Really disappointed in the lack of courtesy from our waitress and the quality of the food itself. I can get over bad service but I can't get over lack of quality at a high price. Food was cold when it arrived, and blah. Ordered the standard breakfast, everything came out and tasted and looked like garbage buffet food, bacon so old cold had to ask for another side, when that bacon came out it was still lukewarm at best and just had no flavor. Coffee was bitter, and upon taking our drink orders it took almost 10 minutes just to get silverware and water. Probably not going back. Just a lackluster chain trying to disguise itself as something more. Won't last... read more

Food was great!! Portions are huge! Server was really attentive and friendly..I will definitely go back.

There was a hair on my plate but hey at least I got to enjoy dry multi grain pancakes, and entirely too many people in skinny jeans

Like their juices and food. Service is fast and great. During weekends is very crowded but their waiting list works good

I love First Watch; have probably eaten at 6-7 different locations in the past year. This location DOES NOT meet their normal high standards. The food was excellent, and our server was very nice - however the facility was dirty. - Table top was not properly cleaned when we were seated - condiments (hot sauce, salt & pepper, etc.) were sticky and in need of cleaning - the floors were dirty - the ladies room was dirty. If this had been my first experience with First Watch I would never return. Hopefully it was an aberration as I have been extremely pleased with ALL other locations. read more

First Watch is a favorite, and they have a few locations in Jax. Good food, good service, and very clean restaurant. I definitely recommend giving them a try. read more

The name of the game here is consistency. They whip up tasty fare that somehow feels healthy in a clean, vibrant setting. Egg dishes are uniformly solid, pancakes are better than you can make at home, and they have this one lemon quinoa chicken bowl that is packed with flavor. They leave a pot of coffee on your table and will refill it as much as you like. A nice spot to eat, talk and enjoy. read more

When I think of other brunch and breakfast spots in Jacksonville, like say Mimi's Cafe, I struggle to find how or why First Watch is different or better. That's why I can't give First Watch a rating higher than 3-stars. Don't get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with the food or the service or the cleanliness of the locations, all that is wonderful. I've been there twice and at two different locations - both had incredible food. However, I can't bring myself to give First Watch a higher rating because they don't have anything that makes them better than Mimi's Cafe (in my mind). The first time I went to First Watch, I had the shrimp and grits and it was delicious. It had a little bit too much going on with it (corn and peppers and onions and other stuff), but it didn't take away from the great taste. The second time I went there, I ordered the Monte Cristo, I think, and that was good as well. So, again, absolutely nothing wrong with First Watch, but with the price I'm paying, I thought I would get something a little more memorable or unique about the place. read more

First Watch - The french toast monte cristo - American Near Me - Jacksonville, Florida

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great experience at first watch today!! I come to this first watch every couple of months & I had such a good experience today I had to write a review. Our server Mitchell was so nice and personable. As a server myself- it was really nice to see someone so relaxed and accommodating. read more

I met my girl friend at this location a week ago. I had previously dined at their cafe in Jacksonville Beach, and it was a great experience. This time around, it was just OK. The food was decent, however, the wait staff was very disengagend, almost to the point they wished they weren't there. We had four or five people at our table helping, even though the place was mostly empty. It was a strange feeling, and I won't be rushing back. read more

Came here for breakfast before heading out of town. It was great! We were seated promptly, the server was very attentive and the food was perfectly cooked. Our table got pancakes, quinoa power bowl, breakfast hash and steel cut oats. Everyone was happy read more

I wanted to love this place, I really did. They provide kids menu, a good breakfast and lunch menu, the staff are friendly, it's incredibly busy... You think it's almost going to be healthy venue But the minute I saw those big boxes of Quaker oats In The kitchen, I was turned right off. Quaker oats, owned by PepsiCo, paying BIG money against GMO LABELLING. It made me question their loyalty to providing good food. Mind you they serve soda too, so I'll continue my search for an actual healthy breakfast venue elsewhere. read more

