Wow I absolutely love this restaurant. The last time we visited one of these was in Dallas Texas. So we had to wait and drive all the way to Cincinnati Ohio just to eat at another one! I ordered the power bowl with granola. Absolutely scrumptious. My wife got the lemon pancakes, was she also liked. To top it off I got a little bag of coffee to celebrate Father's Day. Great selection great food healthy choices fun people. What more do you want? read more

First Watch - We come here for the food, not necessarily the art. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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My introduction to First Watch was in Charlotte, NC. When I found this happy spot while visiting Cincinnati I was absolutely going. Took my family and First Watch did not disappoint. Kind server, lovely atmosphere and we all had a great breakfast. You can go all in with huge delicious pancakes and fabulous maple bacon or swing the other way and get a superfood bowl with carrot juice. Something for everyone and in my family's opinion, all was wonderful. Going back today with a party of 13. Confident we will have and equally lovely experience. Love, love, love their bread! read more

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The food is great but management is non-existent. Staff seems bored and unfriendly. It's always like this but today is even worse. Placed my Togo order at noon and it stated 45 minutes. I get here early (12:20). and they aren't busy at all. Maybe 5 tables. I mean, it's a Cobb salad but they are literally just looking around like they need a cup of coffee. Lol. Maybe they do not want to-go business? I feel like because online it stated 45 minutes, they are making sure it takes 45 minutes. I've got ten minutes left. read more

First Watch - Lobby is empty - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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You present yourself as healthy place to eat, BUT you make a BARBACOA QUESADILLA BENEDICT that has 2230 mg sodium, where one is only allowed 2300 mg pet day! You have MANY examples just as bad as this! Anyone really interested in eating healthy should consider McDonalds over your restaurant! read more

What an amazing place!! Great atmosphere and service!! The food is prepped fresh daily and you can tell!!! First time in a long .. Wait.. First time ever when I asked for well done potatoes they were actually well done!!!! WELL DONE CINCY FIRST WATCH!! read more

First Watch - The Chorizo Chile omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I could really really love this place, however, the 45mins waiting for an omelet is unacceptable. Our waitress was attentive, and very accommodating but I don't know what the issue was. Once the food finally arrived, it was tasty, but not that hot. I love the menu's appearance, and the unique menu ideas. But honestly, if the food could come out sooner (and they weren't even crowded) I wouldn't have any complaints; wait there was the dry rotted lemon and oddly seasoned said. The veggie dish was on point and the flight of bacon was truly tasteful. The fresh juice is highly desirable. If ever back in the area, I'd check them out again. Thank You! read more

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Good food and great service. The pancakes are massive so I ended up ordering too much food, but good experience overall. read more

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The service was excellent. The staff wAs very friendly and our food, a sandwich and soup, was good. The tomato basil soup was very mildly flavored read more

I'm so disappointed with this place. I've been here before and it was a good experience which is why I'm rating it 2/5 stars instead of 1/5. This time I wasn't so lucky. The customer service sucked today. I put my name in the cue and was told it would be about a 45 minute wait. We got to the restaurant and checked in and were told it would be a 10 minute wait. 30 minutes later we were still waiting and they told us it would be another 15-20 minutes. I understand that timing is hard to plan for, but that just seemed ridiculous considering they were over staffed (according to our server) and had tables that were open. When we sat down our table was sticky and the preset coffee mugs were dirty. I ordered a Tri-Athlete Omelette which was very delicious but afterwards I was stuck in the bathroom for 5 hours with the worst bout of food poisoning. This restaurant is lovely when it actually functions correctly and doesn't give customers food poisoning. I don't think I will be returning anytime soon. read more

Waiter was indifferent. Didn't really check in until I was done. Coffee was not good at all. Very bitter and no real flavor. Had to laugh when the waiter said she loved their coffee and has it every morning with tons of flavoring added. To her credit she removed the coffee charge from the bill. I only took two sips. The first was so bad I had to take one more taste to be sure. It was bad. The price was on the high end for what I got but I wasn't surprised. read more

