well seasoned. I love that they incorporate avocado into a variety of dishes. I had a breakfast hash, and my husband opted for a sandwich (turkey club). Both were awesome! The menu has some great choices; I can't wait to return to try something else! Also, their freshly brewed iced tea was perfect. It's a quiet little place with friendly service. It was great for a little date, but it's casual and perfect for families, too.
(5)Eliza K.
Love this place and we are regulars to this location. The staff is pleasant and attentive. The food is almost always served quickly and appropriately hot. The specials featured should make it onto the menu full-time! Would love to see the Kale Salad and the newest egg/bacon/avocado/lemon crema sandwich. It would be EXTREMELY helpful to add a gluten free dressing option so that I could bring my Mom for lunch. If Jason's Deli (literally next door) can have such a great gluten free focus...then you could certainly find at least a dressing for your menu. If you don't like eggs, then your menu for GF customers is pretty dismal. I hate being steps away from First Watch but having to go to Jason's instead to accommodate her dietary needs. Favorites: Key West Crepe Eggs, pancakes, quinoa bowls, tomato soup and beefeater sandwich, pecan chicken salad, and so many others. There is a Sun eClub to join that will email you specials and discounts. There is a Pick 2 option on the menu for 1/2 sandwich plus soup or small salad. Love their servers! Tiffany & Jeremy are particularly awesome, but we have had good service from most all of them. The few that were slow to fulfill their promises don't seem to be employed there anymore. This should help improve the reviews on the service issues that I see mentioned in some older reviews.
(5)Caroline C.
SLOW. And cold. Food is OK but overpriced for what is it. Everything takes forever. I've been waiting for 40 min. Food finally came and my soup was lukewarm and my boyfriends sandwich was dry. Little to no effort. Terrible experience, albeit a story to tell.
(1)Katy K.
Our first visit was a Sunday around lunch. Possibly the busiest time of the week but the staff managed the crowd very well. During the wait we looked at the menu and she took our order right before we were seated. When we were seated it didn't take long for the first meal came out quickly but we had to wait for the other 2 meals. That made it a little awkward as one of us was eating and about 1/3 done by the time the other meals came. He couldn't wait of course or he's meal would have been cold. That being said, we were all pleased with the food. Large portions and seasoned perfectly. We all had breakfast food. The breakfast scramble, which was made without spinach on request, florentine Benedict, and the kids fruit crepe (which came with some of their delicious granola). The coffee wasn't worth the price so I'll skip that next time. The large juice was a good size. We did feel a little rushed once at the table. It was so crowded though. I'm not sure if I felt rushed from the server or just all the people. Overall, good was great. Service was ok. I'll go back but maybe not on a Sunday.
(3)Clark M.
My ideal first date always involves breakfast. It's early in the day and if the date is not going well your day isn't ruined. While on the other hand if things go well you can progress the date into a walk through the park, garage sale rummaging, weaving friendship bracelets... First Watch is my go-to for breakfast dates. There is never (even on Mother's Day!) a long wait for a table, always fresh ingredients and the friendliest staff you can imagine at such early hours. If you get nothing else, try out the Iced Tea. It's freshly brewed and fantastic in every way you want iced tea to be fantastic: light, refreshing, and deeply flavorful.
(4)Michelle H.
I'm not going to go into detail about the food because every dish I've had is good and well, being a chain, it's consistently made. Perhaps it's a fluke but the service we've received here is always a bit off, especially if you compare it to their Pikesville location - hence the 3 stars. Here are some examples: 1) At our very first dining experience, I asked what the Veracruz sauce was on the Chickichanga and the server had no idea. She simply said it was good. I know this isn't a four star restaurant but what if I had a strong aversion or food allergy to an ingredient? If this is a signature menu item, the staff should be able to talk knowingly about it. 2) They tout their coffee pots, so I would think they would want to make sure you have what you need to enjoy it. During another visit, I noticed as soon as we were seated that there was only one Splenda packet available - and that just wouldn't cut it for my sweet tooth. Right after ordering coffee, I asked if the server would please bring out more Splenda, which she politely said "Right away!" and sadly, never did. Womp womp. 3) At their Pikesville location, the servers are so quick to bring out beverage refills that your glass never less than 1/3 full. Here, it's like pulling teeth to get one because they don't keep an eye on it nor do they check in regularly. And I know they change muffins daily, even sometimes even mid-day, but their servers have never been able to tell me what kind of muffin is available. 4) On our most recent visit, part of the way through my Fresh Fruit Crepes, I looked down to see that some of the banana slices that had fallen out were spoiled. When we brought this to the attention of our waiter, he said they looked fine and basically walked away. After some time, he dropped off a dish of more banana slices but we were already getting up from the table to pay. This place is fine if you're up already up the 83 corridor, but if you had the choice, I'd opt for their Pikesville location. The service is far beyond.
