First visit for breakfast . Setting, nice architecture and interior design with a nice , covered outside seating area. Service: everyone was friendly and appreciative . Food: fresh lemon ricotta pancakes , some of the best I've had anywhere. Eggs were fresh and scrambled perfectly. Good coffee And good value Will be a regular read more

First Watch - Lemon ricotta pancakes , eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Grabbed brunch before a move further North on Main. I was disappointed I could not get an omelette and had to settle for a frittata which was ok but not great. Our waitress was adequate but the place was busy given the hour and sudden downpour. 3.5 stars read more

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lovely downtown location, reasonably easy to find parking. Nice place, clean, looks like someplace we wanted to eat at. We were seated outside and left alone for about 15 minutes. Tables around us were cleared while we sat. Finally we left and on the way out they thanked us for coming..... We kept walking. read more

Legit appalled that someone thought it was OK to pack our takeout order using these disgusting moldy takeout containers. Serious health hazard and just goes to show how the back of the house doesn't care. This container should have been thrown in the trash, not used to pack my son's scrambled eggs. The food is good but will not be ordering takeout from First Watch again because they clearly don't care. Breakfast Company would never. read more

First Watch - Absolutely filthy takeout container - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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The breakfast was really good. The pancakes were enormous and fluffy and so lemony. My husband got a side of grits but I like mine a little dry and these were very wet so not my favorite. The triathlete omelets was good but I prefer the items mixed into the eggs and not just folded. The potatoes were outstanding and toast it came with was also seedy and delicious. Loved that they put a pot of coffee on the table to serve yourself. read more

First Watch - Lemon ricotta Specialty Pancakes Brunch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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We have walked by this place so many times and I finally decided to have breakfast. I sat at the outside bar and enjoyed the sunshine and people watching. I tried the homemade Bloody Mary which was delicious. I also had the chickichanga which was huge and so good! The service was fantastic and I loved the cashier when I checked out! I'm so glad I finally stopped! I would recommend and will be back! read more

First Watch - chickichanga - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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This is our favorite place to eat on Sunday mornings before church. Love the atmosphere and we love the avocado toast!

We eat at First Watch wherever we travel but this First Watch is a gem. We loved the food, it's clean, decorated well and the service is amazing. It was a treat to sit in Ana's section. She's literally the sweetest server we've had in the longest time. It's just her personality and I hope she never changes. read more

We did come back as we said before. This is a convenient location to our hotel downtown. It is clean with easy street parking. The ambiance is casual. Service was good. We did a takeout and went back to our hotel to eat. I don't know how this could've happened, but they didn't give us our eating utensils! There are none in our room, so my daughter had to go downstairs to ask for them. Inconvenient, to say the least. The other problem was that I asked for sunny side up, but they gave me overcooked , easy-over. I only ate a few bites of it. It's disappointing because I like to spread the yolks over my potatoes. The regular bacon was cooked perfectly. The English muffin was not toasted enough. Couldn't eat it. The coffee was good, though. Maybe we'll be back next year. read more

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Overall, this is a good restaurant. However, the smoked salmon omelet is a disaster. It is not an omelet5. It is a flat fried egg base with smoked salmon thrown on it. It is sloppy to eat and greasy. I do not recommend it. read more

Nice place with nice staff. Didn't try the coffee. The food was menzamenz. The berries in the fruit cup were soft and the pineapple was hard. The chorizo omelette was avocado forward. The tomatoes in the pico de gallo were unripe. The toast was excellent. Could be worse but could be better. Will keep looking for a better breakfast. read more

Great menu with lots of interesting variety. Consistently good food and friendly service. read more

Once was a drag, twice was annoying, three times was the shame on me stuff, but four times? Is this a nice place to sit and eat breakfast or lunch? Yes. Is it a dependable restaurant for to-go orders or online orders? Absolutely not. I have been burned by First Watch too many times. It's simple: if you place an online order, do not expect to get what you ordered. Do NOT trust this place to get your order right. I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with a manager and go over my order history and discuss the failure to arrange the largest details. Ugh. read more

Food is great!!! Service is a little slow lots of food options and the servers are very nice they also have a kids menu with good options and the prices are good read more

