First Watch

This place is certainly one of my go to places for a good breakfast… I have been coming to First Watch since they opened and back when it was J Christopher… The food is always prepared fresh and it shows in the taste… The menu has lots of choices from traditional, to many healthy alternatives… My latest trip for breakfast was great… I had the Tri-​Athlete with a Kale tonic which was CRAZY good…
Also i want to give a shout out to our awesome server Jose… One of the best, very friendly, and very attentive.

I enjoy this spot since ostrau in the area. The service is good and the food selection and variety is just right. I enjoy the weekly specials that are seasonal. A must go for residents in the area.

This place is awesome! I love their selection of food and their specials have always been wonderful. I have never had a complaint about their food and I have been going here for over 2 years. You can order their pancakes each specially made with each filling (or without the fillings) and they are so big they are easy to share… or horde to yourself

I looooove breakfast! So I was excited about First Watch. I grew up in Pennsylvania and some of my fondest memories are of going to a local diner or Perkins Pancake and Steak House for breakfast. What kid doesn’t adore silver dollar pancakes?
Anyway, hubby and I just moved to the Smyrna/​Vinings area and we stopped at First Watch for breakfast during the week one day to try it out. Being new to this side of town, in my heart of hearts I was hoping it would be the place we would want to go every Sunday morning to create a new tradition with friends.
The menu items are thoughtfully created, especially the omelets and the First Watch «Eggsclusive» items. I wish I could remember exactly what we ordered but I don’t; when we go out for breakfast we always each get coffee and I probably got a traditional eggs-​and-​bacon breakfast and hubs usually gets an omelet, so that’s likely the case. I never order juice and he rarely does, so I doubt we had any.
I’ll say that yes the food was good and I’d go back but only when I’m in the mood to pay a lot for breakfast. Our check was about $ 30 (before a 20% tip) for the two of us. For me, the value just isn’t there enough to make it a regular stop.
In summary, I own a business myself and worked in hospitality for 20+ years, so I know profit margin is important and the restaurant business is very tough. Still, I believe breakfast is one area where you can give great food AND value because the base of many breakfast dishes is eggs and/​or flour, which are typically low food-​cost items. I guess I wanted it to be more of the homestyle diner of my youth. Clearly a lot of other folks love First Watch but in my opinion, (much like J. Christopher’s) it’s good but it’s just a smidge too high to go to all the time.

I always enjoy breakfast at First Watch. The food is delicious, they have great variety, and they have some very nice servers on staff.

I want this place to be better as it is so
convenient, but I’ve given it too many tries and won’t return. New Yorker Deli or Waffle House offers better food and service. Here, it’s oversized and overpriced breakfast with slow, non attentive sit down service. The menu is very large with various options from the usual breakfast selections. We ordered omelets and didn’t want the side and bread, but were told the price is the same with/​without the sides. We simply didn’t want that much food — 3 eggs and the ingredients of the omelet is enough. Finally, the omelets were served cold as if they’d sat on the counter too long. Sorry, but something major has to change here for me to consider returning.

Food was great. I’ve seen portions bigger at other places, but it was still good none the less. Staff was friendly as well. Various vegetarian options.

Soooo, after our last poor experiences, we avoided First watch. My boyfriend and I had just finished working out this morning and we were starving and didn’t feel like cooking, so we decided to give them a 4^th chance.
We were much happier with our experience today. Our server Sindy was so sweet and the food was much better.
I would definitely recommend this place on a regular weekday, not during weekend brunch/​lunch rush. I’m glad we gave it another shot and we will certainly be back.

My preferred chain breakfast/​brunch spot and this location is really convenient on those lazy weekend mornings :)
Super friendly service and a healthier menu than others (Another Broken Egg, IHOP, WH, Cracker Barrel). Love their new fresh juices — I’ve tried them all — watermelon, kale, carrot. They also have a great selection of weekly/​seasonal specials.
Only reason I didn’t give them 5 stars is that every single time I order fruit with my meal it is not up to par. Shriveled grapes, old melon, pineapple cut too close to the rind, etc.

Love this place! The portion sizes are appropriate, the food is yummy, and thr waitstaff is really nice!
Definitely do a no wait app for this place for sunday brunch!

