I have been to this particular location many times and there are a few issues I'd like to highlight here. First the good: this is a great menu. There are many great options to choose from especially if you want to go the healthy route. There are pancakes, waffles, etc on the menu too. The portions are good since you get sides depending on your meal choice. The place has a nice farmhouse cafe vibe with wood tables and spacing is good. Now the bad: There were mugs already on the table which I do not care for, because I'm not sure they take them away for each table. I wanted hot tea, but when I looked in, it was dirty. The other mug was clean so that was the one I used. I got my hot water, tea bags, cream and honey packets to make my tea, but I don't get a spoon. I'm not sure why they don't give teaspoons, but when I asked for a spoon, I got a large soup spoon. Not sure about this. We placed our orders and everything came out fine, except when I started eating my bowl of fruit side, all the grapes were brown on top. Seems like something noticeable that is not as fresh to serve to a customer. Disappointed with this too. Another thing to mention, we had to ask for water refills. Then when someone brought over a refill they brought a carafe. Why not start out with the carafe? Server waits until end of meal to bring it, then brings another glass afterwards with water too. A lot of these issues seem to be training and management of the restaurant. I have been to other locations with better service. So, overall, food was good. I got the frittata and my daughter got the braised beef breakfast tacos. But, if there weren't so many silly issues, I think I could rate this location higher. 3 stars read more

First Watch - Barbacoa Breakfast Tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Huntersville, North Carolina

See all

When I was looking to move to NC, First Watch was my first experience when I first visited NC before moving here. It was a great experience! This time, its was just okay. First, we arrived at about 8:30am and there was about 3 other parties already seated. After being setting, we waited about ten minutes before anyone came over to offer coffee or a menu ; as I watch all of the wait staff in back just having, which looked like a bunch of chatter because something was very funny to them them all. One young lady kept wiping her nose with the back of her hand( I am sure it was her allergies but you are working out food); I am glad she was not my waitress or I would had to say something. The food was very good as always as I wanted to treat my mom since she had to fast for the test she before breakfast The ambience is basic but conducive. Nothing worth writing about. The location was clean. I would definitely come back. Working on customer attentiveness is important, especially when the location is not crowded. read more

See all

We went to First Watch for breakfast after our workout at the gym this morning. Although busy, we were promptly seated on the patio. I felt it odd that 3 to 4 tabletops were covered with dirty dishes. They definitely had not been pre-bussed and no one had been to the table since the customers had left. There was clearly not a bus person anywhere to be seen. It was a gorgeous morning and we sat outside for about 20 minutes or so, and nobody had greeted us. One waitress walked by our table, but didn't say a word another waitress saw the mess on the patio and came out and started cleaning, but also did not greet us. I detest complaining, but after losing at paper, rock, scissors, I was definitely the one who had to go in and address the issue. I finally went inside to ask if the waitstaff knew that we were seated outside. The blonde lady behind the register said she did not know who our wait person was and that she was trying to find out at that moment. We waited patiently for at least 10 to 15 more minutes and finally my boyfriend went in and asked the same question. Unfortunately, he was given the very same answer that I was roughly 15 minutes earlier. Finally, a waitress appeared and apologized and stated that nobody had told her that she had a table on the patio. Things were looking up, so I thought. She brought the drinks that we had ordered and placed our breakfast order. Then delivered the drinks, but we had nothing to mix sugar into the coffee. I returned inside the restaurant once again and requested a spoon to stir the sugar. There was a counter full of silverware that was sitting right next to the register, but the blonde lady said that she would have to have someone bring me a spoon. By the time we finally got the spoon the coffee had started to cool. Our breakfast arrived shortly after and the waitress looked at us and asked if we needed anything else. We mentioned that we did not have any silverware and she said that she would be right back. Again, we waited for what felt like an eternity and then went inside and retrieved silverware. My boyfriend was standing at the counter again, waiting on the lady with the blonde hair and in the meantime, the waitress finally did appear with utensils, but breakfast was already getting cold. The taste of the food was good. The portions were generous, but my last bite had a portion of the avocado seed that causing me to cough until almost gagging. I don't like to leave negative reviews! Something was definitely off today. It felt as though there was not a manager at this location and that at least 1 bus person called in sick. This might have been the first day for the lady with the blond hair working the counter at First Watch. I am so disappointed! There are numerous restaurants that we could've chosen to have breakfast at this morning. I dare say that I've had a much better experience at the local Waffle House. read more

