There was a First Watch that opened in my city, but because it's so new the wait time is always 2-3 so while I was running errands in a neighboring city, I decided to take a chance and get on the wait list and it was only 10 minutes! I hurried over to the location and checked in with the hostess who was extremely nice and hospitable. Since I was dining alone I expected to get a crappy seat, but surprisingly I was seated by the window (which I love, because perfect natural lighting for photos, of course). The menu had so many different options I wanted to explore, but unfortunately my appetite would only allow for one meal and side so I decided to go with the lemon ricotta pancakes (those seemed to have been a special) and breakfast potatoes. To wash everything down I got a green juice which was surprisingly amazing. I was sipping it so slow because I wanted to bring some to-go, haha! The food arrived FAST! The pancakes were amazing, after I asked for some syrup. The lemon ricotta definitely gives a different taste that I enjoyed. The potatoes were not done enough for me and didn't have much flavor. I brought them home and cooked them a bit more in the air fryer, added seasoning, and the were great. Overall, I would definitely visit First Watch again because the menu is extensive! read more

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The food is about a 3.5, but with the ridiculous almost 2 hour (not worth it) wait, settling on 3 stars. This was our 4th attempt to try and eat here on a weekend, we finally bit the bullet and waited. Unfortunately to our dismay, the food/portions were just ok. Ordered the Tri-fecta but asked for a sub up of the pancake to the lemon ricotta. First off, there was a singular sausage link. It was so sad, at least offer 2? The pancake was basically a dry multi-grain pancake. The ricotta was barely noticeable and only in the center of the pancake. I paid extra for this? The Elevated breakfast sandwich was somewhat better. The coffee is not drinkable, already bad coffee to begin with and tasted watered down. The saving grace was our server Archer, who was super pleasant and efficient whipping around all his tables with great customer service. 2 hour wait for the food? Not worth it, I had a plate that tasted like IHOP. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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First things first, I highly recommend putting yourself on the waitlist via Yelp before you head there. You can take me later. We typically wait 10-15 minutes after checking in by putting ourselves on the waitlist, while walk-ins are quoted from 30-45 minutes (or more!). First Watch is only open during breakfast and lunch hours and offers a healthier dining option in the area. There's a variety of traditional options in addition to seasonal, gluten-free, sandwiches, salads and more. My husband and I are big fans of the sausage gravy biscuits -- fluffy biscuits and thick gravy, mmm! The service is quick and sometimes hasty, but the turnover is pretty quick so it's understandable. When you're done with your meal, your server drops off your receipt and you pay and tip at the front. First Watch has been a great addition to our breakfast rotation. Don't forget to put yourself on the waitlist before you go! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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I thought their elevated egg sandwich was delicious however the chimichanga chicken was too salty for me. The service was pretty good.

The Avocado Toast and the Power Wrap were absolutely amazing. Service was on point and everyone was really nice and welcoming. The place is pretty chill, perfect for a breakfast. read more

I love coming to first watch whenever I'm back in town, they have so many options for brunch and love the price point and what you get. I had the classic eggs Benedict which in my option the ham was a little dry but still good overall. Usually every time I come I'm never really disappointed by the food. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a good casual brunch meal. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Whenever I think of colorful, yet yummy food most of the places that come to mind are in DC so it was great to find such a spot in Fairfax. I've been a few times to First Watch, alone and with friends. They get ridiculously busy around breakfast - brunch time, especially on weekends. I'm talking about waits of at least an hour, so I strongly suggest putting your name on their waitlist ahead of time. Their menu offers a great variety of breakfast items, delicious-sounding and rather healthy. I've had the Hacienda Hash, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and the A.M. Superfoods Bowl before and I must say I was quite pleased with all of them. The Hacienda Hash was filling and the flavors hit all the right spots. The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes were huge and super fluffy, melting in my mouth. My least favorite was the A.M. Superfoods Bowl, only because it looks a lot smaller in real life than on their picture but the taste was pretty good. I don't recommend their healthy juices, only because I feel like those are a waste of your $4. Just my opinion though. You may be wandering why the 3 stars rating then? Well I can't see myself giving them a higher than average rating because their service sucked - from the host stand to the servers - each time I visited. Even on less busy weekday mornings, I came in and wasn't acknowledged by any of the hosts until I said something in an irritated tone. Same with the servers. Each time I waited quite a while before a server came by to say hello and bring water and they barely check on you throughout your time with them. Despite the service, I will probably go back because of the food. read more