Great food, HORRIBLE dining room management and mediocre service. The first time we went we waited 35 minutes. We expected it because there were a lot of people in the waiting area. We were told it would be 25 minutes. When we were finally seated we were surprised to see two empty tables and two other tables that had not been cleared. Those tables sat for ten minutes. The waiting area was still full of people. This was a recurring theme throughout our meal. The tables took a long time to clear. Once they were cleared they would sit empty for a while before new guests were seated. You’re costing yourself money.
We ordered. The server was nice but we barely saw her once our order was placed. She walked by plenty of times but didn’t acknowledge us. One of the other servers FINALLY brought our food. The next time we had direct contact with our original server was when she dropped the check.
Today we decided to give them another chance. As we approached we noticed two empty tables on the patio, a handful of people waiting and at least three open tables inside. We asked for a table for two and they told us it would be 15 – 20 minutes. No thanks. We went to Jack’s New Yorker Deli and were seated with food within First Watches 20 minute wait time. Skip this place until they get their s together. Go to Jack’s.

Absolutely delicious food! The first time I visited this place I took my mom and dad to meet up with my friend for Sunday brunch. We all had breakfast and it was terrific. After that each time we went it was for breakfast until one day my mom and I were out and about and we stopped and found out they also have yummy sandwiches and salads. My favorite is the Pecan Dijon salad — it really is to die for!
They are only open until around 2:00 — 2:30 in the afternoon, but it’s great to grab something on a Saturday or Sunday late morning /​early afternoon!

Very good
Ordered the Trifecta with a Belgian Waffle and Bacon. Waffle was tasty but cool and soggy. Bacon was crisp and flavorful.
The table (inside) was sticky to the touch, like a chain diner.
Staff was friendly.

J Christophers was awesome and now so First Watch. They even have one of the same servers from previously and she’s awesome. Just the right amount of sass to go with her extensive knowledge of the menu and what’s best each time I visit.
I love how she tells me honestly what’s best on the menu today without regard for anything but my best interests. I think her name is Melissa in case you like a good server to go with good food.
The food is organic and prepared fresh every meal so not only is it better for me, but tastes way better than some regular old chain restaurant. Prices aren’t bad for what you get. It’s served quickly enough for you too. The décor isn’t anything to write home about, but everything else makes up for that., and it’s clean. Oh and they have an awesome outdoor seating section too! Great spot to eat.

After a past poor experience and review, First Watch asked me back and mailed me a $ 20 gift card. My overall perception hasn’t change much, however I did receive better service.
We asked for first available with preference of the patio and we got the patio which was nice. But they had up the plastic so we couldn’t fully enjoy the outdoors.
They have a great healthy menu for those trying to enjoy breakfast foods on a diet. I got the power wrap which was good but small.
This place gives off a very loud diner like feel. They do not serve alcohol.

First Watch is great! The monte Cristo sandwich and the bacon and cheese pancakes are excellent! The main downfall about this place is the parking. Unfortunately there are two or three other great restaurants in the same plaza as First Watch so it’s really tough to find a parking spot on the weekend. My wife and I try to visit every Sunday after church but more times than not, we circle the lot for fifteen mins before giving up and going somewhere else. It’s worth a try because the food is good and the servers are friendly. It’s a much more casual and laid back spot than its next door neighbor, South City Kitchen. You’re more likely to see more families with kids here. But just dont try it on a weekend during the brunch rush or you’ll end up leaving hungry lol.

