The service here is better than the one in Hoover. Same menu but a little larger place. We came when they were packed however we were seated after a very short wait and our food came out within 20 minutes. The coffee was good and hot. My eggs were overdone but the waitress fixed that super fast. With all that said, this isn't a convenient location for moms with strollers and wheelchairs. They have this lift like thing outside that you need a key and a server to help you get onto and then you need assistance to open the door because it doesn't open automatically. I kept thinking about folks in wheel chairs and moms who may have came alone. It would be hard for them to maneuver independently. What if they didn't have a cell phone or friend to go in a grab a server to help open the lift and doors? I'd definitely recommend they build a ramp out front because that setup was too time consuming and annoying. If you come on Sunday it will be busy and the floors and tables get a little icky by 1 pm but you will get seated and service will still be great! Now please get the ramp situation fixed so moms with sleeping babies in strollers and wheel chair bound folks can't get in and out easily! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Thank you so much for opening this location! I visit the First Watch in Naples all the time and am thrilled they are in Birmingham now! Same great atmosphere, awesome servers and amazing food! Thank you!!! Please visit if you haven't yet!!! read more

Poor service. Great waitress, but restaurant was understaffed and in disrepair. For example, the bathroom was coat hooks were ripped off and never repaired. Dirty bathrooms. I had higher expectations of First Watch than this. It seems to becoming a pattern at restaurants. read more

If I could give 10 stars... I would. After a dismal week on a dismal day... I wanted brunch near the business I had to visit. I looked on Yelp, saw the sign and decided to give First Watch a try. I'm being extremely cautious with eating out during Covid due to my job with at risk individuals. The person who greeted me (I wish I had gotten her name) didn't look at me like I was crazy for wanting to eat outside on such a grim day. She made sure an outdoor table was ready and also was my waitress. The meal was absolutely amazing! I would highly recommend the Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos with black beans. As well as the seasonal Red Medicine drink that I ordered. It was obvious within the restaurant that they are taking 100% precautions for the diners and their servers. I will definitely be dining here at every opportunity when I'm in the area! read more

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Today I ate here and the service was phenomenal. If you enjoy coffee they bring you a whole carafe. The food came out quickly and fresh. The quantity was very big and the syrup that they serve is hot. The environment was very friendly and our waiter was very polite. I was able to get the Tri-Fecta with a side of the million dollar bacon. If you have not been here I suggest that you try the bacon. The inside is very clean, spacious, and the lighting sets a great tone for this restaurant. It was one of the greatest experience I have ever had thus far! read more

I have to say I normally wouldnt rate a chain so highly, but this experience was as perfect as it could be. First off the location is incredibly nice and the decor on the inside is very pleasant with wood/a nice overlook. The food: I had the pumpkin pancake breakfast. I added chocolate chips to it as well. The eggs were cooked to perfection, the chicken sausage patty was very good, but the highlight was the perfectly cooked and yummy pancake. Trust me when I say get the pumpkin pancakes if it is fall! The service: Our waitress was very nice and pleasant to all requests. They even made my pancake without chocolate chips, brought it out to me, admitted their mistake, and told me another was on the way with chocolate chips and to enjoy this one while I waited. Now that is awesome customer service! Overall, this place is a fantastic breakfast chain that goes above and beyond to make sure your enjoying your meal/experience. Give it a try if the menu looks enticing! read more

First Watch - Chocolate chip pumpkin pancake, over hard eggs, and chicken sausage.... so good! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

My go to spot when I don't want to make breakfast but I still want to be healthy. The elevated egg sandwich is a bacon egg and cheese sandwich on a brioche bun with lemon dressing, arugula and avocado. It's served with breakfast potatoes. Light and filling but not leaving you stuffed to the point where you need a nap. Sure this would be best on biscuit but we are being healthy, right? read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

This place is so amazing! I ordered a Kale Tonic which has no added sugar. It was incredible. The crab and avocado toast was loaded with avocado and was great as well. Definitely yummy!! read more