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This is my second time at First Watch. The first time, we had a long wait (about an hour) on a Saturday morning (around 10 AM). This time, we came at around 8:30 AM and we didn't wait at all. Our waiter took our order and our food was out in less than 10 minutes! The coffee was yummy and the food was delicious! The arugula wasn't soggy, the truffle wasn't over powering, the hash was crispy and flavorful and the mushrooms were yuuuuummmyy. My husband enjoy the biscuit and gravy were equally as delicious. The biscuits were fluffy and the gravy was not too thick. Our waiter was very friendly and very tentative. Highly recommend. read more

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Amazing brunches. Service is very hospitable. And the ambiance is super laid back. ......

Came here for brunch twice with my boyfriend and it never disappoints. The atmosphere of this place is SO cute and I love how everything was decorated. I got the trifecta (waffle, eggs, and meat of choice) on my first visit and the elevated egg sandwich on my second visit. Both were really good and I highly recommend trying both. This place offers a ton of variety from if you wanna go healthy or the heartier side. Everything tasted pretty fresh and presentation is nice. A must for a breakfast/brunch spot! read more

First Watch - Elevated egg sandwich (includes mayo, cheese, bacon, arugula, bacon, avocado, egg) yummy! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

I am glad we were able to try this place out. This place is very busy. Usually there is a wait if more than 1.5 hours. I added myself to the wait list via yelp, which I think is an incredible feature of yelp. When we arrived there we still waited for another 40 mins to get a table. We were party of 4. We ordered their special summer drinks. Food was good and fresh. Service was little slow but I understand with so many people. Overall it was great and I will come back here for sure! read more

First Watch - Egg Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Nothing special at all, overpriced, very very salty-thought they had salt as a side order (no need for al that salt)...potatoes burnt, eggs not properly cooked (c'mon, they're eggs!) Sandwich I got was meh, again very salty (again no need for salt-in fact don't add any and if someone wants salt they can add what they want) We had a gift card from here, only reason we went, and I usually don't write reviews, but, plant of other options out there. Visit with caution. read more

My husband and I had a lovely date here. The food was so good! As was the coffee! We'll be back

This is a great breakfast place to visit! I tried the French toast, and it changed how I usually look at French toast . Although the waits are long, it is definitely worth it to get a reservation ahead of time . The decor is kind of modern farmish and,.... I like it! read more

It took me a while to warm up to the place. My first few visits seemed fraught with insanely long lines, wrong orders, cold food and other mishaps. Then I slowly discovered tools to make my visits better - like get on the Yelp wait list (which seems to work perfectly) and know what to order! Now - I am a fan! The Florentine eggs Benedict are so so yum, and my brunch companions always love the chickichanga. I still think their breakfast potatoes could use some more love - make them crispy in a cast iron skillet, please!! The morning glow juice is definitely refreshing and all other fresh drink concoctions too. The market hash is way too much food, though it is delicious and the coffee is always great. can't wait to go back for my benedict! read more

Ordered food online from their website at 8:06, confirmation said pickup would be ready by 8:30. Arrived just before 8:30, no food was there. After a few minutes of waiting was told that the kitchen sent the food out. Only possible explanation offered was maybe someone else took it. After back and forth the food finally came out at about 9:10. When food finally got home it really wasn't very good, especially after waiting over an hour. read more

