Food is made with real ingredients, food is always fresh and flavorful. Lovely restaurant with great professional staff. Menu has a wide variety and the pancakes are amazing. read more

I love Belgian waffles. In WI I buy frozen at Trader Joe's but in FL those stores too far from my home so I eat out. Here are the things I liked about First Watch. As I approached door, a server opened door and greeted me. I ordered coffee and she brought a pot so I can do what I like, that is drink some, add more hot coffee, drink more, etc. that means I'm not waiting for server to refill my cup. I expected it to be expensive but it was same as most restaurants charge. She brought some warm syrup and left the bottle on my table. I asked for a glass of water and she brought a pitcher of it. To me that qualifies as good service. More than I expected. My waffle was okay. I think I'm used to slathering it with butter and didn't have that here. Coffee was good and worth the charge. Since I was early, service excellent and she checked back with me frequently. read more

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I would just like to say how much I appreciate the management, food quality, and service at the North Lakeland location. All aspects of service at this store are beyond reproach. I would recommend this location over a great many others that I have frequented, as I travel from South Lakeland, just to have the family experience that I receive at this location. Jessica, Nigel, Rich, Miguel, Anistyn, and all of the staff go above and beyond to make certain that all expectations are met. I love this location and I will fight anyone who disputes this testimony. These are all great people who deserve to be promoted. The only downside is that as a result they would be sent to other locations. Treat your people well. Thank you. read more

The food can get pricey, but the flavors and variety of food is amazing. My favorite place for breakfast. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Went here with my husband and 2 of our sons. The salmon eggs Benedict was incredible (highly recommend) and the kids Belgian waffle meal was generous and delicious. I love that they left a carafe of both water and coffee at the table. The prices were reasonable and the food came quickly. Will definitely go back! read more

First Watch - Kids Belgian waffle meal with sausage and fruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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What a wonderful surprise! FINALLY a restaurant that really offers food for people that are looking for different and healthy foods. This is our first time at First Watch and it has just taken the first spot for our favorite breakfast and lunch go to place! read more

This place is great! First time here and just passing through. Very nice and accommodating service. They gave us some samples of some juices. The food was also delicious. *note: very cold inside so bring a sweater or have a coffee! :) read more

First Watch - Chickichanga - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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Will definitely be back. We just loved the feel of the place. Modern, bright, and trendy. Food was pretty darn good too we have the Salmon Tzatziki Toast. Yummmmmm Aside from the nasty bare foot WiFi squatter ...who I guess couldn't drive another block to Starbucks (nasty cause he was putting those feet all over the seat in the booth he was in....bleh ) I simply moved my seat so I still enjoyed my meal and this place. Free IT Hint : get a router with firmware that allows you to throttle down the internet speed on your free WiFi. You'll save money on disinfectant cleaning up that slobs toe cheese or who knows what. Your Welcome read more

Killer Breakfast with an eye towards Wholesome, Nutritious, and Fresh Ingredients. Visited First Watch on my way to the airport back to Indy, and I'm already sad I didn't come across this location sooner. Speckled throughout middle Florida, First Watch is only opened from 7am-2:30pm servicing Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch. Whenever you come across a restaurant that tries NOT to do it all (Opened all hours, Huge menu), be both curious and skeptical as they could have perfected their craft or fell miserably short in such a small market. Happy to say First Watch perfected their game! The Plantation, Farm-2-Table decore, and open kitchen gives a sense of class and comfort as soon as you walk to the door. The menu is classic but also unique, with a wide variety of options from Power Bowls, Skillets, Omelets, Belgian Waffles, to even Fresh Juice and Tonics. The lunch sandwiches looked good, but who doesn't Love breakfast? Being the Hungry Boy that I am, I went for both the Athlete Triad (egg white veggie omelette, toast, and fresh fruit) and a small order of their Multigrain Pancakes with blueberries. My Mom and I also shared their Muffin of the Day which was Banana Nut. Wow! First off, The Omelette. Fresh egg whites with perfectly sauteed veggies. And their Toast! A thick cut multigrain, multiseed bread which had such an incredible crunch and loads of flavor. And their pancakes....Pillowly soft on the inside, with a crispy exterior...This is how you do pancakes. I could also tell that they fermented their pancake mixture which gave the pancake a bit of a tang and further accentuated its richness. Coupled with the added fresh blueberries, Yumtastic! It didn't even need their delicious homemade, in-house fruit syrup, the pancake on their own had loads of flavor. And finally, The Muffin. By itself it was a decent muffin with plenty of banana and pecan flavor. However, they did something special to kick this muffin into high gear. They split the muffin in half and cook the soft inside ontop of the griddle. I never would have thought of it, but by taking advantage of the sugarly, slightly oily muffin interior and a hot flat griddle, they were able to not only put a beautiful crust on the muffin and give added texture, but the caramelized insides gave the muffin an umani kick and took it to a whole new level. Can't say enough about First Watch, a Five Star Ranting without a doubt. The only negative is that I can't visit their more often. If your in Florida, and have a location near by.....GO! read more

