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    First Watch

    4.1 (118 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:30 pm

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    FIRST WATCH ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
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    Alexus H.

    Always consistent! Service was great and food was good. I ordered the bowl, it could use more sauce and/or flavor.

    Tricia T.

    Came for breakfast around 9:30am Saturday and there was no wait! The host was welcoming and our server was magnificent. The atmosphere is very relaxed and noise levels are loud so fyi if you're sensitive to that! I ordered a honey caramel crunch iced coffee that was fun but too sweet for my palate. I also ordered the smoked salmon Benedict. I was sad because this dish didn't hit the mark for me. The salmon did not taste fresh and the toast it was on was a bit heavy for me. I had a good time with my girlfriends though! I ordered the Monterey club to go for my husband and he said it was delicious - I didn't get a chance to try. The side greens are bright, lemony, and fresh. I would give them another try for the sweet side of breakfast.

    The breakfast spot in Raleigh
    Ajay P.

    My first time at First Watch Raleigh as always great food as expected! It was fresh, hot and delicious! The service was excellent, even with a packed housethe waitress checked on us regularly! The First Watch environment is very bright and spacious farmhouse feel! Love this place for breakfast!! They are consistently good!!

    Restaurant
    Lisa W.

    We saw this restaurant while driving, and recognized it from a visit to Mt. Pleasant, SC. That was when we decided we had to come for breakfast the following morning. Cameron was our server, and she was patient as we looked over the menu. The coffee is a large cup, 1 was enough for me! I had 1 ricotta and lemon pancake with lemon curd and berries. My husband had the Floridian French toast. It was covered with fruit! Everything was so fresh looking and tasting. The place was bustling - as soon as a table was cleared and cleaned, someone else was seated. They do serve lunch as well. You can't miss with First Watch. We wish they would come up North!

    Menu
    Charlie F.

    I went on a Sunday morning, fortunately before the Sunday morning crowds got there. I was immediately greeted and seated. I ordered "The Traditional" and substituted grits for the seasoned potatoes. Food was brought with a minimal wait. Whole grain artisan toast was a nice change than the toast most restaurants offer, and the house preserves were delicious. My bowl of grits were just right (I hate runny grits). All of the meal was enjoyable, and I left as the crowds were started to show.

    We decided to give this a try on a Saturday morning during Dreamville Festival weekend. The wait was only 15 minutes which was impressive. They have outdoor seating and the restaurant has a very nice open feel. We ordered the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with strawberries and the Smoked Salmon Benedict. The food came out quickly and the server was very nice. The pancakes were fluffy and the eggs on the Benedict were made perfectly. Would definitely eat here again

    Allan A.

    It's my lucky day to walk and get seated immediately. Service was friendly and fast. Enjoyed two multigrain pancakes, which were huge and filled me up. Add a coffee and tip, and it was a $16 breakfast foe one.

    Michelle P.

    1st time at this location and the service was GREAT! Still not a fan of their regular hot coffee! I ordered the biscuit and gravy and it did not disappoint the potatoes are just ok and so are the eggs! The restaurant is busy even on a Thursday mid day! It's loud and the tables are a little close for comfort but other than that it's cool!

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    3 years ago

    I cannot say enough good things about their food. I really can't. Never a disappointing experience.

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    3 years ago

    Tia was great! Really enjoyed our meals and the service. First Watch is one of our favorite weekend brunch spots.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    This is a great change from all the same old processed breakfast. Fresh food and fresh faces. Colleen took great care of us.

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    3 years ago

    Great breakfast place - great service, very clean and presentation is excellent! Recommend if you are looking for breakfast or lunch.

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    2 years ago

    Awesome staff working hard to please everyone. The food was tasting great and had hot coffee.