Noticed a serious decline in service at this location. Last few times we've visited, we've sat between 5-10 minutes before even being greeted. Have to ask repeatedly for items that were ordered from the get-go. Food takes much longer than it used to also. We'll start going to the beaches location. read more

This was our second time at this location. We almost did not return after the service we had the first time. But man I'm glad we did come back. We had a guy server by the name of PJ and WOW HE went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. He took the time to talk with my kids and got them to give him their order which is no easy task. He actually listened and wrote down everything when my wife ,kids, and I ordered. The food came out perfect even with all the changes we asked PJ to make for us. We will definitely be back again because of the awesome service we received. It's hard to find that nowadays. read more

I visited this cafe after my doctors appointment and was pleasantly surprised. I was quickly seated and offered coffee with the menu and I like the fact that they leave the coffee pot with you after they pour it. After looking over the menu for a few moment I went for the eggs benedict, they offer add ons to jazz them up a bit, so I went for the smoked salmon. They were cooked fantastically. They hollandaise sauce wasn't over powering and the tomato slice added the right amount of acidity to to the richness of the eggs and salmon. It also came with a side of mixed greens that were very lightly dressed and that was an excellent pallet refresher. I also ordered their pineapple cooler; it has pineapple, orange, cucumber, lime and organic ginger. I highly recommend it, I juice fruits and veggies at home and this stuff is the real deal. This visit must have been after a lunch rush because I noticed the floor was a lil crumbly under some tables, however, the table tops were spotless and well set up. I would like to post pictures but I ate it to fast, maybe next time I will post a few. read more

I have been here once for breakfast and I cannot complain. It was on a weekday morning, so the wait was non-existent. Our service was very quick. The menu was pretty large, with a vast selection of food items. It is your standard breakfast chain, but I thought the food was good and quality. I would go back here if I am in the Jax Beach area for breakfast. read more

I needed to get a quick breakfast so I stopped here and I'm glad I did. I needed it to go and the service was so fast . I ordered and food was out in less than five minutes. The food is fresh and they have really good fresh carrot juice. I will stop by soon to dine in! read more

I tried the traditional breakfast with smoked ham and I have to say it was very tasty! Portion size was good not too big or small however I can't give this place more than 3 stars due to the service. We waited an hour for breakfast and during this time our server never even asked if we needed more water and didn't bother to offer us coffee or any other beverage during this long wait. Very disappointing. I will be strongly considering my other breakfast options next time read more

Love First Watch! The staff is always friendly and brings out a fresh pot of coffee. The food is fresh and seasoned perfectly every time.

Food and service was excellent. Cool vibe too! I had the granola fruit bowl and muffin, really delicious!

Very disappointed lately in the service at the Hodges and Beach location. I usually frequent this location once a week. The service is horrible. I have had to wait to even get a server to acknowledge our table. Today they forgot our drinks. The server indicated she was on the phone and forgot? I appreciate the honesty but you would of thought the service would have gotten better but it just got worse. read more

Came in today, food was good. The hostess on the other hand spoke to me without even looking up while counting money. I wouldn't speak to another human being this way, not to mention representing a restaurant. read more