Update: Still sucks. I've been to this place several times on business lunches because it's close to our office. I've also regrettably been dragged by my wife's family once. To the First Watch's customer service minions who commented on my last post: yes, yes, you are right. You do not serve dinner. I misspoke, rather, mis-typed, when I said that I had been here for lunch and dinner rather than breakfast and lunch. Thank you for correcting me. You also discredited my last post suggesting I was commenting on the wrong restaurant. The truth is you knew I was referring to your restaurant because I posted photos displaying the poor quality of your food. It's not like I confused you with the China Star. You had to have recognized the table, silverware, plates/bowls, oh; and of course the god-awful food, right? read more

This place is busy! We waited an hour for a table for two. I took this as a good sign. Most people won't wait for a table if the food isn't good. To start, I noticed First Watch has a fresh juice bar. There aren't many offerings, but what I tried was very nice. The kale tonic is light and refreshing. I hope to try different juices on my next visit. I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes. They came topped with lemon curd and strawberries. Delicious! I would order them again. My friend ordered the shrimp and grits. The shrimp and andouille were very nice. The grits were described as cheese grits. I expected to detect cheese when I tried them. While they were very nice, I couldn't find a hint of cheese. That was a little disappointing. The service was excellent. Our waitress was polite and attentive. I can't wait to return and try more of the menu! read more

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Essentially an IHOP gone boujee, First Watch is the spot for your breakfast/ brunch/ lunch essentials!! You can't go wrong with any of their food items from pancakes, sandwiches, power bowls... They satisfy any of your cravings. Start your day at First Watch tbh, you won't regret it. My favorite menu item would be their egg sandwich because it's a classic and made super yummy!! Love the blend of egg and avocado on a sandwich. If you don't know what to get, I honestly think any of their pancakes would satisfy. Plus their service is very attentive, they are quick and always responsive to customers. Join their rewards program and get a BOGO on your first order! read more

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Insanely slow service and the waiter forgot one of my group's orders so my friend had to wait another 20 minutes or so while we ate. Waiter did not check in on us a SINGLE time after taking the order too so no drinks were refilled. Maybe the waiting would have been worth it if the food was good... It wasn't. Go somewhere else. read more

Third time getting take-out from the Willow Lawn Broad Street location. Needless to say.... Disappointed again, burnt toast, no cutlery & no jam. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

This place was pretty great, clean, popular and EVERYTHING tasted good! It was hard to make a decision, all the options sounded tasty. I decided on the breakfast tacos, because I love chorizo...they were delicious! Hubby got the crab omelette, we split brioche French toast and a carafe of coffee. Will definitely go back. read more

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Great customer service, great selection of dishes to order and generous portions and great location. In a strip mall where you can walk off your meal. read more

First watch is good but it's not that good where I'm going to wait in line an hour. If I'm traveling and it's easy to get in and out then it's a winner but definitely not worth waiting for, figure something else out. I'm capable of making a decent breakfast where I'm not wasting precious time. read more

I had the eggs Benedict with potatoes and everything was very good! It was very hard to choose what to eat because there were so many good options. The staff was very nice. The ambience is boisterous but warm. The wait is long and the place was busy- but I will definitely be back. read more

I was looking for a breakfast place to eat while on the way back from DC and this place popped up. Fortunately they have an app called nowait which allows you to put yourself on the waitlist without having to call them. By the time I got to First Watch, my table was already ready. It was perfect! So if you don't want to stand in line and are too lazy to call someone to reserve a spot, then just use the app! It's simple. You just add your phone number and the app will text you. Then you walk inside and check in with the host by telling them your name which they will already have. The name is based on your yelp profile. Inside was cozy. Don't let their sign in the front fool you. They even give you coffee if you are just waiting for a table. They were very friendly however since its busy, everything wasn't as quick as you wanted it to be. BUT the menu looked good! It had healthy breakfast dishes. This is a true breakfast place compared to other places. I had the power wrap which was very tasteful. It had white egg, mushroom, spinach etc. It looks small but trust me its very filling. You can top it off with some pico de gallo. It even comes with fruits! For the drink, I was basic and got orange juice. Even though it's basic, I must say it was one of the freshest OJs I've had in a long time. You owe your stomach some good food so definitely come by to this place. You won't regret! read more

First Watch - Ham and gruyere omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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Overall great food every single time you go!!! The chorizo tacos and million dollar bacon are never a miss!