We stopped by for brunch - I went with the crab cake eggs bennie while she tried the shrimp and grits. The food was good but not great - while the service and iced coffees were fantastic! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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That giant cinnamon pancake was so good I can still taste it. The bacon was crispy just enough without having to ask for it to be done that way. Food, is so good for breakfast. They will leave the coffee pot on your table so you can refill yourself. They bring out the syrup hot along with or right before your food arrives. Service is great but a little slow. Each time I visited the greeter was the same person to greet me, service me and retrieve my food and check me out along with several other tables. I remember waiting for the greeter at the door for seconds to minutes before they could greet me because they were with tables. And the place had the nerve to have "Yelp" on the front desk asking for reviews. Service is fair but lucky the food is amaze. I think they should have a dedicated greeter who has other tasks but not servicing tables unless its to get things like water. I can understand they may be trying to save a buck by not having 2nd person on staff but the average ticket for 1 person at a table is roughly $20 with tip. I get more personalized and faster service at ChickFila for an average ticket price for 1 at $6. First Watch the door, then service the tables. 2 separate components, not 1. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Waited 20 minutes pass the time my online order was supposed to be done. Then they burn my potatoes. Not worth going to. read more

First Watch - Waited 20 minutes pass the time my online order was supposed to be done. Then they burn my potatoes. Not worth going to. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I always love the food and service. Always smiling faces running around and yes it does sometimes get busy but doesn't every place downtown get that way? Don't come here n the busiest day thinking your going to get A1 service as that isn't always possible on Sunday morning when theres a line out the door. read more

Brunch before a Sunday Cubs/Reds game. Parked in a nearby garage - joined the waitlist via Yelp - and headed over. When we checked in at the desk they had our Yelp checkin on their list - which put us a few spots ahead of other patrons. Thanks First Watch! I ordered the Cornbread Carnitas Bowl - a seasonal offering. Pork carnitas and grilled cornbread topped with two poached eggs, black beans, pico de gallo, cheese, avocado, lime crema and fresh cilantro. The presentation was great; eggs in the center - so the yolk could run where it needed, everything else around the side. The pork was tender and flavorful, the black beans were fine. This dish was a winner. Hubby had the Market Skillet Hash - eggs over easy. read more

The service is good, food is good and the ambiance is s breakfast place. It is enjoyable

Came in to First watch and was seated promptly, was thinking we got seated fast and was gonna be great. Waitress was great came out took our orders and brought us out drinks, and said your food would be out shortly. We waited, watched a group of 3 get seated at a table next to ours, got their orders taken and drinks brought out the same as us, mean while no food for us. Moments later we look up and that same table is getting their food, I'm wondering they literally came in after us and it wasn't like we ordered a feast. So after they have eaten their food and been brought their check, we are then told they are flipping our pancakes, at this point I'm enraged and I told her I just want to go, she says that ok well we can pay at the front, I said I'm not paying for it and I'm leaving, then she brought us our food in the to go in the to go bag. This is by far my worst experience in First Watch, I do not live in this city so it's a good thing I won't have to come back. I wish I could give this experience less than a one star. read more

I loved this brunch spot! We were seated as soon as we walked in on a Saturday morning around 11. I really enjoyed the breakfast! Everything was so fresh tasting and delicious! The waffles was exceptional, fluffy and not so sweet! I highly recommend getting their breakfast potatoes and avocado toast! It's delish! Overall, they followed all of COVID-19 protocols and tables were spaced out. read more

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It's Easter and one of the few places open today. We have been trying to get into a first watch ( different cities) for quite awhile! Finally came in around 10:30 and now almost full! Service was prompt for drinks and the order wow! Ok I ordered the AB& J Waffle with side of poached egg. Hubby ordered shrimp n grits with side of bacon to share. Ok the waffle is sweeter than I anticipated. The waitress said you can ask for the strawberry jam on the side. Prob would have been better. But it was good. The grits were sooo good ( I should have ordered that! Big shrimp in the bowl too!! The millionaires bacon good but sweet too. Prob should have ordered regular side of bacon. So be careful if you are not a sweet eater for breakfast. If you are u will be happily surprised ! read more

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Meh. Menu makes it all sound great. I mean, wimpy tasteless sourdough bread? Coffee that really had an acrid bite (i.e. the cheap stuff)? No excuse. Must be better options in downtown. read more

Great value for money - really good variety of breakfast and brunch food, very friendly service and an ok interior. Were just looking for a good brunch bevor hitting the road going back to Buffalo and found the first watch. Would recommend this place for breakfast & brunch. read more

First Watch - Avocado Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Quality and consistency are staples at First Watch. I love the fact that their Cincinnati stores have goetta!