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They get quite busy on the weekends. We had about a 40 minute wait on a Sunday morning. I had the brisket corn beef hash (a seasonal dish). I didn't see much corn beef in the dish when she sat the plate down. When I moved the eggs off top of the hash, there wasn't much meat at all. I asked the waitress if I could get just a little more meat and she said that it would be a $6 charge. I thought that was ridiculous considering there wasn't a reasonable amount of meat in the dish to begin with. So I asked for a cup of turkey gravy, which they charged me $2.99 for. Whatever. The food is good though. My boyfriend had the turkey sausage gravy and biscuit, it was really good. We ordered the crunchy caramel cinnamon rolls to go. They were way too sweet. read more

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I recently ordered delivery from this First Watch location to my hotel via a food delivery app while traveling in the area. The food arrived quickly and my order was correct! The food was delicious and packaged well. The portion was generous enough that I was able to make it 2 meals. Highly recommend the Floridian French toast and breakfast potatoes! Little pricey but tasty and moderately healthy. Also a big fan of the giant pancakes, which are a pretty good deal! read more

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First Watch is a healthy alternative for eating good quality breakfast in the morning. I went to sit down and the customer service was very pleasant. They constantly made sure I was good. I ended up ordering the Tri-fecta ( which comes with a waffle, bacon, and eggs) it was really delicious it came with a special jam which was raspberry jam which made this my favorite place to go for waffles. The restaurant itself was very steady pace there wasn't too much waiting at all they made sure to get people seated and get out their food as quickly as possible and checked on customers frequently. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone who likes to have a healthier alternative for breakfast in the morning. read more

I will always love going to First Watch, as they have so many delicious options to choose from. Whether you'd like breakfast, brunch, or lunch, they have you covered! I always get gluten free avocado toast with a side of fresh fruit and fresh seasoned potatoes. First Watch has a rotating seasonal menu, so be on the lookout for some new delicious items to try out. The service is excellent here, all the servers seem to enjoy their job and what they do. They're also very orderly when it comes to sanitation and cleaning, as all their tables and dining areas appear clean. read more

Today at 11 AM, I went to First Watch in Vestavia Hills for breakfast. Unfortunately, there was a 40 minute wait due to it being a busy and rainy Saturday morning. But I only ended up having to wait 20 minutes. Instantly, when I walked in, I noticed there was no COVID-19 protocols/precautions because none of the employees had on masks. I will say there was a decent amount of distance between the tables. My order came out quick and warm: I ordered a lavender lemonade, a side of egg white scrambled eggs, and one chocolate chip pancake. Overall, great service and experience I will be going back. read more

First Watch - Side of egg white scrambled eggs and one chocolate chip pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

I really really like the food, but this is one of the most profoundly mismanaged restaurants I've ever been to. The Breakfast/Brunch scene in Birmingham can get very busy -- I understand that -- but the staff generally have no idea what they're doing. The kitchen is good at cooking, and the Front of House staff are a mix of kind, affable, and clueless. The pervasive problem is the management that poorly equips them for success. Orders often get missed, carry out orders can take anywhere between 20 and 90 minutes. Online orders are never ready even remotely close to when the website suggests. Once you walk in, it takes only a few seconds to notice that many of the people leaving the restaurant have simply given up on ever being seated, much less spoken to at all by the hostess. As they get up from their seats in the waiting area, the dismay on their faces is eclipsed only by the confounded look they have, confused why there are so many empty, clean tables and no one who is able-minded enough to seat them. Ultimately, the word for this place is just "woefully unprofessional and unprepared" which is a shame because the food is good. If you want to spend half your day scavenging for food in this establishment, be my guest; it's not worth the effort for me. read more

I had never been to First Watch until pretty recently and then I visited it twice in a week. I enjoyed it enough the first time to return a second time so quickly, so that's saying something. The food was fresh and delicious. On my first visit I ordered a fresh juice. The waitress was super helpful as I attempted to decide which juice and brought me samples of each. The menu has enough variety to appeal to multiple visits without feeling repetitive. I'm glad I finally tried it out and would recommend if you are in the mood for something with a breakfast or brunch feel to it. I felt like it was a good value for what I spent. read more