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    Page 2 of 3

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    PRESS Coffee Crêpes Cocktails

    PRESS Coffee Crêpes Cocktails

    4.6
    (124 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    Mother's Day brunch with the kid and we both absolutely loved our bruschetta breakfast toast!!! It…read morewas a hit! Our server was awesome! Hate I forgot her name. She was super sweet and I think we kept her entertained! lol!

    European touches and the best savory crepe (Steak and Eggs!) I've ever had this morning with my…read morehusband for brunch. I can absolutely see why this place has such great reviews. This visit was also meaningful for us personally. Tomorrow is my 30th birthday, and since my husband had to leave today for military duty, this was our chance to celebrate together. I asked if it might be possible to have "30" written on the plate with sauce--just a small touch to mark the moment. I completely understand that Sunday mornings are busy and that staff have to keep things moving. Still, I was a bit disappointed when the request was declined. (I ended up making my own little design with my knife from the sauce, which was delicious)- It felt like a missed opportunity to create a memorable moment on a big day for us. And although I had zero other issues I couldn't help but leave remembering only that part of the experience. Overall, the food and atmosphere were great. I'm sharing this as gentle feedback, because small gestures like that can really make a lasting impression. People will forget what they ordered, but they won't forget how they felt when they left.

    Photos
    Press interior
    Press interior
    PRESS Coffee Crêpes Cocktails
    Outdoor seating

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    Outdoor seating
    Benelux Café

    Benelux Café

    3.9
    (219 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $

    I try a new coffee shop every Saturday and today it was Benelux…read more There isn't a lot of street parking, but there is an underground garage behind it, which is so convenient. It's located next to Village District. I was greeted immediately by a nice young man. I asked for his hot food suggestion, and of course he suggested the waffles! I ordered a waffle with fresh bananas and Nutella...every bite was absolutely delicious. I also ordered a lavender latte and loved it. They sell scones from a local vendor and I had a gluten free orange cranberry scone which was also delicious. Benelux is spacious and has plenty of seating. Tables, high tops and even a couple of comfortable love seats.

    This is great coffee shop with a good, family friendly a diverse vibe…read more Benelux offers a good variety of coffee drinks and delicious pastries. We ordered lattes and other pastries, and they were all delicious. I met the new owners when I stopped by, and they shared their new plans for upgrades and improvements. They own other coffee shops in Colombia, so I'm guessing those improvements will be good. It is located in a shopping plaza centrally located. If you are not from the area, the GPS will take you straight to it. There is a parking lot for the entire shopping plaza with free parking. If you like to work in coffee shops, this one gets a bit busy and noisy at times. Keep that in mind. The staff was friendly and helpful. The space is comfortable and common areas are clean. Overall, 100% recommended.

    Photos
    Menu.
    Menu.
    Benelux Café
    Benelux Café

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    Morning Times

    Morning Times

    4.2
    (694 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $

    This downtown Raleigh stop really came through when I was craving a breakfast sandwich!!! LOL…read more The staff was very friendly. Service was prompt. It's a small space but there's plenty of outdoor seating (and I believe there is additional indoor seating next door). Loved my bacon, egg, and cheese croissant! Added a nice fruit salad too. Just love the vibe of this part of downtown Raleigh!

    The morning times was a weekly if not daily staple in my life for 10+ years, after moving away from…read morethe city 3 years ago, every time I would come into Raleigh it would be my first stop and it would always feel like home seeing the same familiar faces every time. This morning, I walked in and saw not one familiar face there, and I've come to learn all the staff walked out simultaneously weeks ago. After getting to know many of the staff over the years of frequenting there, anything to make every staff member walk out at the same time has to be big enough to leave a sour taste in your mouth. Am truly sad to see such a Raleigh staple not see the value in the community their staff created. Cheers to Joe, Brennan, Brett, amber, and all of the others past a present (shout out Tim and Casey and Jackie!) for their place in our lives over all of these years! If you are looking for a coffee nearby, jubala (pendo), black & white (videri), heirloom are all great options (and sir Walter coffee and 42 & Lawrence are decent and close)