First Watch is a breakfast and brunch restaurant that opened early 2013 in the Ivy Walk shopping center (same shopping center as Muss & Turner’s and South City Kitchen Vinings) at the corner of Atlanta Rd. and Cumberland Pkwy. in Smyrna. It replaced J. Christopher’s. This is a chain with over 100 locations nationwide including about five locations in metro Atlanta.
First Watch is only open from 7am-​2pm daily. This location, next door to Little Azio, is clean, comfortable, and casual. The restaurant has plenty of seating which includes an enclosed outdoor patio. Reservations are not accepted. It’s first-​come, first-​served, though you may want to give them a heads up if you have a large party. Free Wi-​Fi is available.
The restaurant serves traditional American breakfast items like eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits and gravy. They also offer a variety of omelets, egg-​centric plates (e.g. eggs Benedict, egg-​filled crepes), pancakes, waffles, French toast, and healthy stuff like quinoa bowls, organic yogurt, oatmeal, granola, and dishes made with egg whites or cholesterol and fat-​free eggs. Lunch items include soups, salads, and sandwiches. There are seasonal specials too. Most entrees are priced just under $ 10 each.
The eggs are cage-​free and the chicken, all-​natural.
If you can’t decide what to order, try one of the highlighted menu items. Those are the restaurant’s specialties. I’ve sampled a few. They include:
Parma Hash — two eggs (any style), atop a hash of seasoned potatoes, Italian sausage, roasted Crimini mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, melted Parmesan, mozzarella, and fresh herbs
Market Hash — two eggs (any style), atop a hash of seasoned potatoes, roasted Crimini mushrooms, zucchini, onions, red bell peppers, spinach, melted mozzarella, and herbed goat cheese
Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl — quinoa mixed with kale, shredded carrots, roasted tomatoes, lemon chicken breast, basil pesto sauce, feta crumbles, and fresh herbs
The menu doesn’t mention that the hash entrees also come with a toasted English muffin, sliced in half and buttered, and a small bowl of fruit (pineapple, green cantaloupe, purple grapes). The hash entrees are dense, hearty, and filling, particularly the Parma Hash with its savory chunks of Italian sausage. The hash entrees are brought fresh and hot out of the kitchen, steaming with melted cheese and all. The melted cheese over the chopped and roasted potatoes is indeed tasty. However, I’ve found the hash to generally be a little salty and oily.
The quinoa bowls come packed with a generous portion of nutritious quinoa and sliced, tender chicken breast. There’s a bit too much sauce for my liking, but overall, the quinoa bowls are a satisfying and relatively healthy alternative.
I’ve also tried a couple different pancakes. The pancakes are multigrain and come in about 10 different flavors such as chocolate chip, banana granola crunch, wheat germ, and cranberry nut. I’ve had the blueberry and the lemon ricotta. The pancakes are nice and big (wide). The blueberry pancake is OK. Not a whole lot of blueberries, but it’s fine. The lemon ricotta was a seasonal special. Ricotta cheese was added to the pancake batter and the pancakes were served with strawberries and a lemon curd. I wasn’t a huge fan of this pancake because the lemon curd was slightly bitter.
Simple presentation on all dishes.
Service is great. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Dishes come out from the kitchen in a reasonable amount of time. When you’re ready to pay, just take your ticket to the register.
Parking can get cramped in the shopping center, but most of the time, it’s not a problem.

Alrighty we went back and everything was good!
Again we were seated fairly quickly which was nice, and we were seated at a normal table instead of the bar tables up front. It was nice to have a different experience here.
I ordered the morning glory juice this time, it was excellent! They even gave be a to go cup for it when I left. I also ordered a BLT and it was very good. My husbands sandwich was equally delicious.
Everything was goo don this visit, it just didn’t knock our socks off. We will be back because it is close and very good, but it isnt the best breakfast I have ever had.
However, it is an awesome spot if you have picky eaters. They have A LOT of options and thats great with a group.

Absolutely awesome! God, I adore this place! What I love is the real wait staff, real hostess, real napkins, real silverware, real plates and real food!
Returning here is always nice! Every staffer is so courteous and helpful regardless if they are assigned to your table! Love that!
The menu has an amazing assortment of delicacies that I want to try them all!
This time my Dad tried the Tomato-​Basil soup and again loved it!
I decided to try the Fruit Crepé. Oh so good! Exactly what I was looking for and so beautifully presented! Presentation is 90% of the meal! See my picture because this dish is so pretty! Delish too!
I also love getting coffee to go after the meal! Taking away a little sunshine really helps to smooth out the day! Thank you First Watch for easing me into the hectic Atlanta day!
If you have not been to First Watch, GO! Try as many different items as you can. You will never be disappointed!

Very good for brunch! I got the biscuits with sausage gravy – you will be full for days. The price is right for the amount that you get.
I didn’t quite like the potatoes – they weren’t crispy enough for me, but they were well seasoned and mixed with onions.
The staff was ridiculously friendly! I felt like I was being treated to a meal cooked by my family.
Service and food get an A+