(3)Amy W.
Very good breakfast place. I had the cranberry nut pancakes and enjoyed each bite. Comfortable and bright atmosphere. Staff was friendly but overworked.
(4)Paul W.
The NoWait app is wonderful. We are 10 minutes away. There was a 15 to 30 minute wait this morning. Logged in and registered 20 minutes in advance. Three minutes after arriving we were seated. Shortest wait ever. Great feature. Thanks First Watch. Paul
(5)Chrissy S.
My fiance and I went here for the first time today after reading the great reviews but in the first 5-10 mins it was a disappointing experience. When we walked in, the guy who was seating people just stared at us from across the room before we were seated. Once seated at the table we were greeted by dirty glasses. The actual waiter for our table skipped us to take both the drink and food order for the man next to us, who came in and was seated after us. After walking past us he returned to offer us coffee or water, no inquiry on whether we were ready to order. We did not stay, it wasn't looking like it would be a promising experience.
(1)Shaelyn R.
Incredible food, friendly and efficient service, great prices! You have to try this place. Been here tons and never had a complaint.
(5)Carrie O.
Sweet Husband Mine and I had been meaning to get down here to try this place out for ages, but we're typically late risers on the weekends, and it was always either closed or closing up when we finally arrived. This past weekend, however, we finally lucked out. After a long, hard workout on Saturday, SHM and I said, "Hey, First Watch, it's still open. Let's go!" At first glance, we were impressed by how BUSY it was, even at 1pm. We didn't think we were even going to be able to get a seat - but it was only a short, 5 minute wait and in the meantime we were allowed to peruse the menu. Staff was very friendly and willing to answer any and all questions. They have a handy website which you can use to count up calories/nutritional stats (though the total isn't available, you have to add the numbers up yourself - I didn't mind but it can be a pain for others). Once we did that, we ordered. I decided on a Chickichanga and SHM ordered a stack of blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. People, you need to order this Chickichanga. I mean that very sincerely. It is probably one of the most delicious things I have ever had in my mouth. Scrambled eggs wrap up a filling of green chilies, chorizo sausage, onions, pure deliciousness, and it's all covered in a rich, velvety spicy tomato sauce (Veracruz) with sour cream. Oh-em-effing-GEE, okay? It came with a side of seasoned potatoes and a small bowl of fruit as well, just more temptation on top of temptation. All of this was accompanied by a bottomless (or so it seemed) coffee carafe, with International Delight creamers to top it off. SHM loved his pancakes - and yes, they are as big as your face. Definitely so. The Chickichanga (as ordered) can go over 1000 calories, so be mindful of that. For what it's worth, you can order it specially (no egg yolks, sour cream and sauce on the side, etc.) and they will accomodate with no fuss whatsoever. Definitely a plus. They have other items that are not breakfast-oriented, and I may try those on my next visit. The price was stellar at 21 dollars for two, and the quantity (and quality!) of the food was very worth the money. If you want a personal "homemade" recipe - stay home and make it. If you want a good, filling breakfast at a reasonable price, you want to come here. I'll be back, for sure. Note: The restaurant closes at 3pm, but the kitchen closes at 2:30pm.
(5)Lindsay S.
Decent breakfast. I came here with my mom and we had literally the weirdest waiter ever. I had to bite my tongue every time he came over because he was so odd. SUPER nice though. It's not close to where I live so I don't know I'll be back, but overall it was a pleasant breakfast.
(3)Michaek S.
First not-so-bad! Eh-- my blueberry pancakes were standard issue, as was my bacon,and coffee was forgettable- not truck-stop gagging, but no so good. Real maple syrup a plus- granted you pay a premium for it. My wife's fancy salad was good- pecans and bacon and chicken and mesclun- but honestly we can whip that up at home easy, and her bread slice was a little stale and her iced coffee too sweet. My son's Monte Cristo was tasty enough, but again not outstanding- just standard fare. If I was hungry in a strange city and saw this place, I'd go because I know I'd get decent fare. Otherwise- just OK, not worth a repeat visit.
(3)Jackie A.
You Yelpers are in serious need of a good breakfast, because this place just isn't it. You want good - run to your nearest Ihop and feast on fluffy pancakes, served with four flavored syrups, or choose from waffles, French toast, eggs and anything else your imagination can whip up, to include lunch and dinner items. I do like the idea of healthy options, which there are plenty of, at this establishment. An outdoor dining is another plus, in my opinion - but, the positives stop there. I ordered a bacon, tomato, avocado eggs benedict. A tiny wedge of avocado atop the eggs benedict, which beneath there lay a day old slice of bacon and an unripe tomato slice. My mom ordered the Caps, etc. Ample mushrooms arrived piping hot in a small bowl with melted cheese on top, not a cheese sauce - but, melted. Well, after a few minutes, the melted cheese looked like glue. Mom just peeled off the layer - how unappetizing was that? Very! Eggs are eggs, but with the runny yolk and no buttered English muffins accompanying this dish, mom waited five minutes for her waitress to return with the butter. By then, though, her muffins were no longer warm and the yolk, left on the plate. Another disappointment. The hubby wasn't very hungry, so he chose a tomato soup. He says he like it and I thought it way to acidic for my liking. One last thing, the potatoes weren't real, come to think of it - several of the menu items were either unripe, not real, missing something and not plentiful. A total disappointment.