First Watch - Kids chocolate chip pancake and bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

First Watch has been our go-to since the closing of the original BE and... remember Summerhouse? Sigh. I digress, yes it's a chain, and no we don't care. Service is always pleasant, the employees are always kind, and we've always been more than happy with our brunch. I've been getting the chicken avocado salad forever because the dressing is addictive, and I still crave it regularly. My partner is a traditionalist and gets the American version of the full English (?) - eggs, bacon, waffle or pancake, etc or some variation. It's clean, service is fast, but we never feel rushed. And there's just something comforting about walking in and they all smell the same - waffles, coffee, and bacon, LOL. Perfect way to start your day! read more

We've been here a few times and it's always great. They recently updated their menu and it's really good. I had the Barbacoa breakfast tacos. The eggs were generous and the tortilla shell was crunchy. The barbacoa was great. Next time I'm there, I'll try the chilaquiles. Good idea to make biscuits and gravy with eggs on the side a standard menu item. Also, the service is great. read more

First Watch - Barbacoa breakfast tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Ordered first watch, they gave me avocado toast that looked like it had been sitting on the shelf for days. All other items were cold. They don't pickup the phone to rectify either. read more

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

It really was a 5 star. I'm picky about my coffee, and even the coffee was good. MATTHEW!! was a fantastic server! He was friendly, attentive and engaging. He even gave some tips that even though we ARE locals, we didn't know about. AND he offered me some coffee to go! Wow. Food was delicious too. Great pancakes, and the bacon was a perfect crispness and traditional flavor. Thank you! read more

Took a quick trip to Sarasota and we decided on breakfast at First watch. We tried: Smoked Salmon Benedict Farm Stans Breakfast Tacos The Traditional Kale Tonic Fresh Juice Really nice location with fresh food. I can always count on First watch to provide a lovely atmosphere and breakfast that isn't heavy. The Kale Tonic is a must if you're scared to try green juices. I would return! read more

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I love First Watch! It's my favorite breakfast & brunch spot ever! I always eat too much but I never care because it's worth it! Highly recommend everything on the menu. The staff is excellent too. read more

Not impressed, standard diner breakfast. If you're in the area and hungry, I guess this would work.

I absolutely love this spot. Such a great place to go for breakfast or brunch. Food is delicious always consistent staff or friendly and my girlfriends and I love having breakfast here. read more

First time trying this spot and will definitely be returning! Our waitresses were very accommodating and fixed us two tables outside in order to sit with our three french bulldogs. We were able to try some items from their Fall menu including the Honey Caramel Crunch Iced Coffee, which was very good but did not taste like coffee in the slightest, more like cream. The Ham and Gruyère melt was delicious and their Belgian Waffle tasted homemade. Overall, great breakfast/brunch spot. read more

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some of these reviews must be for. My girlfriend and I stopped by for a quick bite the other morning, and we both joked that we had had better breakfast at the airport the day before. My frittata fell flat to say the least, and her omelette tasted old and "rubbery"?? . The service was OK, the restaurant could've been a little cleaner, but not bad, but the food was a no go. read more

This place is always a good choice for breakfast or brunch. I ordered the Morning Meditation. It is orange juice, lemon juice, turmeric, organic ginger, agave nectar, and beet juice. So good! I also ordered the Truffle Mushroom Hash. This was phenomenal! It is House-roasted Shiitake and Crimini mushrooms, crispy diced bacon and Monterey Jack cheese atop fresh, seasoned potatoes. Topped with two cage-free eggs any style, Parmesan cream sauce, truffle oil and lemon dressed arugula. Such a delicious meal with lots of flavor! read more

First Watch - Morning Meditation - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Great environment; Staff were friendly. Food came hot and delicious. Delicious coffee as always. read more

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We like it here for breakfast. Love the green juice! It's too cold ( summer or winter) in the inside as they keep the AC full blast and it's uncomfortable, but there is outdoor seating. It can get crowded in season, but off season is the best. read more

The food is fantastic the waiter and waitress are all friendly and fantastic! The service is great the Ambiance is nice too ! read more