First Watch - Interior - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Visited on a Sunday around noon with 4 ppl ( 2 adults, teen and toddler) I just love all First Watch!!! We reserved our table on Yelp and there was NO WAIT!! Our waitress was nice. Our food was good and fast. I don't remember what all we had but there was none left on the plates including the toddler. I really wished we had one in Memphis I would probably be there ALL THE TIME! read more

Oh. My. Goodness. Ok, first off, get on the list early! We had to wait about an hour BUT it was totally worth it. I got the breakfast sandwich and I could kick myself for not taking a pic. The bread was so fresh, egg cooked perfectly, tomato and avocado. The crispy potatoes on the side were heavenly. Not greasy at all. We will be back soon! read more

After eating here several times, I have to update my rating to 5 stars. Food has always been excellent, as well as the service. Today my wife and I both had the Trifecta. All parts were delicious. I had the Belgian waffle; my wife had the pancake. I think our server was Allie, wha did an excellent job. read more

We eat here at least once a week. The servers are always friendly, and food is always delicious. I highly recommend their breakfast tacos, the Belgian waffle, and the iced coffee. Even if they are busy, it is worth the wait. read more

The food was good (the eggs were a little seasoned) but overall it was amazing. Servecive was great! But here's the thing the fire alarm went off for more than 30 minutes and it's still going off (as of writing the review.) but overall it was great except for the two fire trucks in view of me eating (we had to move outside because of the alarm) read more

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Food is good but the wait times are too long. We were told a 45 minute wait and after waiting 45 minutes to be seated, we went to see how far down we were on the list and ONLY THEN was I informed that people who join the waitlist online get seated before those who arrive and get listed in person. I wish I knew that from the beginning and would have been given a realistic wait time so that I could have gone somewhere else.. read more

I can see why this place is popular. It's clean and tidy and trendy and they've got avocado toast and quinoa and all that. But for me, an excellent breakfast is a really hard thing to do. I don't want avocado toast or quinoa anything and since eggs and bacon are pretty much eggs and bacon, for me there isn't much difference between this place any anywhere else. A couple of things to note as to why 3 stars instead of 5. No espresso. Look guys...you can't have a 5 star breakfast without deadly strong coffee and a carafe of basic coffee and a bowl of flavored artificial creamers just doesn't do it for me. Besides that...the service. On my last visit I got the coffee but nothing else to drink. When my food came I asked for water. I was halfway done by the time it got there and I sort of ate slowly while waiting for the water or it would have been worse. It wasn't particularly busy or understaffed, just a little disorganized and the crew seemed a bit younger and possibly inexperienced. If you're hungry and want breakfast, stop in you shouldn't regret it especially if you want avocado toast or quinoa everything but I wouldn't make a special trip to get here. read more

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First Watch is a great option for brunch! They have tons of options for sweet, savory or healthy breakfast. My go-to is the Tri-fecta that comes with a pancake, eggs and choice of meat. There a lots of toppings for pancakes and choices of meat. They even have turkey sausage, which not many places have! The coffee is good, but nothing to write home about. They also offer a menu of juices! It tends to be pretty busy on weekends, so there will probably be a wait. I recommend joining the waitlist ahead of time through the Nowait app! read more

First Watch - Floridian French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

First off, our waitress was super nice! She assisted our every need. She was very patient and helpful when my boyfriend and I couldn't make up our minds on what we wanted. THEIR COFFEE...lemme fell ya, so good. Their house coffee is so smooth and has a hint of natural sweetness that has everything you didn't think you needed in a coffee. They also have these amazing juices you can order, we ordered the kale-tonic. So Refreshing! It taste like you're drinking something good for your body, it will thank you later too. An honestly perfect start to your morning drink. THE FOOD! I couldn't decide on one thing so I got the trifecta with roasted potatoes on the side. I got my eggs benedict as well Bc I need some runny yolk in my life at that time lol. The whole wheat Belgian waffle was cooked to perfection!! OH, the turkey sausage, I had to stop myself from devouring it all after the first bite. It was perfect since I don't eat pork. My boyfriend had the smoked salmon Benedict and well...he had a happy plate so I assume it was just as delicious THANK YOU first watch for such a great experience! Follow my blog on IG @chloethefashionfoodie for more!! read more