Every First Watch I've enjoyed has great service, great food, at a fair price. We'll be back and I especially like the patio seating.

Ordered avocado toast for pick-up and was very disappointed. It was basically raw bread and an unripe half avocado. I've seen better quality from gas stations. I heard good things about this restaurant but I will not be returning. read more

First Watch - "Avocado toast" - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

First Watch never disappoints! The scramble was amazing and every other dish that we ordered was delicious! The environment is cozy and comfortable! Malachi was responsive, friendly and knowledgeable about the menu! This is a nice place for family brunch!! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

My wife loves this place. I am not much for the health food like blend that they have, but the food there makes her smile. I do like their cocktails though. Remember cinnamon taste crunch and how it made the left over milk in the bowl taste so wonderful? The last time that I went they had a mixed drink that tastes just like that. read more

Do yourself a favor and check out this place out to satisfy that brunch craving! Their menu offers an incredible variety of breakfasts food, pastries, fruit, and drinks. You can literally find something for everyone's taste buds. The environment and ambience are perfect for a date or a get together with a small group of friends. The staff is incredible friendly and attentive. I love a good biscuits with gravy so I had to try their twist on it. This was made with turkey sausage so I'll admit it did taste different from what I was expecting. However, add a little salt and pepper and a dash of Cholula hot sauce and you've got everything you need in a hearty and delicious entree. We also got the eggs Benedict which is another tasty option. It comes with choice of a side salad or breakfast potatoes so you can't really go wrong whether how hungry you are. Would highly recommend this place to any and everyone in the Fairfax area! read more

First Watch - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

The only reason I gave this four instead of five stars is because the place is always packed. They don't take reservations and are only open until 2:30pm so it's hard to get a table on weekends. The food is excellent. Very fresh ingredients and down to earth flavors. Nothing fancy. Just simple, organic and delicious. They have a specials menu and I was disappointed that the last couple of times I've gone, they didn't have the skillet pot roast hash. That was the best thing I e ever had here. That should be a staple on the menu. Other than that, their lemon ricotta pancakes were amazing and so was the salmon eggs Benedict. My friend loved the ham and cheese omelet which came with multigrain bread and fruit compote that rounded out the plate perfectly. I would come here every weekend if it wasn't for the stupid lack of seating situation. I once waited over an hour! If only the had more tables. read more

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I've been twice and had an excellent experience both times, although the second was better than the first (just based on what I ordered). The first was with my husband, and we ordered a little bit of everything. He had the Eggs Benedict and Lemon Ricotta pancakes, and I had the Market Hash and Million Dollar bacon. While my husband loved his eggs benny, he thought the pancakes were too rich (I tried them, and look - I love him, but he's wrong. They were awesome). I loved both my hash and THAT BACON THO, but sadly my poached eggs had hard yolks. It was busy enough I didn't want to make a stink about it, but that was disappointing. The second time I went with my mother, and everything was REALLY delicious. She ordered eggs, a waffle, and sausage all of which were great, and I had an omelette. I don't remember which one, I'm sorry, but it was SO GOOD. I had the potatoes rather than a salad, and I was glad I made that choice. I definitely recommend First Watch, but expect a wait because it's always busy! read more

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Food and service was amazing Sofia was super friendly and helpful when it comes to suggestions. Everything we ordered exceeded our expectations. Strongly recommending this place to friends and family read more

Ordered breakfast for four people, mine is gravy and biscuits, and delivered without gravy. Called the number on their website five time and no one ever picked up the phone. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