First Watch - This is a pancake with a lemon curd sauce and strawberries very delicious it is large very filling - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Was one of my favorite breakfast places I've always liked First Watch. They have several restaurants in the area, this one located right downtown across from Five Points Park. I stopped in this morning for breakfast. Back in the day we used to know most of the people at this location, almost like a second family, but since they opened one closer to home my visit downtown today was just me as a regular customer. It was a very good visit. I arrived not long after opening and found the place mostly empty. Regarding service, everything went as expected, from a nice greeting all the way through to paying the bill at the hostess stand when I was finished. My standard breakfast at First Watch restaurants has been Parma Hash for many years, and that was what I ordered again this time. It was good again, but this time a little different. I should mention this is my first visit to any First Watch since before the pandemic. I normally add a bunch of ketchup, but no ketchup on the table this time. Instead, my hash came with a small amount of ketchup in the bottom of a container. Checking with my server, she could get me more but no more ketchup bottles. Bummer. That experience reminds me of a couple of other things they have been doing for years. If you are getting bread, you get a container with a little jelly in the bottom. Most other breakfast places have a choice of jelly flavors via individual containers, like Smucker's for example. I use artificial sweetener with my coffee, First Watch provides Stevia at the table. No pink or blue stuff at the table. I don't know if they have any if you ask. I viewed these only in passing as unfortunate limitations, but now that they messed with my ketchup, I care more. As is my tradition when paying my bill, I grab 3 mint candies on my way out. I didn't see the candy container this time. Bummer again. read more

Dirty dishes scattered across countertop and staff ignoring customers. I left without even ordering.

So, there are old school diners and then there are more modern places like First Watch. Being a Southerner by birth, I usually prefer the old school diners, especially since I love grits, as well as biscuits and gravy, which is either difficult to find in newer type places as they either don't offer them or they have their own "modern twist" on those dishes. Imagine how happy and surprised I was to find both grits AND biscuits and gravy on the menu! And the only modern twist was turkey sausage. I decided to throw caution to the wind and try both- and not only were they good, they rivaled most southern diners I have been to in my culinary life! And better than some! My wife ordered a dish with a "modern twist"- A BLT Benedict- and she loved it! I can' wait to try my local First Watch. read more

Dined here twice during our recent stay in Sarasota. Our first experience was wonderful. Our server was absolutely the best. She was so friendly and knowledgeable of the menu and was sure to help us out regarding gluten free options. Our omelets were delicious and we enjoyed that they came with mixed greens versus carbs. Our second experience the food was still excellent, this time for lunch but our server was not good. She was very uneducated about the menu and we had to ask her 3 times to ask the kitchen a question. She took 20 minutes to bring us out waters which was confusing because she came to take our order before that, so why not drop off the water then? She just needs some training, ita clear she is a newer server. Still the food was great as always. read more

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

Not nearly as good as it is in other cities I have eaten at the one in Tucson Phoenix and those are really excellent this was just okay I had the work omelette which was underwhelming hardly any cheese on it every time I would get up to go to the bathroom the bus boy would clear my table so I had to start over again is rather crazy I know that they need to turn these tables quickly but this is kind of ridiculous anyway like I said all the other outlets of this chain have been really great this is a disappointment but I will come back. read more

First Watch - This is my empty table after the bus boy cleared it for a second time every time I got up to go to the bathroom - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Great location! Good service and quality food. Portion size was large. Friendly staff.

Before leaving Sarasota, we had our last breakfast here, and I absolutely loved it! The place itself is very spacious, and the tables placed far apart...perfect for Covid precautions. Plus, there were other Covid measures in place. I also found their rustic ambiance very inviting...though the place definitely had that slick decor and menu that typifies a popular chain restaurant. Basically, this is a better, metro-chic version of Famous Toastery chains in my hometown. Anyway, the foods that we ordered were SO Good!! I had a Blueberry Pancake w/ Spicy Bacon on the side...and my husband ordered this super-fruity Floridian French Toast. The verdict? Win-Win!! Again, DEE-Lish! The service was very friendly, cheerful as well. During my vacay in Sarasota, this was easily my favorite breakfast...and I definitely plan on revisiting in my future visits to Sarasota (or other cities where available)! read more