I don't get the hype. First, my wife's and daughter's food came out first...mine was several minutes after that. When the waitress came back with my food, we had to ask for utensils and napkins (reminds me of the Eddie Murphy joke, "taste the soup"). My wife had specifically asked for her potatoes to be "extra crispy" and they weren't even cooked all the way. They took them back to cook more, and then they came back burnt. Her sandwich was supposed to be topped by an "over-easy" egg, which it turns out was cooked all the way through. The yolk looked like it had been hard boiled, so it wasn't runny like in the picture. My Chikichanga was odd...all the ingredients were included but not spread out throughout the tortilla. All the chicken was at one end, all the avocado at the other end, and so on. My potatoes weren't any better than my wife's, by the way. read more

0/10 experience. We came on a Saturday morning for brunch and was told it would be a 15-20 minute wait. After 30 minutes, we went to check with the hostess who stated, with an attitude, "there's a lot of people in front of you". I understand they were really busy, but there's no need to be rude. After an entire hour of waiting, we were finally seated. We immediately ordered water and our food order together since had an hour to figure out what we wanted to get. 15 minutes and 2 reminders to the server later, we finally got our waters. At this point we're just hungry. We finally get our food, and I'm given the wrong order -- one that contains an ingredient I'm allergic to -- meaning I couldn't eat it and had to wait once again for the right thing to be brought out. Luckily, it was comped, which the only bright side to this experience... minus the sass from the waiter. I understand that places get busy. What I don't understand is the rude behavior from all of the employees -- managers, waiters, and hostesses. I'll hope to chalk it up as a bad day for First Watch, but I definitely won't be returning. Bad service, long wait times, average food. 2 hours of my life I'm sure I'll never get back read more

First watch is my favorite restaurant ever. Healthy ingredients, great service. Dri is amazing! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Huntersville, North Carolina

We went on Sunday around 1pm. We called ahead so the wait wasn't long. We saw our server 3 times the entire time. We sat with empty drinks, had to share silverware and napkins. I ordered the Traditional breakfast. The flavor of the food was good, but it was like warm at best. One of our party ordered breakfast with scrambled eggs and a waffle. The waffle was so cold, the pat of butter would not melt. She added onions to her order and it looked like they picked raw onions off of a salad and threw it on top of her eggs. This is the second time we have been disappointed here. It will be the last. read more

I've been to several First Watch locations before and usually have a good experience, but today was very disappointing. We put our names on the waitlist at 10:50 AM and were told the wait would be 20-25 minutes. After 40 minutes with no update, I went to the front desk and no one was there. A small group of us waited several more minutes without anyone showing up. I went back outside to call the restaurant, and while someone eventually answered, I was placed on hold for another five minutes. We were finally seated only after calling the restaurant while standing outside. This was especially frustrating given that the restaurant was not very busy. There were multiple empty tables inside, along with several tables that had not been cleared. Once seated, service was inattentive and very slow. Our brunch took nearly two hours on a Wednesday morning. The food itself was good and the only positive part of the experience. I've worked in restaurants for many years, and this location needs serious evaluation around customer experience and efficiency. Overall, this was not a good experience and I will not be returning. read more

I've never had a bad culinary experience when dining at First Watch! This location didn't disappoint! Service was friendly and fast! Food was hot and delicious! I tried the Million Dollar Potatoes and omg so savory and flavorful i couldn't get enough!! read more

See all

I ordered a delivery order from huntersville location and was shorted on my food. I called and spoke with the manager chuck who told me that they would refund thar part of my order. However he lied and i was not refunded anyhing!!! i will not order from them again!! they are rude and do not give all the food nor the proper amounts worth the value! read more

We waited an hour for food. There was no other table waiting for food when we got here. Other tables that came well after us were served first. When the food came it was cold. The eggs were running out not poached. read more