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I had brunch here last week while visiting my family. Even though they have limited hours, they carefully crafted and served brunch worthy meals to our table. Everyone was happy with their meals. I had the Smoked Salmon Tzatziki Toast from the Specials menu. I liked how they prepared my food using high quality ingredients, and after eating I felt full without feeling too full. I also liked how industrial this place is. I'm a local Lakeland grown girl. In case you didn't know, swans are Lakeland's local icon. You will see them everywhere and the local pride of that was visible here. read more

DOGS DO NOT BELONG SITTING AT THE TABLE! We frequent first watch because of the great food and service but decided to sit outside because of the nice weather. Right after we placed our order a party with 2 dogs sat down outside and pulled up chairs for their dogs to sit at the table. Later those dogs were eating at the table from the same plates that all others are served food from!!! I couldn't even finish my food I was so disgusted. I am a dog person myself but this was WAY to far. Unfortunately we will not be eating here anymore! read more

Worked here for about a month learning to flip eggs and make dope omelette s and serve up good customer service. I highly recommend trying the chia seed power bowl as it tastes amazing yet it is healthy as agave nectar is used as a healthy sugar substitute. The million dollar bacon is amazing also if you are feeling a bit gluttonous. Balance is key. Knock yourself out. 10/10 read more

This is my new favorite breakfast place in Lakeland. When I'm back in town, I hope to try their lunch menu as well. Pictured is the Farmhouse Skillet and it is delightful in every area from portion and flavor to presentation. This place is definitely a must try/ I also want to note that they were incredibly Celiac friendly for my sister! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Great fresh healthy food. Good service. 2nd time stopping in while in town. Definitely my breakfast and lunch stop in this area. Worth the detour off I4. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

I was so excited to eat here for breakfast. Nothing bad about the place but also nothing amazing. The pancakes were okay. Under seasoned eggs. The millionaire bacon was a hit. But overall okay read more

Went for a late breakfast and my meal was horrible. I ordered the trifecta and the eggs were cold and crusted. The waffle was soggy and lukewarm at best. Not impressed at all. The ricotta pancakes were lackluster. Asked for butter and it was brought over as in a Togo container with a lid. What?! Waitress never checked back to see if everything was ok either. Won't return. read more

The food was good. The downside is that is it a small restaurant and cramped when it's busy.

Food is always delicious. Love the specials they have seasonally. Staff is friendly, efficient. Very busy place but always feel welcomed. Chefs are Eve accommodating to special requests. read more

I'm usually one to hit up local restaurants way more than chains, but I can't stop going back to First Watch!! On my last visit I got the Shakshuka (see photo) and OH MY, it was amazing. I loved it so much, my mother in law tried to recreate it for me for my birthday breakfast! I love their potatoes, which I usually get on the side. But everything I've had there has been fresh and really tasty. I love that they have tons of options for those who are gluten-free, and so many healthy options too! Breakfast & Brunch are my favorite meals, so I would have to say this is one of my favorite places in town. read more