(2)Danielle B.
Went for breakfast. Everything was very good - pancakes, chickichonga, French toast. Service was lacking. We saw our server to order then others dropped off our food then our server brought the check. We needed a couple of things but no luck.
(3)Sarah G.
I'm not a breakfast person and First Watch has me wanting to go back for more! The hostess sat our group of 5 immediately on a busy Saturday morning and our waitress was there to take drink orders within minutes. I ordered a cup of coffee, they brought me a whole 4-cup pitcher. They're fueling my addiction! The hash. They have several "flavors" of which I chose the farmhouse chicken hash (grilled chicken,onions, red peppers, zucchini, cheddar and scrambled eggs over roasted potatoes, topped with pesto hollandaise). If breakfast was like this all the time, I'd eat it more often. Great service, tasty food, and close to the climbing gym we frequent means that First Watch will become our go-to post climbing feast spot. If this place can get a thumbs up from me and 4 hungry college boys, I'd say it's worth your time.
(5)Georgia K.
We went to First Watch last week and I still can't get over how delicious their avocado toast was! Our waitress was not great, but the food made up for it. The French toast and pancakes are also great there! We tried a little bit of everything!
(4)Tierra C.
Waking up before 6 a.m. on a work day is unheard of unless it's to catch breakfast here.
(4)Ayusa S.
Great service, a pot of coffee for $2.39, lots of food for a good price! The pumpkin pancake was the best pancake I have ever had. The crepegg was interesting, not my favorite but still good. The potatoes with the crepegg were also good not great, could use a little more seasoning for my taste. All of the food was really fresh so I felt healthy eating so much! Would become a regular here if I lived here!
(5)Nikeita P.
I had the strawberry chicken salad minus the almonds since I am allergic to many tree nuts. He salad was good and incorporated a lot of fresh, juicy and sweet strawberries. The only downside to the salad was the small amount of Chicken that was provided. I assume because my order omitted the almonds, I noticed the lack of "protein" in the dish. I wish the cook/chief who prepared the dish would have given me something extra to substitute the absence of almonds in my salad.
(4)Yuriy B.
Had breakfast here when visiting some friends nearby for the weekend. I'm not familiar with this particular chain, but the first impression was a good one. It's a pretty basic, straightforward restaurant along the lines of an IHOP, just with a touch of added class. Not to say that IHOP isn't classy. The experience was good for what it was. I ordered the Fall Harvest Hash which was a seasonal item, but it was tasty, but not mindblowing. Also, based on recommendation, ordered ONE cheddar pancake, which was absolutely huge and delicious. For a $1 extra you can get real maple syrup on the side as opposed to the everyday ultra-processed high fructose corn syrup variety. Our server was an excellent bearded fellow who was very friendly and pleasant. My only complaint was that the coffee was pretty subpar. For a restaurant so heavy on the breakfast/brunch aspect, good coffee was an expectation and it was really kind of bland. I do ,however, tend to be picky with coffee. Worth a visit.
(4)Some D.
Been here 4 or 5 times now and I must say I am quite pleased every time. While some may feel the food isn't that inspired I would kinda disagree and argue that most typical breakfast items at the dinners in this part of Baltimore county are not going to offer things like avocado toast, an energy bowl, or even different sausage options like turkey instead of pork. Let alone seasonally inspired dishes and special juices. No its probably not as creative as say the Blue Moon cafe downtown but are you really going to venture downtown every weekend to eat there? Or even eat like that with their huge portions? No I don't think so. But this place also wins on getting the basics right on some of the more creative breakfast options out there. For instance, their banana pancake. While most places just do banana on top the pancake or add weird cream or filling to it (see IHOP) FW actually cooks the bananna into the pancake and adds granola in as well. And its this item that keeps me coming back because its exactly the type of thing I want for breakfast when I want something unique. And they don't over do it either portion wise which is actually a good thing. The Tri-fecta is a perfectly balanced breakfast meal, just enough, consisting of one big pancake anyway you want it, eggs anyway you like, and a side of meat that can be either two strips of thick sliced bacon, or two sausage links; your choice of pork or turkey. Quite honestly I prefer this rather than getting overloaded with home fries at most breakfast locations in the B-more metropolitan area. The coffee brand they serve is also very good (Sunrise) and the Day Glow juice is definitely worth a try. Only complaint is it seems they can get understaffed and so moving people in and out quickly and then seating new people seems to be a bit of a challenge for them sometimes. Service is usually pretty good even though they seem rather understaffed at times. Found if there's a hiccup here or there with your order they'll usually fix it.