First Watch - Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Huntersville, North Carolina

The service was good and several people asked had I been helped and that was nice to not just have to wait. The food is a bit pricey based in the offerings. Drink menu didn't have prices ( like for reg drinks) but other juices were five dollars plus which didn't include free refills. Forgot pics but food tasted fine . It didn't come out hot as if it had just been cooked considering it was maybe five tables seated with customers. read more

Gluten free eater here. I got their traditional breakfast with potatoes and no bread. I love good potatoes! These were a bit salty. But overall everything was good. First watch is a good chain option and I would chose it again. It was an early morning meetup and it was not too busy. We were sat right away. Our server was responsive and helpful for me especially with the gluten free items on the menu. read more

We had good service. The food was forgettable. My eggs Benedict was on a cold bun. I had smoked salmon and I could barely taste it. My wife had gluten free French toast. It tasted like frozen gluten free bread from the grocery store. Famous toaster has much better gluten free options. read more

Lately, my husband and I have had good luck at First Watch. We visit for breakfast once or twice a month, and more often if their specials are good. Their current seasonal special of two eggs with chicken sausage and one pumpkin pancake is VERY good. I don't often get pancakes when I go out for breakfast, but their pumpkin pancakes are absolutely carb-worthy. They serve it with warmed syrup, too. And they've gotten better about adding enough cheese to my scrambled eggs, and making sure it's melted into the eggs. I'm a big fan of this dish. When we don't find specials that catch our eyes, my husband and I rotate between their omelets and skillets. The Farmhouse Skillet is excellent, as are the Ham and Gruyère and Chili Chorizo Omelets. Their toasted Ham and Gruyère sandwich for lunch is pretty amazing, too. Their coffee is nice and strong, and I appreciate that they leave a carafe--and half-and-half creamer pods--on each table for an easy refill. I do want to mention the service, because it's always exceptional at this location...especially when we have Tonika ("Toni") as our server. She always has a smile on her face, and she greets us warmly every time she sees us return. I was mortified when I knocked over my coffee one time, and she (and another staff member) graciously helped me to clean it up. I also appreciate that I can pay with Apple Pay at the register. It's so easy to pay this way, and I wish more restaurants would offer this option! First Watch is definitely on our short list for local breakfast spots. read more

See all

couldn't even sit down. the system is horrible here. kept getting cut in line to just talk to the host about getting a table and he didn't help at all. there's no order and the service is terrible. The host stand and the paying area shouldn't be right next to each other. Everyone stands in a group not forming a line because it's confusing and theres absolutely nobody to direct you. walked Right out. I've been here dozens of times and it's always bad service but the food is good. Today I just couldn't deal with it. Plenty of better options in the area. read more

Very nice location, and great service. Got there less than an hour before closing and the service was still amazing and did not feel rushed at any point during our service. The music was at a good level and it was not too cold inside. All of the food came out hot and was so delicious. read more

First Watch - The traditional breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Huntersville, North Carolina

10 tables free but not bussed for 15 minutes while their lobby is packed with people waiting for tables. No coffee cups given with pot of coffee. Have been waiting for 20 mins for a pancake. No silverware. No sign of server. Won't be back. read more

I'm always pleased when dining at First Watch. Each one has a different layout but they each give good food and good service. They're always busy but they always work hard. Glasses are always full because they bring you a bottle of water for the table. They offer flavored creamers for your coffee, not just milk. Each one has lots of windows to keep it bright and well lit. Some have bar space while others only have indoor seating. The decor is rustic and comfortable. When it's time to pay, you pay at the register not the server so you don't have to wait around. I enjoy eating here whether by myself or with friends. read more