First Watch - The Shakshuka, served with lightly dressed greens and crispy bread for dipping - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

I didn't know what to expect since this was my first time eating here. I was pleasantly surprised! We ordered the Healthy Turkey, Millionaire Bacon, and a Belgium waffle and it was really good. I didn't think anyone could beat Waffle House waffles but this was the best waffle I've ever had. And the eggs were so fresh and so high quality. I will definitely eat here again. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Didn't live up to the hype! Got the biscuits and gravy - the gravy had a turkey sausage ground up - the meal was pretty dry. The gravy was a tad bit too thick, and the coffee was not good at all. The Waiters are fairly new and seemed to be in training. The Manager visited every table but ours, not sure why that is but he asked everyone but us how our meal was. I would have told him it wasn't up to par and given them a chance to save this review. I would've said the same to the Waiter but he never came back to the table after he gave us the food. I ask for Orange Juice and never got it. I really wanted to give this review a 2.5 but that's not a option and they were a tad bit better than a 2. Nothing like the one I visited in Tampa. Pretty disappointed this morning! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

If you want enjoy an expensive breakfast where you can't hear your dining partners in a barn like atmosphere, this is your place! Service was painfully slow (and this was at 2:00pm). We arrived at 1:27pm and were seated at 2:01pm. Having had that interval to look over the menu, we ordered as soon as the waitress arrived, right after we were seated. Our food arrived at 2:32pm! I had the Tri-fecta (scrambled eggs, a belgian waffle and a single ink of sausage). My wife had oatmeal! THAT took 30 minutes?!? When our food was dropped off by another server, our waitress promptly appeared and asked how our food looked. We didn't see her again for 20 minutes when she delivered the check. My wife was going to order coffee, but after learning it was $2.69 (all but two beverage prices are NOT listed on the menu!) she decided there was a limit to how much diner coffee should cost. While the food was tasty, for what it was, the decor of early industrial warehouse (hard floors, naked metal ceilings, no sound proofing) made the noise level high enough to force you to yell at each other. I noticed that even the cashier often had to lean over to patrons to be understood. What a travesty in restaurant design! We have eaten at other First Watches in Columbus, Ohio and in Kansas City which were much more acoustically thoughtful with carpeted floors and decor to subdue the noise and in which the service was notably better. Lakeland offers other breakfast restaurants that are quieter, have better service, and at reasonable prices: Cozy Oaks, Village Inn, Dwayne's Place, Egg Station. Bypass First Watch for those places, and you'll have an enjoyable breakfast. read more

This is a must!!! You have to try first watch!!!! This is my absolute favorite breakfast/lunch place to eat! Everything I have tried here is amazing nothing has disappointed me. My all time favorite is the salmon eggs Benedict though. The waiters are so kind and work so hard. The chefs are fabulous and if they are out in the floor and see someone needs something they will get it. Their customer service is spot on. read more

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I love First Watch! I've never had a bad experience. The food is always fresh, healthy, and hearty. Service is on top of it no matter how busy they are. read more

Look For Shane And Kari Super Nice And Get The Job Done At Freds Market in Lakeland Florida

Overall not a bad experience for being a chain. The people who work here are super kind. The food is decent. I had an omelette and they make theirs by having the ingredients inside of eggs rather than combined with eggs. Seems a little cafeteria prep. The waitress was sweet yet brought the check super early without asking if anything else was wanted. My recommendation is to wait to bring the check until people are done eating. Also no refills were offered until I asked for them. I like to be checked on to see if things are going well yet was missing that kind of service here even though the people are friendly. Clean and supplied bathroom which is nice. read more

Excellent service and delicious fresh food. Only reduced it by 1 star because my eggs Benedict were over cooked. read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

We visited on 8 July. They sat us down quickly. The server went by serving coffee to other people during ten minutes. We left for Keke's.