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============What & Why ========== review down below ======== First Watch is our 19th entry in the Quest for the TOP THREE great Eggs Benedict / Breakfast spots in the Sarasota, Vamo, Osprey, Nokomis, Venice corridor. Eggs Benedict w/Ham, Florentine, or specialty (seafood, veggies, corned beef/hash, or others) and hash browns/potatoes and grits are the sides. We will narrow it down to top 3 in a few weeks and re-visit them and win, place, & show those finalists. The Breakfast Cottage Eggstraordinary Café BLVD Café Max's Table Willow's Café Toasted Mango Café Anita's Restaurant Blu Island Bistro Word of Mouth The Breakfast House Sun Garden Café Sunnyside Café Rosemary & Thyme Millie's Restaurant The Reserve Retreat Café Evergreen Another Broken Egg Café Green Zebra First Watch ================= review below here ========================== My wife and daughter had dropped in here for lunch after going to the massive library nearby, then a few weeks ago during a big rain we were under their canopy actually going to Green Zebra a few doors down......... SO what the heck. I think the only 'chain' restaurant on the list (some of the reviewed might have multiple LOCAL locations) (side note: A surprising number of homeless from our parking spot to the restaurant and a severely disabled person asking for money almost blocking the door when we arrived. This person was in and out of the restaurant getting bags of food etc. and conversing with diners who had to go to the front counter to check out. A sad site in Sarasota, it should not be encouraged or supported - there are many agencies, churches and methods of assisting. I support many and they great organizations. Soapbox off) Seated promptly, great and open layout, sturdy and comfortable seating. Service was awesome, swift, and attentive. Coffee carafe and nice coffee was welcome. (sadly I doused my first cup with flavored creamer and then dropped part of one of my eggs into cup two transferring to my wife for a taste??) NO problem "Zaire" (sp) quickly replaced my mugs with a grin. We had just 'woken up" after over 30 hours of travel from Spain the day/night before. My eggs benedict with ham was served on half of a long roll. It was toasted and nice but way too much bread and bulk for my liking. I am a fan of the simple English muffin sized base. It was tasty but I left most of the material behind - 6/10. The two eggs sadly totally overcooked with yoke solid results - 2/10. The Hollandaise sauce was nice and flavorful albeit a little 'thin' and runny and cool/not hot - 6/10. with a little twist on a Florentine Benedict there was a tomato slice on top of the ham that was ok, but like the sauce on top of it...... not warm or hot - 6/10. The ham drew the look of scorn from my wife - a shaved lunchmeat affair with little flavor and also not hot - 4/10. Finally the breakfast potatoes we lightly cooked/undercooked (not much browning in the picture - white cubes) , not flavorful, cool, and over-handled/mushy edges. 4/10 So overall we have to ring this in as a 4/10. Replace the ham with a better real ham product, thinner or smaller bread base, and cook the eggs properly, as well potatoes, and serve the meal promptly/hot with sauces and tomato warm/hot. My wife's Florentine carried through with much of the same errors. Solid cool egg and yolks, sauce and spinach and tomato looked great but were cool and not hot. 4/10 The "city grits" or cheesy grits were almost a cheese soufflé or French onion soup?? An insane amount of cheese on these grits with butter pooled under the cheese cap. The grits themselves were watery and bland with almost zero seasoning or flavor (or we were overwhelmed by the browned cheese top) it was hot when served!! - 4/10. So we peg this as an underwhelming - 4/10 As of this writing (sept 2022) First Watch has great service and many options, but could use some ingredient considerations and kitchen/cooking attention. All fixable and improvable. Good luck!! read more

First Watch - Eggs Benedict Florentine with what some call "City Grits" or cheesy grits. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Met my friend for br - great food! - good service - nice atmosphere and all in the name of healthy eating! Will go again

Sara my server was awesome! Benedict's great! Fresh fruit great! First time but definitely going back!!!!

The food here is phenomenal!! We had a variety of plates but my favorite was the lemon ricotta pancakes. The meditation juice kick started my day as it's packed with vitamins & natural ingredients! read more

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Cold and windy outdoors. Freezing and drafty indoors. Miserable waiting for our food. Already wearing pants and sweatshirts.