(4)Jeff K.
So I returned to First Watch after my initial poor experience. The second time around was better. THE GOOD... -minimal wait for table -glass bottles now with water for the table -pumpkin pancakes were good -kale, apple and lemon juice drink was good THE BAD... -again, the food took forever to come out -server not once visited the table to give any kind of update Although this visit was better than the first, the overall service is in need of training. I'm talking the basics fundamentals of waiting tables.
(3)Jude T.
I think the food was better than our previous visit, and the waitress we had rally knew what she was doing. HOWEVER, it took us 10 minutes to get on the list for a table because the people at the front end had no idea what they were doing. Someone's charge didn't go to their card or something, so the person who was supposed to take our names started helping the employee at the register, and then they just stood there talking about it for awhile... Eventually they got a manager, but then the three of them talked about it and worked on it together, all while we stood there. It took a total of 10.5 minutes to get on the list for a table.
(3)Nancy S.
I have very mixed feelings about First Watch. Food is fresh and decently priced. I enjoy the creative seasonal breakfast features (avocado on toast, fresh berries, yum!) Service however is not that great. The last time I went in I was carrying my son. My waiter watched me carrying him and trying to at the same time pick up and carry a high chair. Not only did he watch me carry both, he was standing at the table next to me and wouldn't move in a little so I could get past. Annoying, but not enough to write a bad yelp review. Today, I went for breakfast and stood at the front for about 10 minutes before even being acknowledged. When I was acknowledged, it wasn't until another customer came to the front to pay his bill and was finished. No good morning. No sorry for the wait. Nothing. I was seated with 2 small children for about 15 minutes and every employee in that restaurant walked past and ignored me! A waitress who was working in another section finally came over and apologized and took our order, even though we weren't her assigned table. She was very polite and helpful. I am patient to an extent, but it wasn't even that busy. I would have even been satisfied with a "I'll be with you shortly." Bottom line: Despite being mildly busy, 2 strikes in a row for poor customer service. There is one waitress there however who is always helpful and friendly. Tiffany I think? Tiffany was the one who made me give 3 stars instead of 2. This place would be more enjoyable if customer service was better!
(3)Alli R.
I have been to First Watch two times now and while the food is good, the kitchen takes literally FOREVER. to get the food out. The menu has a good variety of choices, and the juices are great, I just wish the food could be faster coming out. The first experience going there wasn't great, our server seemed like she would rather be anywhere but at work. She didn't refill water quickly, or check in. Of course the food took a long time as I've said. The second experience was better in the fact that the server was super friendly and attentive but again, the wait is ridiculous. Especially for breakfast food. Not sure if I would go again.
(3)Ashley K.
Their brunch/lunch selections are really tasty and I particularly like the Acapulco Express Omelet. It is delicious! I am not crazy over their location but the food is worth a visit.
(4)Melissa W.
Yelp didn't let me down! Surprised by this place, I actually was expecting a mom & pop place. Apparently it's a chain. But it's very good. Got 2 pancakes, one chocolate chip and one pumpkin, and granola with yogurt. My eyes were bigger than my stomach. The pancakes were VERY good. Granola was home-made! Free wifi, cool atmosphere. Would definitely come back!!
(5)Josh G.
First Watch is a chain and not especially overwhelming. I'd say for a basic meal it's reliable, but is nothing inspired. The service can be sporadic, last I was there they probably needed another server, but other than that it's a casual venue and it's reasonably priced.
(3)Sarah B.
A nice breakfast spot. Mostly eggs, omelettes and the like. This location didn't have the sausage and gravy my husband was looking for. The server indicated that some of the southern locations carry that menu, but they didn't get much call for it in this area. I had the key west crepeggs, which was tasty and filling. The potatoes seemed to have been frozen, but they were ok. My husband had turkey avocado eggs benedict which he seemed to like. My friend had regular fruit crepes which she liked as well. The server was pleasant and the location was clean. We were on our way to a wedding nearby (bride in tow and some of the wedding party, so we wouldn't be able to eat for several hours yet), and I wouldn't make a special trip for this. Right down the middle "ok" for me.
(3)Matthew L.
Excellent brunch place. Generous portions and fresh ingredients. Good pancake and clever specials. Plus can't beat the pricing. I wouldn't make a special trip, but definately worth a stop if in the area.
(4)Nayoung L.