First Watch is my favorite place for breakfast, but I don't understand stand why they always seat me at a two top. I always have a book, and there is not much room at the table. It's before 8:00, and there's not a lot of people here. I won't come back. This really upsets me. The reason I gone alone is because my friends think it's too expensive read more

My picky eater loved the chocolate pancake. Ordering just one is true, they are huge! So huge we're you might not eat your sides

I went to First Watch with my kids and when we walked in the waitress was extremely rude. We asked her to sit us in the front, but she said "I wouldn't be caught dead with you people in the front" So she brought us to the back. We all sat down, then I decided to order the Avocado Toast for me and my son to share. I split it in half and took a bite,then my son took a bite. About 5min later he said that he didn't feel good then threw up mutiple times. IM NEVER GOING HERE AGAIN. GET YOUR S*** TOGHETHER THEN MAYBE YOU WOUDN'T GET S*** REVIEWS!!! read more

First Watch first timer here and I was NOT disappointed. First of all the staff was friendly and genuinely knew the menu well. I mentioned that I was a bit congested and our waitress had suggestions about that fruit juice mixes/smoothies that contained ginger and I was quite impressed. The Million Dollar Bacon was superb and I loved the variety of menu options. Enough to have something great for everyone, but not so much that they couldn't possibly do every entrée well or that you are overwhelmed with too many choices. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

When the original owners sold this business (chain); the quality went with it! I have eaten at several of these in different states and unfortunately, the result was the same. It's not the service. It's the quality of the food. read more

Great breakfast place, menu is huge, lots of fancy choices and many basic ones as well

Service got 5 stars cooks got -10 stars I ordered a simple breakfast with eggs over easy. The eggs came on twice I had to send back the eggs the English muffin was raw. It was just warmed up with a little bit of butter on top not ever coming back again. read more

The food is OK there along with the atmosphere I just wish they can get peoples orders right I had asked for a bacon, avocado omelette but with no avocado and they put avocado's on their anyway it's always the same thing them. read more

The food is really good and very consistent. Classic American breakfast options ranging from healthier yogurt or quinoa bowls to indulgent sweet French toast or pancakes. My favorite items are the market skillet with sunny side up eggs or the Trifecta. The potatoes are always done perfectly, and the pork sausage is really good. The Floridian French Toast is some of the best French toast I've ever had, and the fruit on top is always fresh. I just wish they served alcoholic brunch beverages! The service is a bit slow and not overly enthusiastic, but I still come back regardless. read more

First Watch - Market skillet with sunny side up eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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The food was terrible and the service wasn't much better. Smoked salmon benedict was disgusting, the eggs were overcooked and hard and the entire dish was cold. Received less than 1/2 pot of coffee for two people and never offered any more. Would give zero stars if possible. read more

First watch has always been a classic brunch staple in my book. I checked out the downtown location before an Aronoff show, and it was great! They currently have a seasonal item called, "Million Dollar Bacon"... Not sure if I'd pay a million dollars for it, but it was really good for the $4 I paid! It had a lot of flavor from the pepper and cayenne but sweetness from the maple syrup! For the main dish, I got the chicken salad melt and my sister got the traditional breakfast. One nice touch, is that they serve gluten free toast. My sister has celiac, so it's great they have those options available! read more

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Food was good. Options were on the healthy side so it was a little difficult finding something we wanted. We are more traditional breaksfast eaters, but we found something we liked and loved it. We would go there again. The service was excellent and the overall ambiance was relaxing. Would recommend for breakfast or brunch. It seemed as if there were locals there which was nice to see! Great location and within walking distance from a few hotels. read more

It took 45 minutes to be seated. It took another hour to get our food. The eggs in the Benedict were undercooked and not hot. I asked for the Hollandaise on the side. It was covered in Hollandaise. The grits were cold. I don't think I'd go back. read more

We enjoy our visits to First Watch. Everything is fresh made and the in store made syrup, juices and dressings are the icing on the cake.

This place is the pits. I've probably eaten there three times in the last two months only to wait a half an hour for my food each time. Same again today only this time they got the order completely wrong. I walked out. Don't waste your time. read more

I'm so sorry we didn't find this place until our last day in the city. They were very accommodating to order changes and when my order came out wrong they fixed it immediately The pancakes were so big they were also lunch. Lemon Ricotta pancakes are highly recommended. read more

First Watch - Million Dollar Bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Excellent food - fresh and hot. All employees are helpful and pleasant. In particular Maria our server is by far a real asset. We have had her for our server on 3 different occasions and she has always pleasant, friendly and tries to make it a great experience even when the place is super crowded. I highly recommend read more

Came here on a Sunday morning before flying back home after a wedding weekend. Amanda was our server and was friendly, chipper and very helpful with my girlfriend's dietary restrictions (dairy and gluten allergies). She even offered Cholula hot sauce when I reached for the Tabasco (sorry Tabasco...). Food was delicious and just as we were anticipating; hot, tasty, and free of dairy (for her). They even have dairy-free creamer! Recommended for breakfast in Cincy for sure. read more