See all

Updated Review (10/22/22) After an excellent experience on the initial visit, decided to try them again. Honestly, I wish I had just not done it. From the time of sitting down to the time of leaving (1hr 45mins), it was an absolutely tragic experience. It took literally 15 mins for someone just to come over and greet us and take our drink order. Others around us on the patio were just as frustrated. At that point, we ordered both drinks and food...just in case another wait was in store. Well...that wait came to fruition. SMH It took another 40-45 mins for our food to come out. When it came out, it wasn't everything that was ordered. It was just absolute chaos. The only "silver lining" (if you want to call it that) was that our food was comped, which was appreciated and thankful for that. But even with the food being comped, the experience was beyond subpar. I would have rather paid for my food and had better service. I'm not sure if this experience was due to being seated outside and forgotten about, or if it also occurred with inside seating. I'll probably give it a good amount of time before going back, because I'd like to give them another chance. read more

See all

Horrible Management! My experience with first watch is usually great, but not this location with the manager Jaz. They left out essential items in our food (bacon and cheese in two omelets and scramble). Sent it back then they left out the salmon and bacon again. Asked for a third try and asked for the manager - Jaz. She came but never apologized, instead threw the server under the bus. The server was great, but the manager proceeded to fuss out the server in view of us. They made a third omelette but by that time an hour had passed and we just wanted it to go because we couldn't stay. We shared that the whole is experience was not pleasant, and asked if they could remove that part from the bill. She said we could leave the food there and not pay... huh!?!? We kept our class, and just shared it with Jaz that this was not a good experience. The server was great, but management is horrible. read more

The waitress was very nice, but only came to the table to take our order and ask us if we needed anything after having to ask 3 different people for silverware and hot sauce. We had to flag her down for the receipt and she combined our order with another table. The waffles were cold and hard. The eggs were cold and the chimichurri hash was 90% potatoes. read more

First time eating brunch here. We arrived late morning on a weekday. No wait and not too busy. I ordered the Smoked Salmon Frittata. I asked that the cheese and chive cream be omitted (which they did). It came with a mixed greens salad that was already dressed with a lemon dressing but the dressing flavor was barely discernible. Nevertheless, the salad was very good and probably the best part of this meal. It looked and tasted fresh. The frittata, however, had a couple of problems - the onions were undercooked and still crunchy, the tomatoes tasted burned and were very soggy, and the frittata was overcooked. The frittata was still edible but I won't be ordering that again. Thankfully, the menu is pretty extensive with a lot of options. Hubs had the Ham and Gruyère omelet. It also came with a mixed greens salad. His meal looked and tasted delicious and he thoroughly enjoyed it. We both ordered herbal tea. I like that they give you several options of teas and leave them and a small pitcher of hot water on the table in case you want more than one cup. And speaking of cups, I also like the size of their mugs. It's great for when you want a large mug of coffee or tea. Service was great. Our server took our order quickly, the food arrived quickly and she checked on us a couple times and made sure we were finished before dropping the bill and telling us how to pay. The atmosphere was relaxed. We'll definitely return and try something else. read more

See all

** RIPOFF REPORT ** I don't normally post reviews. My friend and i met at first watch on Birkdale commons Pkwy. I ordered a farmhouse skillet, which was supposed to come with bacon as per the menu. There was literally one piece of bacon 1/3 the size of a penny. Before I ate I showed the waitress and she agreed and apologized. She took my plate and then brought it back with nothing on it and said the mgr will come out to see me. So 10 minutes later, the mgr came out, my friend was almost finished with his lunch, and I showed her. She was very defensive and said they normally only put a teaspoon of bacon bits in that meal. I asked her to kindly bring me out some bacon and she said she's going to have to charge me. I said really!!!!! even after I'm showing you what's not here? She said yes. sure enough I was charged $5.99. The waitress came back and apologized for the manager and said they've been getting a lot of of these types of complaints lately about the mgr. read more