I came here for breakfast on Sunday morning and enjoyed my "healthy" breakfast. The restaurant is small, cute and no-frills. We sat down immediately and our server was excellent. I tried their kale juice which was fresh and delicious. Everything we ordered was good and I don't remember last time two of us could get brunch for about $20 at a sit down restaurant. Would love to have this option in the city!
(4)C W.
Fantastic for families with little ones! The front of the house staff are VERY friendly and keep my son entertained. Really enjoy going first thing in the morning when it's not too crowded. Food is pretty good but maybe a little over priced. Great coffee and always a nice family outing for us.
(4)Jania S.
Drove by this place for over a year and had no idea how amazing it is. Highly recommend for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Healthy options but for those who don't care about health they have great yummy pancakes and crab Benedict too!!
(5)Nola M.
This was my second experience eating at First Watch and it was just as enjoyable at the first time. This time I ordered the, "The Elevated Egg sandwich", which was delectable, and filling. This order also came with a side of hash which was just as good as the sandwich.
(5)Cori B.
Been to this location quite a few times, finally getting able to write a review! It's always busy, but relatively clean, quick, and delicious every single time. Today there was a bit of a backup seating tables, because the hostess' iPad wasn't working and one person was handling checkins, seating, and ringing up checks. The manager eventually came up and sorted it out by helping. The menu offers a wide variety of different types of breakfast/lunch foods, especially plenty of "healthier" options. The kitchen seems fairly efficient, usually only takes 10-15 minutes for food to come out hot and yummy! Overall, a solid breakfast place and a step above the nearest IHOP or Bob Evans!
(5)Pam D.
Our overall experience was "ok" - 3 stars. We had heard good things about the restaurant. Our visit last Sunday at noontime was our first. The interior of the restaurant is pretty - pale yellow walls and vibrant, attractive art work. The folks at the front desk were pleasnt. What we noticed immediately after sitting down was the noise level in the restaurant was through the roof - mind thumbing, head thumping LOUD. There were a few children there but they didn't seem unduly noisy. We honestly had trouble hearing each other (after a few tables left, things quieted down). The restaurant is very open and we didn't see anything that might help tone down the noise level. Our waiter (didn't tell us his name which I think is always a nice touch for a server to say what their name is) was pleasant and courteous but was very odd in his mannerisms and the way he talked to us (as if we were in pre-school). Hubby had eggs, sausage and an English muffin. He said it was "ok" - not good, not bad - just ok. I had the Reuben sandwich. It was a very dry Reuben - not a trace of Thousand Island so I requested and our server did bring some Thousand Island dressing. The sandwich was accompanied by some greens. I thought (but perhaps I am wrong) the greens were to have a mild dressing on them - there was no dressing whatsoever. The Reuben was "ok" - certainly a far cry from better Reubens I have had elswhere. (one of the best I have had is at Firehouse Tavern in Parkville). Prices were very reasonable. We honestly don't feel we would rush back to the restaurant given the horrific noise level that made having a conversation impossible and the fact the food was no better than "average".
(3)Shirlé K.
This place is a chain, first and foremost. The meal was mediocre at best. Not fresh ingredients at all. Nothing special. No real effort put into the breakfast we ate. I feel bad for the suburbanites that this is their only choice.
(1)Virginia B.
I enjoyed the simple offerings. Everything I tried was good! I'm a big soup, salad, and sandwich girl. My favorite casual chain is Panera Bread. This was a more refined version of Panera. Rather good.
(4)Maggi R.
This was our first visit to First Watch, and it was a very pleasant one. Liz, our server, could not have been more welcoming, attentive and upbeat. The restaurant was filling up quickly and had a lively vibe. Our breakfast choices of French Toast Monte Cristo and the Parma Hash were plentiful and very good. A nice touch are the coffee and water carafes on the table. Thank you so much.
(5)John M.
Great breakfast/lunch spot. Staff is friendly and attentive and the food is certainly a step up from something like IHOP. I usually get an omelette with fruit on the side. The eggs are nice and fluffy, not dense or over cooked. This time I got the chikkichanga, which had whipped eggs, chicken, chorizo, avocado, and onion inside a fried tortilla and topped with sour cream and some kind of delicious red sauce. I'm intrigued by the "power bowls" that have chicken, nuts, quinoa and some other stuff. Will order one of those next time. I've been here four times, always on Saturday or Sunday around noon, and have always had to wait 5-25 minutes. Understandable for what I assume is their peak time.
(4)John R.
I have been to this location a bunch of times since they have opened. Food is always flavorful. Menu selection takes a little bit of time to decide sometimes (everything is so good). Staff is crazy friendly. Wait time is usually only about 25 min on a really busy morning. Drinks are a little pricey (3.50 for chocolate milk) I will be returning many more times to this location. They also have a location in Pikesville.
(5)Jenny N.