Excellent service. I ordered the traditional breakfast. It was delicious! I'm a salsa (pico de gallo) snob and I can say it was great. With all the fresh, healthy menu items my only "complaint" would be the pre-packaged creamers. It would have been a great treat to have real cream available. Seriously, with all the cows in this area surely someone sells fresh cream. ...a great way to begin the day!! read more

I'd like to say goodmorning BUT it's far from that. After waiting for 50 minutes (which I'm okay with that) I'm ordering my drink and get asked are you ready to order, of course! Here I am wanting to order steak and bacon breakfast burrito BUT there is NO BACON in the whole restaurant. I'm currently in the First Watch located in Davenport FL in Posner Park. If I would of been advised before waiting and sitting in the table I would understand but the fact the server didn't mention until I was going to order is RIDICULOUS. Is there a sign? No, there isn't. Has the manager stop by to apologize for not notifying their guests? No, the manager hasn't. This ruins the mood, makes sense why I always tell my significant other this is the last place we'd come for breakfast. Call before coming to the restaurant to see what they have in stock because I just asked and they don't have apple juice, bacon, donuts and pulled pork. If I could of given it a ZERO I would of. The humans in this environment have the worst attitide, overall NEVER coming back. ​ read more

First Watch has always been one of my favorite places for brunch. I use to drive all the way to Tampa just for their Skillet Hash. My friend and I stopped by First Watch today, on their second day of opening, and we were not disappointed. The food was just as good as I remembered from Tampa and the service was wonderful. You can go sweet (pancakes, French toast) or savory (eggs, omelets) and pair everything with coffee and juice. read more

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Great food and great service, can't complain at all. Little pricey though but it's worth it. read more

First Watch - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

The food is amazing and the staff is very friendly. The wait time is always very short and the food comes out in a timely manner. The inside is clean and well maintained. I highly recommend the avocado toast as well. Very good place to eat. read more

Our first visit was phenomenal!! Excellent service, gorgeous presentation, delicious food!!!! read more

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I've been to multiple locations. Food and atmosphere are always good. I normally love First Watch. However the service at this location is terrible. First, our food order "disappeared" in the kitchen, which the waitress didn't tell us about for 45 mins. We also did not see her between when we ordered and when she notified us. So we did not have the chance to ask about our order. After our food arrived and we finished eating, we did not see her. After waiting for quite a while to get our check, we finally had to walk up to the front register for the waitress to notice and ring us up. We spent a over an hour and a half total there, which kind of ruined our plans for the afternoon. read more

I placed a take out order before work quickly and didn't have a chance to look at it until it was lunch time. I was already at work and realized my meal was made incorrectly due to a dietary restriction. I contacted the restaurant with my concern and Buck immediately rectified the situation. He remade my meal and even hand delivered it personally to my job so I could enjoy it for lunch! He is truly amazing and went above and beyond to ensure my experience was satisfactory. He is super friendly and an amazing General Manager! 10/10 would go back again just because of the premier customer service. read more

Always quick to get food. The staff is always friendly. One of the only places I can get chicken sausage biscuits and gravy so it's the only thing a get. A little expensive but big portions and great quality so you get what you pay for. read more

First Watch is a great place to get some good coffee, and great tasting breakfast options. I initially thought this place only catered to the health conscious but after going in a few times and trying the food it's clear they have options for everyone. Highly recommend farm stand tacos and morning meditation drink. read more

UNBELIEVABLE !!!! What a gem ... haven't been to a diner like this since the 80's ... service was excellent, friendly, fast ... the food was amazing ... large portions and delicious ... oldies music in the back ground was a bonus ... made for a very fun time for my 16 y/o daughter and I ... think she had more fun than I did enjoying the whole "OLD SCHOOL DINER" feel ... KUDOS to the owners and staff ... I would go out of my way to come visit you again !!! Do yourself a favor and check this wonderful spot out !!! Glad I did !!! read more

I've been wanting to try this place since they opened. Finally went and it did not disappoint. The food was very good and the atmosphere was refreshing. My younger children said the food was too "real" for them, lol, but I would def. go back without the kids. read more