First Watch - The trifecta breakfast with the smoked salmon Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

I'm from Canada so when it came time for me to return I brought First Watch with me so now I can enjoy until I return. I can enjoy the food but the service isn't the same lol. Ambiance is a bit different but the food is great. read more

First Watch - First Watch cookbook - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

My wife and I ate here for breakfast on a weekday morning around 9. This location in Vestavia used to be The Egg N I. It is located in the heart of The Vestavia City Center right off Hwy 31. There is a beautiful water fountain right outside the front door. Panera bread, Moes Southwest and Starbucks are adjacent. The restaurant was very nicely decorated with a comfortable "homey" feel and I enjoyed the "urban farm" decor. The restaurant was empty except for 3 other tables but then again it was also 9 o'clock in the morning. They have a large menu and had a large variety of breakfast and lunch items. My wife enjoyed her Tri-Athlete Omelette. The presentation on both our dishes were beautiful. The color on the omelette was nice. It was topped with fresh tomatoes and served with toast and a cup of fresh fruit. I thought it tasted pretty good. I tried the Elevated Egg Sandwich. It too was beautifully plated. My eggs were cooked over easy and served with bacon, cheese, mayo with a generous portion of avocado. All of that in a brioche bun with a side of seasoned potatoes. The potatoes were yummy and the egg sandwich was delicious! My suggestion would be to use a thinner type of bun or bread. The brioche bun was so thick, it masked the egg which is supposed to be the hero. I thought the use of arugula was a good idea and made the egg sandwich taste even better. They pride themselves on their use of only "cage-free" eggs. Personally this was probably the first time I've ever knowingly eaten cage-free eggs and I could not discern a difference. Then again I'm not an egg connoisseur. Does this justify their slightly elevated prices? You will have to be the judge. Their efforts to make this First Watch a more "refined" breakfast experience seem to work. Their staff is very attentive and friendly. Our server was very good and tended our table regularly. If you're looking for a little "fancier" breakfast/brunch place, give First Watch a try. read more

First Watch - Tri-Athlete Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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this is definitely a chain boutique breakfast, but they've got it down! i highly recommend joining the wait on yelp because there's going to be a line :) a little on the pricey side, but cutesy food & very tasty! read more

First Watch - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

We decided to stop by first watch before driving back home to Opelika after a family emergency in Warrior. We have a first watch in nearby Columbus, ga. I haven't ate a solid meal in 4 days. I was starving. Got on the waitlist (which is a must anytime we eat out brunch on the weekend,I'm sleeping until my reservation ya know?) arrived and was sat within 3 mins of talking to hostess even though there was a large crowd of people ahead us (again always use wait list on their website!). Server was quick,prompt and very kind. Food and drink was delicious. Our drinks were never empty and we were never pressured to leave even though it was pretty peak time on Sunday. Definitely will be back next we are in town to see the family. read more

Food and service is always great! Had an issue with our order and the manager came to our table and handled appropriately. Highly recommend this place. read more

Good, service, atmosphere, drinks...they've got it all. This place is my top brunch spot in all of Birmingham. The food is always super good, and the Cinnamon Toast Cereal Milk drink is heavenly!! read more

First Watch - French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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We were very satisfied with our brunch. Two went with breakfast items and one went with a sandwich. Everything was beautiful and tasted great. The space is clean, open and attractive. The menu is unintentionally hilarious as they describe items using house-roasted onions, tomatoes and mushrooms. Wow, they actually cook things at a restaurant! No store bought, pre-roasted onions here. Despite that foolishness, the place seems well run and food is good. read more

First Watch - Wow, they cook their own onions in house! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