I foresee a review update at some point, because my rating is based off of one visit and a negative service experience and not the food or atmosphere. I know people have "off" days, and there's a learning curve for any job, but I was super annoyed with the service I received when I visited. Before I get into the ridiculousness that caused First Watch to lose a full star in my rating, I need to address the fact that I hate pancakes, but as a good friend of mine regularly says, "my opinions change as the facts change". First Watch made me reconsider my opinion on the matter. Their selection is pretty impressive (both sweet and savory options), and these friggin pancakes are bigger than my torso. Seriously. Their napkin wrappers are also adorable, covered with quirky sayings like, "I love you more than I love bacon". Everyone knows that isn't possible, but it gave me a good pre-coffee chuckle which, let's face it, isn't the easiest task. Overall, the food was delicious, as was the atmosphere until... ...I chose First Watch as a meeting place for a buddy of mine who regularly makes the trek to my side of town. This was my show of gratitude, since this was a good 30 minute drive for me. With that in mind, we decided to make the best of it and hung around for a bit after we were finished with our meal. Evidently, that was not okay. I was a server for several years, so I completely understand wanting to turn tables, but there's a way to encourage people to leave without letting them know that's what you're doing and really, at a certain point, you just have to step back and let your customers enjoy their experience (lest you end up with a nasty Yelp review, eh?). After our actual server came over and harassed us a half-dozen times (at least), another server started coming over in 45 second increments to ask me repeatedly if I wanted a coffee warm-up. Then, the same server walked up to the table with plates of food (as if he hadn't just walked up to our table 8 seconds previously to help "clear" our plates), acting like he'd "accidentally" gone to the wrong table to deliver the food. We got the message loud and clear. They wanted our table for someone else (not that there was a wait at this point). I'm not saying I'll never go back. I'm not even necessarily saying this is the general practice of this restaurant. After all, this was my first visit. I'm simply saying I won't go out of my way to recommend First Watch for my beloved Saturday breakfast gatherings anytime soon. Like I said, I'm sure at some point I'll update my review appropriately, but probably for a while. read more

My family stopped by for Sunday brunch the other day to experience what everyone had been raving about. I'm a huge fan of 'breakfast at any time' spots and couldn't wait to sink my teeth into some of their signature items. My wife got the Turkey & Avocado eggs benedict, I got the Parma Hash, my daughter the Fruit Crepe, and we shared an order of their blueberry pancakes. The food was fresh and you can taste the quality of their ingredients. My biggest gripe was that the portion size of my hash was so-so and that the bill was a bit large for a brunch meal (around 50 bucks for 2 adults and a child after tip). I'll give them another shot in the future, but there are definitely other breakfast places around town that'll give you more bang for the buck. read more

I love the menu at First Watch, it is eclectic and fun. You have lots of healthy choices but also some not so healthy ones if you want to be a little bad. I've tried a couple of their sandwiches and they were very good, I was disappointed in their eggs benedict. It seriously had deli ham on it. Yuck. Skip it and try something different. Also, they don't have a lot of tables so the wait gets long very quickly on the weekends. read more

Not bad. Good waffle and bacon, but would change a couple things next time. Ask for well done potatoes with no onions (ours barely had any golden brown crisp going on). They put a dollop of sour cream on omelets, which they should warn you about. "Warm" fruit compote was room temperature, almost cold and not that great. read more

I have been to the location in Mandarin and I guess I was a little spoiled by it. The food was ok but the service left something to be desired. I tried the shrimp and grits which was on the seasonal menu and it was just ok. They described the dish with cheese grits and I could barely taste the cheese. The shrimp were cooked nicely but overall not the greatest of dishes. As far as the service, I got rather confused as to who our server was cause there was probably 3 to 4 different people who came over to our table. Overall not the worst but more mediocre. read more

Such a cute and sweet place. Great coffee and yummy food. The servers and hostesses are always friendly and you definitely get more than enough fresh food!! I usually get an egg white omelette or pancakes and I never leave disappointed. Definitely a place we will be coming to for years. read more

It's sad but I just don't like the food here, I try again and again but I just haven't found anything that I like.