I had breakfast there with my bf today for the very first time and we both thought the food was awesome. You get a good amount of food for the price. Our food came out pretty fast and it was delicious. Our waiter was very nice but you can tell that he was new and kinda nervous. I'm sure in time service will be better. I will take a nice inexperienced waiter over a rude experienced waiter anyway. I would 100% recommend this place. Great food, great price.
(4)Angie B.
Great food and unique combos like the chickichanga omelette which was awesome but the service is lacking slightly. Our iced teas were never refilled and staff was not attentive after our food was served. Would be five stars otherwise.
(4)Devon N.
3.5 stars The food is good but not great. Try the carrot cake pancakes they will not dissapoint. Service was friendly but confused our order a bit.
(3)Josh R.
This is one of my favorite breakfast places in Baltimore co. I have gone here 3 times now and each time the food has gone beyond my expectations. Portions are medium large. You will be able to finish it and feel very satisfied. My wife and I both love savory breakfast and have no complaints. There fresh fruit was also great. They had all ripe fruit and was fantastic. Would definitely recommend you check this place out.
(5)Ada G.
This is the best breakfast place in Timonium. They have some great choices on the menu that are super healthy. I like to eat as close to paleo as possible, and they have some great gluten free options. You can substitute a salad and fruit for the potatoes and toast with your omelet. I had the chorizo omelet with sauteed onions, mushrooms, yummy cheese, salsa and sour cream. It was awesome - I actually considered licking the plate. My hubby had "the works" omelet and he was really happy with it as well. My daughter had the kid's egg, toast and bacon combo. Everything came out warm and delish. The staff are pretty young and they messed up our order the first time we were there. Service is kind of slow. That said, I still give the place four stars because there is nothing close to the selection and freshness within 10 miles of this place for breakfast. Highly recommend this place!
(4)Thad G.
First Watch is an awesome place for a healthy, ingredient conscious breakfast. The Key West Crepe-eggs are outstanding - slightly sweet crepe, fresh turkey, bacon, avocado, super duper. Fresh English muffins are great- ask them to toast them to crispy because they can be mildly doughy if that's not your style. They are almost always on a wait, but they offer free coffee and there's only been one time where I had to wait for that. Overall an outstanding breakfast place, especially if you are looking for healthy options.
(5)Jan T.
After recently being introduced to the concept of brunch (yes, it is odd), we made the trek here last Saturday following the receipt of a two-for-one coupon to celebrate the opening. Well worth it. The space is well lit, open, and has a diner-level of noise (though without the flimsy booths and juke box), as well as a menu consisting entirely of breakfast items (omeletts, burritos, etc) and lunch selections. They close at 2 pm daily, so no dinner here. Our server was friendly, quick, and not overly aggressive (three checks throughout the meal). The food was excellent and, as a nice touch, you get an entire pot of coffee with your order. Good coffee too, with a nice wake-me-up burn to it. Prices are very reasonable, with the two meals coming out to less than $25, even before applying the coupon. We will be back. PS: There is free wi-fi if anyone needs it.
(4)Jennifer S.
Service was initially inattentive, no one greeted us at the door and we had to wait to be seated, but the food looked so good that we gave them a few minutes before leaving. I ordered the chicken bacon pecan salad, which I could have easily made at home, with higher quality ingredients (I would have used duck bacon rather than pork bacon, and would have used larger pieces of organic white meat chicken, and would have substituted actual carrot slices in place of shredded salad mix carrots). The side ciabatta was stale and hard, like it was a day old. The iced coffee was overly sweet, since I prefer to sweeten my beverages myself. My son and husband rated the coffee "just OK." My husband's ridiculously annoying diet app on his iphone was able to pull up the nutritional value of every single menu option and some options were worse than others. My husband's pancakes were prepared with a basic bisquick mix, and I could have made them at home quicker. My son's Monte Cristo was "just OK"per him.
(3)Christopher T.
This First Watch just opened this past week, but this was also my first time at any First Watch. I can easily say that I will be back here many more times. The coffee and food were delicious, and the service was great. The menu had a lot of variety, but also carried a lot of standards as well. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Kathryn P.
Really like this place! Great breakfast options - healthy and not much... Something for everyone. The pancakes are huge and delicious! 4/5 for service really...
(4)Megan P.
Food is ok, but they try to hurry it so potatoes are under cooked. Their bowls are mainly potatoes with very little other substance. Overall, a decent restaurant if you are bored and looking for something semi healthy.
(3)Candice M.
Service was quick, but not rushed. Creative and mouth-watering menu. I had the Eggs Benedict with Ham and Tomato and my husband had the Baja Turkey Burger. Both were equally good. I just wish the Eggs Benedict had a little bit more Hollandaise, but other than that, I would definitely get it again. Husband had no complaints about the turkey burger either, and he is normally not a fan of burgers that is not made of ground beef. Yay for great breakfast/lunch places like this. Oh and best of all, FREE WI-FI
(4)Alan B.