My boyfriend and I found First Watch through the Yelp suggestions box and we're so happy we did! Everything about this place deserves a 5! We realized there was quite a long wait to be seated on a Sunday morning so we put ourselves on the waitlist through Yelp. It's so great because we did not need to rush out of the house and it mentioned the number of parties waiting to be seated ahead of us. When we got to the restaurant, we checked in and saw there was complimentary coffee and fruit-infused water for those who were waiting. When we were seated, we were greeted by our waitress immediately. She gave great recommendations, leading us to order the Market Skillet Hash (me) and Bacado (him). I also ordered the Hibiscus Limeade - loved it because it was super refreshing without tasting too sweet (tip: squeezing the lime in makes a difference!). The Market Skillet Hash was basically all my favorite vegetables (spinach, zucchini, mushroom, red pepper) tossed with potatoes, melted cheese and topped with eggs (made to order... I chose scrambled). My boyfriend loved his Bacado. Anything with bacon and avocado in the name will win him over. There was nothing left on his plate by the end of it! Typically these dishes are big enough for 1-2 people. I personally had to take my dish home and save it for dinner! Check out the pictures for all the items mentioned because explaining how great the food was doesn't do it justice. We will be back again! This place has easily become one of my favorite brunch spots in Virginia. Love from NYC! read more

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So I gave First Watch a second chance (see what I did there?! haaaa, okay that was pretty bad, moving on :P) and I am happy to say that it's no longer on my would-never-go-here-again-unless-peer-pressured list. :) Though we still had to wait a bit before being seated (roughly 20 minutes - it appears that they are super busy even on weekday mornings, go figure), the service was much, much better this time. We got our water within minutes of asking for it and our waitress was friendly and available when we needed her. The food was loads better too, though to some extent it might just be that we figured out where the menu shines and where it does not (I avoided getting what disappointed me on my last visit). This time I ordered the market hash, which I really enjoyed - mushrooms, zucchini, eggs, potatoes, spinach, red pepper, and cheese, what's not to love?! The goat cheese in the hash was generously portioned (I hate when menu descriptions mention goat cheese as a key ingredient in a dish and then it's practically MIA when the food arrives) and it complemented the veggies beautifully - would definitely get it again. We also ordered the multigrain croissant breakfast sandwich which was good, and repeated the biscuits and gravy because they were satisfying last time (and again this time). The drinks we got - OJ and a hot chocolate - were just okay, neither blew me away (I thought both were too sweet). But I hear they have some kickass coffee so I'd take other people's word for it (as a non-coffee-drinker I have no clue about these matters)! While it might take me a while to be adventurous enough to order an eggs benedict from here again, I'll definitely be back at some point when I'm in the area and feeling brunchy! read more

I can appreciate the popularity of a restaurant attracting a fair amount of people. I can also appreciate there is a period of time in which a business needs to adapt to a growing customer base. What separates good customer service and good leadership and business direction is how those transitionary periods are handled and how the staff makes incoming and potentially long term guest feel. This is where this establishment falls short. It gets busy and with good reason as the food is good. But you must continue to invest in your business and in processes that are going to make your guest feel welcome and appreciated. It is frustrating to see other guests seated and one just stowed away in the corner and no acknowledgement for the staff. No apologies. No effort to appease the situation or offer coffee or appreciation not only for one's business but their time and willingness to stay and wait for over an hour to be seated when seats are open. Maybe tables should be cleaned faster. Maybe meals prepared quicker. Maybe seating changes. I don't know the answer nor is it my place to say. But if my business is to continue and long term success is to occur the customers both seated and waiting need to feel appreciated and recognized. read more

First Watch - Wait time - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Very poor customer experience for a single or party of two. Priority goes to larger parties and quite obvious to maximize the revenue potential. On my 1st visit today (3/13 9:45AM) I patiently waited for 10 minutes to put my name on the waiting list although only three parties in front of me and the process was name, # people, and cell#....1 minute of logging info. I then proceeded to wait 28 minutes for text message clearly seeing multiple tables open The host advised he was trying to get me in as others checking b read more