    Photos
    Front counter
    Front counter
    Morning Times
    Upstairs seating

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    Upstairs seating
    Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant

    Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant

    4.3
    (727 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    A cute breakfast place in Downtown Raleigh that gets very busy! I came immediately after landing at…read morethe airport to get brunch on a weekday around noon. The place was crowded but there was no wait. I got seated immediately at a table near a column in the middle of the restaurant and Christy came over and asked if I wanted anything to drink. She brought me iced water and gave me time to look at the menu. I wanted to try so many things and I was too optimistic about ordering 3 things and finishing them myself. Good thing I only ordered 2 things! An order of fried catfish with home fries and one egg. And a biscuit with sausage gravy. The fried catfish was salted and well fried. It tasted delicious for my first bite! The home fries were basically cut potatoes, but they weren't very fried or flavored. I wished I ordered the side of apple sauce instead. The biscuit and sausage was good, but a bit too much for one person after eating a separate order already. Definitely bring more people so you can try more things. Also, I wished I had asked for sausage gravy on the side so I can try the biscuit on its own first as well. Furthermore, I would have more time to eat the catfish so I wasn't worried about the biscuit getting soggy. Christy came to check up on me every now and then. The place was buzzing with people and decorations so I didn't feel so alone. When it was time to pay, Christy brought me the check for me to pay at the cash register. Both Christy and the cashier were so friendly! The restaurant does have a women's and a mens restroom if needed.

    This casual downtown Raleigh restaurant has a very authentic Southern vibe. From the red-and-white…read morechecked tablecloths to the other old-fashioned decor and the Southern cuisine menu offerings, you will know you are in North Carolina when you dine here. Walking in feels like you've stepped into a time capsule from a few decades back (for those who like that retro feel - I usually opt for more modern/contemporary vibes so this was a change of pace for me). Its downtown location adds to the retro feel because it is in a quaint marketplace area with cobblestone walkways. And they serve breakfast all day which is great if you are a breakfast lover like me. They have fantastic omelets. I tried the veggie omelet and it was delicious. Service was good. We were promptly seated and our waiter appeared rather quickly too. The food was served soon after ordering.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Brunswick stew with grilled bologna and cheese sandwich
    Brunswick stew with grilled bologna and cheese sandwich
    Outside

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    Outside
    Layered Croissanterie

    Layered Croissanterie

    4.5
    (240 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Two days in a row I've gone to layered croissant. The layers are on point and it was fascinating to…read morewatch the bakers use a machine to roll out the layers. I tried the passionfruit mango cruffin and the brown butter crookie. Both were spot on with their flavors. The passionfruit cream was especially noteworthy for being packed with flavor and yet not too sweet. The layers of pasty were perfection. There's one spot to order, though they do a brisk takeout business. Once ordered, items come out quickly. There is some seating, and if you order to stay, then they'll bring your items to the table. The vibe is bright and semi industrial with some pastel colors to soften it up. I love the bright windows, even if you're just looking out on the car's parked right outside!

    Ohhh, I have been sleeping on this place. No longer. Visited in September 2024 and tried pretty…read moremuch the whole menu of pastries: + LKA + raspberry pistachio + butterscotch Cruffin + Plum financier + Ham & cheese + Boston cream donut + Brown butter crookie + Classic croissant + Pain au chocolat Standouts were the raspberry pistachio and ham & cheese. Also loved the filling in the financier, and the brown butter cookie was top notch. Cruffin was another highlight. Iced coffee was alright. Will get the iced purple matcha next time. This bakery is definitely born from the Dominique Ansel/Supermoon Bakehouse era, and they are executing very well. (I've had some baaaad knockoff cruffins/cronuts/croissant hybrids, but this place is killing it.)

    Photos
    Layered Croissanterie
    Layered Croissanterie
    Layered Croissanterie

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    First Watch - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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