This was horrible. Very poor service, very rude hostess. They kept saying they were busy, but they wouldn't clean off the table. They could not get our order right and when they did, it was cold. This was the worst eggs Benedict I've ever had. The English muffin was also hard as a rock. To make matters worse, our meal made us sick to our stomach. I don't understand why everybody rates this place so highly. I have now come to find out that they over charged our debit card by over$40. Stay away read more

Today was my first visit to First Watch. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and brunch, but not for dinner. It is located in one of several outparcels across a large parking lot from an upscale Wal-Mart (yes, there is such a thing), a Miller's Alehouse, and other restaurants. It is in a relatively high-end area (Beach & Hodges) not far from Jacksonville Golf and Country Club. The ambiance is nothing special: simple, uncluttered, with outdoor patio tables. But that's where "ordinary" ends with this restaurant: the service and food quality are top-notch. My college-age son and I went at 2:15 p.m. on a Sunday, not realizing that they closed at 2:30 p.m. To my pleased surprise, our waiter, Eric, seemed not the least bit dismayed by the lateness of our arrival. He was helpful and charming, and did not rush us. The food we ordered arrived swiftly. Now here's the best part: both my son's meal and mine were exceptional! I ordered the open-faced chicken salad (apples, raisins, pecans) sandwich with cheese and tomatoes on toasted multi-grain bread. My son ordered a roast beef and cheddar sandwich called the Beefeater. Both meals came with a small salad with vinaigrette dressing. You could, however, choose a different side, including fresh fruit. Everything about the meal was fresh. My son and I had two different breads on our two sandwiches. My son's was a thick-cut toasted parmesan bread, while my wonderful multi-grain bread was not the wimpy wheat-flour bread you sometimes get at restaurants but a true, hearty, full-flavor multi-grain bread. Both breads were delicious and distinctive. My hard-to-please son said he had not had such a good roast beef sandwich in a very long time. At the end of our meal, I complimented both our waiter and the general manager. Both were gracious and chatted with us about the restaurant chain (hard to believe it's a chain). The breads apparently are specially ordered from a Miami bakery. I suggested that the restaurant consider selling loaves of those breads, as they would likely be wildly popular with the clientele. The experience couldn't have been more positive. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This place is nothing to write home about. Friendly staff & reasonable prices. But not much to choose from, & food was just okay.

Delicious! Anything and everything one could need to brunch and munch. From great beverages to delightfully fluffy pancakes, this place has it going on. Try the health cocktails for a weekend morning detox. I would also suggest turkey bacon and definitely a pancake or two. There are so many yummies on this menu that I will be returning again and again until I've sampled them all. Service is quick and precise. Decor is relaxed and inviting. A great place to eat, overall. read more

Its a non greasy version of Denny's. Great for repeated visits. Everything I've eaten there is very good. My favorite breakfast place.

My first time going to a First Watch was last year in Maryland. I was excited to try the Jacksonville locations. So far I've only been to the one in Mandarin and it was tasty food, fresh and there was good service. I don't think I recall as good of a selection, but it was suitable. One coworker felt the food was a little "too healthy" for her, so she went to a nearby place and I asked the waitress if she could eat it in there and they were so nice about it . She felt awkward at first, but they put her at ease...and all was right with the world, lol. I live too far to make this a regular weekly type spot, but when I want something really fresh and healthy, that I probably wouldn't make at home, I will likely find a First Watch.s read more

This is our favorite breakfast joint hands down! Never disappointed,never a wait to be sat, super friendly staff and great tasting healthy options! My go-to is usually the Quinoa Power Bowl, but I love to try their seasonal specials as well! Lastly, being that we are right on the cusp of the millennial generation, the avocado toast has a lot of appeal and tastes great! read more

If you're looking for a clean eat with a little bit of cheat, this is it! I can't forget to mention their coffee... It's amazing.

Great breakfast and love the healthy options!

This place is amazing. My parents are really difficult to please when it comes to eating out and even they loved it. The quality of food was top notch and the cooks know how to cook an egg perfectly. Can't wait to go back! read more

I visited this place on a whim since I was meeting family at Nothing Bunt Cake. They went to First Watch for lunch and I was able to leave work early. They had ordered the roast beef sandwich with soup. I was impressed with the place. I found out they accommodated us since they closed early but still took us in. Nice first impression. Definitely will go back. read more