First Watch is distinguished not only by its mouthwatering breakfast selections but also by its dedication to innovation and freshness. Because the restaurant prioritizes using premium, locally sourced ingredients, every meal is guaranteed to be both tasty and nutrient-dense. With their inventive takes on traditional favorites, First Watch delivers whether you're wanting classic breakfast staples or want to try something new. The excellent service and cozy, welcoming ambiance make for a pleasurable eating experience that draws patrons back time and time again. Whether you're a frequent customer or this is your first time, First Watch guarantees an exceptional breakfast that raises the standard for breakfast service. read more

I am not the biggest breakfast food fan, but I love First Watch. I prefer to go here during the weekdays, because the wait time during the weekends is usually several hours. I always get the market veggie sandwich without the house-roasted Crimini mushrooms. The iced coffee is also really good. It's very creamy and has the perfect sweetness level. If you have a sweet tooth, I also recommend the lemon ricotta pancakes. The creamy lemon curd in the middle is so delicious that you don't even have to add maple syrup. The workers are really helpful and have great recommendations. The dining area is usually really clean but can be a little dirty when it is busy. Overall, I recommend this restaurant to everyone! read more

I went to First Watch on Friday after class with some friends to kind of kick off the weekend and had a great time. The food was great, and the portions were nicely sized so that no one at our table was able to finish their plate and we had to go for a walk after we ate to stop feeling stuffed. The restaurant was relatively empty, but that only meant that the staff was on top of their game and extremely friendly. The environment created by the restaurant is really nice, the best way to describe it is stepping into a 2012 hipster's dream of a restaurant (they even played The Lumineers at one point). There are no Covid-19 precautions if that is a concern, although most tabes are pretty far spread out from each other. I could definitely see myself going back, however the prices can be a bit much for some of the more basic items on the menu. read more

I went to First Watch for brunch on Sunday. Usually, I would avoid eating breakfast or brunch on a busy day like Sunday but I ended up reserving a spot on yelp which worked out perfectly. Once we got to the restaurant we only waited 5 minutes to be seated. The ambiance of this location is always pretty busy, and it seems very family-friendly since there are several other restaurants and an outdoor seating area within this plaza. I usually get the traditional breakfast but I ended up ordering the Chickichanga which was delicious! It was the perfect amount of spicy and it came with a side of their seasoned potatoes which I like. Overall, I enjoyed trying something different and the service is always great at their Vestavia location! read more

I haven't ever had a bad experience at First Watch and we frequent here for breakfast often. Love their specials, pancakes and hash bowls! Their chickicanga is my daughters favorite! read more

The only reason I'm giving First Watch 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the service. It was sooooooo slow. The restaurant was basically empty when we got there but it still took a while to get seated since no one was at the front. Our waiter took forever to come with coffee and to get our order, even though it wasn't busy. I've been to this location many times and have always experienced a slow staff. BUT its saving grace is the food. I got one of the summer specials, the Cornbread Carnitas bowl and it was top notch. Absolutely no complaints about the food. read more

First Watch - Cornbread Carnitas Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

We come here most Sunday's for breakfast so can't believe I have never reviewed. For creative well made breakfast and brunch food you can't find any better place in the Ham. Brandon the manager has this place running like a well oiled machine with prompt service from servers who always have a smile on their face. Substitutions and changes are no problem. And if something isn't right just let them know and they will make it right and either a smile. The choices are beyond your simple eggs and omelettes. They even have great creative choices for those looking for healthier options like the tri-athlete omelette I had today egg whites and peppers and onions. Amd the pancakes. Oh the pancakes so fluffy and perfectly made. This needs to be your regular go to breakfast brunch place. It will surely make you smile and start you on you way to a great day. read more

First Watch - Tri-athlete omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Vestavia Hills, Alabama

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Great healthy menu for all types of food preferences. Wait staff was very friendly. Food was plentiful and tasty.

The food is excellent every time. The hospitality is on point. I've visited maybe 3 locations and they all are good. The consistency and flavorful additions from each season keep me going back. read more