Not a great experience on my return to this restaurant. Visited on a not so busy Saturday after adding my name to the wait list. There were two parties ahead of us but we were seated within a few mins. I asked to sit outside as there was one table on the patio. We then waited 15 minutes for a server to even acknowledge us and when she did she said she wasn't sure whether or not she had our table. She took our order anyway which I appreciated. When she returned with our drinks, she apologized for them not having any straws. Cringe. Also, she proceeded to give us plasticware in prepackaged sleeves. What in the world? Is the dishwasher broken too? There were two tables that had been seated ahead of us that had silverware but everyone else received plasticware. Inside, there was trash all over the floor - napkins, straw wrappers, plasticware sleeves, and even notepad paper. In the restroom, spray bottle on the floor, it was just very messy all over, which caught me off guard in a place that is decorated so nicely and somewhat new. Food service was SLOW. Took about 40+ mins for our food to arrive after placing our order, so in total from the time we sat down until the time we ate it was more than 60 minutes. And it's not because we didn't know what we wanted or because the seating was at capacity. The restaurant was only about 1/2 full at this point, maybe less. Not worth that long of a wait. When the food did come out, my Trifecta had no eggs. I asked the server and she quickly responded that someone was bringing them out behind her. Well they showed up 15 mins later - after I had finished the food on my plate. The manager made things right with the bill which was appreciated. Overall disappointed in such a poor follow up to a great first visit. Not sure I would return. read more

See all

What service? Sat for 10 mins waiting as others who were sat after us were waited on. Wtf? They all had to walk past us! No eye contact and no "be right with you". Left and leaving this informative review. read more

This is the 3rd First Watch we have been to. First was in Concord NC near Concord Mills, the second was in Kennesaw GA. Timing is everything when it comes to dining at what I would assume, and first watch. The Concord location had been open for probably six months when we first started to try and go there. One hour and 15-minute wait time but this was on a Saturday. Three weeks later, wait time was again over an hour. At this time, we decided that weekends were two crowded and we went the following Thursday and only had to wait about 30 minutes. With the Kennesaw GA location, we lucked out. Got there just after the early birds were leaving and the next wave came in and got seated in minutes. By the time we left an hour later, the wait time was back up to over an hour. First Watch opened in Birkdale which is part of Huntersville NC several months ago. When we went online to scope out the menu, they mentioned they had an app to get on the wait list. First two times I went onto the app, wait times were greater than an hour. Third time I went on a couple of weeks later, wait time was 30 minutes and considering we live 20 minutes, this was going to work out perfectly. Added out name to the wait list, jumped in the car and with traffic, got there 5 minutes before our scheduled check in. Was told there was a 30-minute wait so going online and getting added to the wait list is not that much of a help. They do however notify you when they are ready to seat you. Beautiful interior with a friendly staff although they could use a few more servers. The coffee is excellent and some of the best I have found in the area. I ordered the Avocado Toast, and it was excellent. Fresh Bread lightly toasted and an enormous amount of Avocado on it. You really get your value with this one. My wife is not a breakfast person, but she enjoyed her meal as well. We will be back at some point in time because with the exception of the long wait, the meal and ambiance were ourstanding read more

This place is awesome for breakfast. There's something for everyone. Love they freshly squeezed juices and if you like coffee, they leave the pot at your table so you can serve yourself! The chickichanga never disappoints. Ask for a side of pico, yum yum! We had a great server! My little was playing wth the little half and half cups and broke it skating it everywhere. She insisted we do cleaning as it was her job to and that we were there to enjoy ourselves. She was so understanding! Can't wait to go back! Parking available in the plaza. read more

See all

first watch has great eggs Benedict and I would go there again. My father loved the pancakes as well

This place really fell off since it opened. From multiple unbussed tables to lack of silverware and just okay product, I think this was our last time stopping here. read more

Poor service. Staff was very loud in talking in the kitchen. You could hear it throughout the restaurant. Some of our food was burnt and they refused to remake it. Every thing was overcooked. I would not let my dog eat her. The lady who said she was a manager was unpleasant. A few years ago this was a an excellent restaurant, and it is sad to sat just how far they have fallen. Currently they have 3.1 stars. They have a lot of 1 stars reviews and that is for a reason. Avoid like the plague. I would fire the entire staff and start over or close it down. Especially the manager. read more

Have been to this location several times and it was always good, but I will never go back after today. The sausage was burnt, when I asked for another I was told that's just how they are. The omelets were overcooked and just awful. We took one bite. When I complained, they said it looked fine. They refused to take even one thing off the bill. I paid for a breakfast I couldn't even eat. Avoid this place. read more