Previous reviewers are letting this place off easy. This is like a re-branded IHOP. The food is not bad, nor is it good. The price point is above the quality. They are just riding the wave of mediocrity here. There are eye catching ingredients and menu items that lure the buyer in, but it is the method of preparation and flavor that keeps the food from standing out. For example, the eggs taste like they came from a bulk pre-whipped bag and the highly advertised pancakes come from a mix. I make my pancakes from scratch and cook them in a cast iron skillet with abnormal amounts of butter. When I go out to eat, I expect my recipe and method of cooking to be trumped and rightly so. I'm an amateur and these guys are supposed to be the pros. I'll stick to Fells Point locals for my breakfast cravings.
(3)Jennifer J.
Fresh and delicious! Wish I lived closer, I would be a regular. BLT Eggs benedict was a 10.
(5)Erin P.
Food was excellent - fresh & delicious...staff was courteous & responsive...will definitely go back!
(5)Howard A.
Great new restaurant in Timonium. Breakfast was outstanding. Plenty if hot coffee and ample room to read the paper. Sidewalk breakfast was a nice addition. The omelette was one of the best I've had in the area. We will return for breakfast and am looking forward to trying lunch.
(4)Austin E.
Great new place for breakfast /lunch in the 'ville. It's a full service cafe that is bright, comfortable, new and clean. Food is great w large breakfast/lunch menu you can order all day. Good coffee, friendly staff. They serve 10 types of pancakes!
(5)Sophia L.
Great service and food =) my girlfriend and I had brunch one day and sat there for a few hours eating and talking =)
(4)Bryan P.
The new fall special, pumpkin pancakes, is the go to breakfast now. Very fresh, nicely textured and expertly seasoned. The omlettes are Also yummy. Be warned the accompanying potatoes are more onions than potatoes but are still tasty. A little pricey at $22 for an omlette and two pancakes, but tasty enough to be a special breakfast outing every once in a while.
(4)M B.
We tried this place this past weekend and weren't overly impressed. I got a turkey wrap with egg whites and thought it was very tasty. However, for the amount we paid, it was quite small and ungenerous. My fiancee ordered the turkey burger and just wasn't thrilled with the presentation or the taste. I also tried the hash browns and found them to be so salty that they were inedible. Even worse was the cost of the meal which came in at around $30. $2.50 for a cup of coffee? $2.50 for a glass of Coke? At a breakfast/brunch joint? At those prices, I expect the food to be sublime and decently-sized. We are unlikely to ever go back. I will add that our waiter was attentive and the hostess was nice.
(2)Leigh H.
Overall, this place serves great food. Whether you are looking for something healthier, or want to indulge, this is a great place to go. When watching what I eat, I had the Healthier Side dish, and the only disappointing part was the tomato slices, but they are out of season. I also appreciate the fact that if you want cholesterol free/fat-free eggs, they are an option AT NO ADDITIONAL cost. In fact, they never make a fuss when you request a substitution. When I indulged, I had a belgian waffle, and it was beyond delicious. Also, the fact that they leave you a carafe of coffee is great. I wish the place was open for dinner!
(5)Jonny P.
Not bad, but not great. Service mainly. Took a good while for the server to get our drink order after she said she'd be right back. I know, not a big deal but we watched her just walk around doing nothing. Food was okay, but the bacon was over cooked. Waffles were decent. Coffee hot and well priced meals. I'll attribute it to them just opening up in the last few weeks. Health fare for sure.
(2)Allison L.
Came here for lunch with coworkers since we've pretty much exhausted most of the other lunch options in the area. Didn't realize it was a restaurant with wait service which kind of slowed things down and is why I probably wouldn't suggest this as a spot if you're on a standard hour lunch hour. It was pretty clear from the service that this place was newly opened, but, our waiter and everyone else we encountered was really nice so that made up for it. We all opted for breakfast and the food was good, but took a long time to be made and there was some confusion with what was included in each meal and things were brought out several minutes apart. The food was good though, and the menu had lots of good options, so I'll probably be back to try other stuff, just when time doesn't matter.
(3)Nicole W.
The variety of dishes and service were great, but expect an I-hop level quality. Some of the foods looked a tad artificial in color, but was still delicious! Definitely a convenient and laid back breakfast spot. I really enjoyed my cinnamon raisin French toast! Just what I was craving!
(3)C P.
Giving them one more star because management responded to my review. We probably won't be back but it says a lot for First Watch that they care about their customers experience. Try it for yourself. They have lots of happy diners.
(3)Aaron P.
Great food & they'll even bring you real cream for your coffee if you don't want the nasty little chemical concoctions (international delight) on your table.
