First Watch

From the filthy water glasses to the cheap aunt jamima syrup in its sticky glass serving bottle, my wife and I were not impressed. After being seated, we waited so long for our coffee, we nearly left. After nearly 5 full minutes watching all of the other servers hanging around by the front door (there were only 8 other tables occupied at nearly 8:45 on a Sunday), my wife suggested counting to ten before actually getting up. On 8, our server arrived with coffee and slightly cleaner water glasses. She was pleasant enough, so i have no other real complaints about the service.
Food was mediocre: my wife’s french toast was only coated in egg batter on one side and tossed on the flattop for about 20 seconds, leaving the bread tough and chewy. My farmhouse skillet dish contained mostly onion and limp sundried tomatoes that someone mistakenly used instead of red bell pepper.
They are just not putting much effort into food for which they are charging $ 10/​plate.
Too bad the prior brand sold out, because I was fine paying the same price for much better food.
The best thing was that there was no wait at a time when most other breakfast places would be packed. The next best thing is that waffle house is even closer to my house.

First time here. Last time here. They served very undercooked bacon and the replacement bacon was overcooked in the microwave. You know the look. Tables had old napkins, crumbs, and used plastic packages under them. Not quite nasty but very unappetizing.

We ate at First Watch on Saturday morning for the first time. Luckily there was outdoor seating, as the minute we walked in we were hit by freezing cold temperature — we would’ve froze outside.
I have celiac disease — I can’t have gluten (wheat, barley and rye), so I checked the menu online before we went. I saw a few potentially good options, so yay!
Before we were seated I asked for the gluten free menu. I was told that they didn’t have one available, that I’d need to look it up on my phone. Ok.
So we were seated outside, and off to my phone I went to look and see what I wanted to eat. Near impossible. Seriously, try it. I had to find where the gluten free options were and try and match it up to the menu. But all dishes for all locations are listed online and not on the menu. Plus there’s a lot of info on-​line — was almost impossible to figure out certain things — is there a dressing that is gluten free?
Luckily, our waitress hung in there with me as I attempted to find something I could eat, and make it completely gluten free (can I sub potatos for the toast?).
The rest of the family ordered their food, too.
Coffee was ok. Just ok. My son didn’t like the apple juice (odd, he likes most).
Food wasn’t particularly hot unfortunately, just warm.
I liked my food though. I wish I could tell you exactly what I had (omelette of sorts with bacon, cheese, salsa and sour cream dolup on top), but when I just went to check back on the menu online, I can’t even find it. I guess I’m finding the online menu confusing.
Husband and kids like their food.
Guess i need to Unilocal right after I eat next time for more specifics.
Anyway — a BIG THANK YOU to First Watch for having gluten free options. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. But PLEASE, could you have a printed menu to order from? We’d love to come back, and hopefully have a bit warmer food (since it seems to be a recurring problem per other reviews).

Came out here from New Jersey. Can definitely say that this is the best breakfast place in the area. Well priced, good food, and friendly staff. Would recommend people to come here.

Excellent breakfast. Velvet had the vegie omelet came with fresh greens and multi grain bread. Everything screamed when you bit it, Cause it was so fresh. I had the Trifecta. Two free range eggs a multi grain pancake and thick slice bacon. If it wasn’t bacon I would have thought it was good for you. They came around with heathy juice one green and one orange, kale and carrot. Velvet said that they were good. Great service in a clean and fresh atmosphere.

The staff was sweet and the menu was AHmazing!!! Hoover really needed a breakfast place like this. I highly recommend trying this place out for breakfast or even lunch!

Very good Saturday morning breakfast! There was a little bit of a wait on the food, but they were very busy and with a couple of large parties. We had the trifecta and traditional breakfast. Bread was amazing and bacon was awesome. Coffee also good. Will be back!

Worst service and food, it was a hassle to get a table a hassle to get a server and a hassle to get food and a hassle to pay. First and last visit. Loved the décor.

Visiting First Watch made me really miss The Egg and I. First impressions are lasting ones, and this was very disappointing. This is not an improvement over The Egg and I.
First, the chilly AC guarantees your warm — not hot — food will be cold by the time you finish it.
Favorites from the old menu are gone — no more Parisian eggs Benedict or corned beef hash. But if you like avocado (I don’t), it seems like you can get that on any menu item.
This was my initial problem with First Watch. It’s trying really, really hard to be pretentious and trendy. Avocado and greens with everything. If you want potatoes with your eggs Benedict, you need to ask for it. Toast is not just toast, it’s «artisan» toast. Mushrooms are not just mushrooms, they are «house-​roasted Cremini mushrooms.»
Service is spotty. Seemed good at first, but then dropped off quickly. When things started falling apart, our server was nowhere to be seen. A manager came over after a long wait to explain there was a problem (they broke the poached eggs) and our food would be out shortly. Our server only returned toward the end of the meal to apologize for how badly things had gone.
We were a party of five. My son got his meal 5 – 10 minutes before the rest of us, meaning he was nearly done when the rest of us were served.
The food itself was good, not great. I had the smoked salmon eggs Benedict with potatoes. It was tasty, but chilled quickly in the frosty temperature.
My wife was really disappointed with not being able to get her favorite Parisian eggs Benedict. She got the traditional eggs Benedict, but said they were cold and bland.
My son also said the biscuits with turkey sausage gravy with scrambled eggs was bland.
The coffee was nothing spectacular (my wife said it had a funny taste) and half-​and-​half appears to be rationed. Flavored non-​dairy creamer was the most plentiful option — unusual for a restaurant that posts «farm fresh» prominently.
On the positive side, my daughter really enjoyed her carrot cake pancake.
And in fairness to the management, they took the two eggs Benedict off our bill because they arrived so late.
In the articles I read in the newspaper about First Watch, it promised to be everything I liked about The Egg and I with a number of newer and healthier items added — lots of avocado and kale shakes, etc. It wasn’t. First Watch does not have the charm and good food of its predecessor.
I was looking forward to a good dining experience like I used to have at The Egg and I. I didn’t get it. Can’t see going back.

Me and my wife just finished our first experience at the First Watch Daytime Café, and I am nothing short of impressed. Exceptional food and service, in an atmosphere that was not overstimulating or bland, and right about the time I was wondering if the food was going to take a long time, it arrived at our table.
I had the Pesto Chicken Quinoa Power Bowl, which went perfect with a squeeze of lemon (which was provided on the side of the bowl), and I added one of their *humongous* Carrot Cake pancakes on the side (I did not know what I was getting my stomach into). My wife had the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict, which she loved and came with a salad on the side that I got a taste of and quite enjoyed. On top of that, the coffee was excellent and I grabbed a bag on my way out.
To those wondering whether to come to this café, let me say a few things:
1. This is not a «fancy» restaurant, and if that is what you want, this is not your prime choice. That being said, it is obvious this was not the intent of this restaurant and that is nothing to hold against them.
2. You WILL be greeted by smiling faces while you are walking in, if not at the door.
3: If you order pancakes, I hope you love pancakes, because they are huge.
4: The staff is very attentive, so be prepared to be visited several times by two or three people, who are exceptionally friendly and willing to help you with any request.
To sum this up, me and my wife have found our new breakfast spot, and are planning on introducing it to others. I left the restaurant with about a 40 dollar check, despite adding more food than I needed and some coffee to take home, so the price was more than reasonable.
Wonderful addition to the Hoover/​Birmingham restaurant scene.