Service was horrible, seated outside, no condiments on table no silverware, server took drink orders left. One of the drinks was a Bloody Mary, didn't offer water with it, brought drinks and got our order , promptly disappeared. No return visit before food arrived 15 mins later Runner dropped off food, still no silverware, or condiments and food was incorrect. we asked for silverware was told they would send someone. 5 mins later still no silverware, went inside told a 2nd person. 5 mins later someone finally brought silverware but at this point food was cold. Condiments showed up by the time we were almost done eating. I've eaten at others first watches and never had this type of service. They really need to get their act together read more

Came here for brunch with 6 other friends after a big night out on a girls trip. This is our 2nd trip to the lake and wanted to go back to FW. I have someone with a peanut allergy, a gluten allergy and 2 vegetarians so finding a place that meets all those needs is not easy. Initially was seated in an area that was BLINDING (I don't see how the servers don't crash into each other when that happens). Asked to be relocated and immediately was helped. Mentioned to Josh we were very hungover and just couldn't, and he was very kind and helped us move tables to somewhere we could recover without being blind. Million dollar potatoes are incredible. We will be coming back on our next girls lake trip!! read more

Inattentive service made experience less than stellar. My frittata was wrong ( ordered the salmon, got the plain), toast only came after 2 reminders ( first it was "cooking", then it was "to overdone to serve"), request for coffee refill never arrived ("oh, they are brewing a new pot"), napkin never came. I had been here previously and had a good experience, so this time I brought my husband. He said he would not come back. Food was delicious though. It worth the hassle. read more

Stopped in after early morning doctor's appointment and we were greeted by Nadia and her Trainee Mathea. Both with welcoming smiles that could not be ignored. We were impressed with the quality of service provided by Nadia, she is definitely setting a wonderful example for those around her! She knew the menu very well and was more than willing to provide recommendations. The environment was so pleasant, warm and clean. Wonderful place to stop in for a delicious meal! read more

First Watch - Biscuit and Gravy meal with a kids meal, side of grits, carrot cake pancake & a plain pancake, traditional breakfast-- - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Huntersville, North Carolina

If this is Matthews location, it's the most reliable go to for breakfast a hot crunchy waffle with the butter melting as it's delivered with crisp bacon and scrambled eggs while you're sipping on a refreshing glass of morning meditation. read more

Frittatas and Omelettes on point here at First Watch! Many previous reviews mentioned bad service but today was my first experience here and our service was fantastic. No complaints whatsoever. The food was fresh, the menu interesting and creative and the coffee was left in a carafe piping hot for two hours on our table... Loved it so much! The spot reminded me of Cafe Monte in SouthPark - you could indulge in high calorie eggs benedicts, French toasts, and hash bowls if you choose or go healthy with fresh pressed juice offerings and egg white substitutions. They have something for everyone! Today my girlfriend and I tried the Italian frittata and a French style smoked ham and Gruyère omelette. Both came with deliciously fresh lightly dressed lemony greens on the side and beautiful toast and spread. We also shared an order of the lemon ricotta pancakes because who can resist those? For about $20... it was a perfect morning meal. This was a fantastic addition to Huntersville breakfast scene. I will be back on the regular! read more

See all

Dear First Watch, By the time you read this we will be gone. We gave you several opportunities and you ruined our relationship. First Watch? No watch... No watching is happening here. We saw the server two times- once to take the order and once to bring the check. There were not many people in the restaurant but our server chose to hang out in the back. We asked for items that we never received. Other workers were disengaged. They were physically present but seems to be in their own worlds. For example, one worker was sweeping but then sat down in a booth to watch her phone for a while. We just couldn't believe the disengagement and the atmosphere. It's totally different from a First Watch we visited in Orlando. The food was cold. The texture of the waffle was perfect but it was cold. Why??? Did it sit for a while??? We asked the cashier if a manager was working. He said three were on duty. THREE managers on duty and First Watch was not watching!!! This means not even the managers were watching or caring. Shocked and amazed, we knew it was time to exit and not return. We paid the ticket and exited with much disappointment. Good bye First Watch. Please start watching. read more

Great local breakfast spot with fresh and tasty options. Love the open floor and modern ambiance.