(4)Skylar S.
Really enjoyed my brunch with the family. We went as a group on a Sunday AM, and were sat right away. Server was great, and the food was pretty great. I had the Chicknchanga. It was one of the best breakfast items I have ordered in a while. It was basically a crepe with eggs, green chilie, chorizo and deliciousness. I recommend highly, and will be back.
(5)Joan S.
Great place!! Very friendly staff. Our server, LA (Laura Ann) was fantastic! The food was really good. I had the BLT Benedict, which was excellent. The place was very clean. Quite busy for a week day. Highly recommend this restaurant. Will definitely go there again when I am in this area.
(5)Kristen J.
Awesome! I got the brûlée banana waffle and it was amazeballs. It's on the summer menu.
(5)D C.
Had brunch there yesterday. Food was delicious and our server was great. Similar to Miss Shirley's but parking is easy, food is more reasonable and it was not nearly as noisy!
(5)Sean C.
First Watch delivers consistently good gourmet breakfast. Options for a healthy breakfast are plentiful. I enjoyed a delicious bowl of oatmeal! and what made the experience great was the fantastic service from our waitress Casey!
(5)Brandon H.
Great menu - filled with lots of really healthy options at a reasonable price. I live in California so I was quite surprised to see this kind of food being served in Baltimore. I had the Chicichanga Burrito which was delicious. Everything on the menu looked great and everyone in my party really enjoyed their meal. If you're looking for a healthy meal - check this place out. It's only open til 2ish everyday though.
(5)Some D.
Been here 4 or 5 times now and I must say I am quite pleased every time. While some may feel the food isn't that inspired I would kinda disagree and argue that most typical breakfast items at the dinners in this part of Baltimore county are not going to offer things like avocado toast, an energy bowl, or even different sausage options like turkey instead of pork. Let alone seasonally inspired dishes and special juices. No its probably not as creative as say the Blue Moon cafe downtown but are you really going to venture downtown every weekend to eat there? Or even eat like that with their huge portions? No I don't think so. But this place also wins on getting the basics right on some of the more creative breakfast options out there. For instance, their banana pancake. While most places just do banana on top the pancake or add weird cream or filling to it (see IHOP) FW actually cooks the bananna into the pancake and adds granola in as well. And its this item that keeps me coming back because its exactly the type of thing I want for breakfast when I want something unique. And they don't over do it either portion wise which is actually a good thing. The Tri-fecta is a perfectly balanced breakfast meal, just enough, consisting of one big pancake anyway you want it, eggs anyway you like, and a side of meat that can be either two strips of thick sliced bacon, or two sausage links; your choice of pork or turkey. Quite honestly I prefer this rather than getting overloaded with home fries at most breakfast locations in the B-more metropolitan area. The coffee brand they serve is also very good (Sunrise) and the Day Glow juice is definitely worth a try. Only complaint is it seems they can get understaffed and so moving people in and out quickly and then seating new people seems to be a bit of a challenge for them sometimes. Service is usually pretty good even though they seem rather understaffed at times. Found if there's a hiccup here or there with your order they'll usually fix it.
(4)Jeff K.
So I returned to First Watch after my initial poor experience. The second time around was better. THE GOOD... -minimal wait for table -glass bottles now with water for the table -pumpkin pancakes were good -kale, apple and lemon juice drink was good THE BAD... -again, the food took forever to come out -server not once visited the table to give any kind of update Although this visit was better than the first, the overall service is in need of training. I'm talking the basics fundamentals of waiting tables.
(3)Nancy S.
I have very mixed feelings about First Watch. Food is fresh and decently priced. I enjoy the creative seasonal breakfast features (avocado on toast, fresh berries, yum!) Service however is not that great. The last time I went in I was carrying my son. My waiter watched me carrying him and trying to at the same time pick up and carry a high chair. Not only did he watch me carry both, he was standing at the table next to me and wouldn't move in a little so I could get past. Annoying, but not enough to write a bad yelp review. Today, I went for breakfast and stood at the front for about 10 minutes before even being acknowledged. When I was acknowledged, it wasn't until another customer came to the front to pay his bill and was finished. No good morning. No sorry for the wait. Nothing. I was seated with 2 small children for about 15 minutes and every employee in that restaurant walked past and ignored me! A waitress who was working in another section finally came over and apologized and took our order, even though we weren't her assigned table. She was very polite and helpful. I am patient to an extent, but it wasn't even that busy. I would have even been satisfied with a "I'll be with you shortly." Bottom line: Despite being mildly busy, 2 strikes in a row for poor customer service. There is one waitress there however who is always helpful and friendly. Tiffany I think? Tiffany was the one who made me give 3 stars instead of 2. This place would be more enjoyable if customer service was better!
(3)