I have a complicated relationship with First Watch…read more It's kind of like that actor who's been incredible in some movies and absolutely unbearable in others. I've had experiences at certain First Watch franchise locations that left me questioning not only the meal, but several of my life choices leading up to it. So when I walked into this location in the Fern Park/Casselberry (Altamonte Springs) area, I'll admit it... I came in cautiously optimistic at best. Thankfully, this visit reminded me why the chain became popular in the first place. Right away, the staff stood out for being personable and genuinely pleasant. Not the robotic "corporate friendly" where someone smiles while dead behind the eyes. Actual warm, attentive service that made the place feel welcoming. And here's something restaurant owners should probably frame on the wall because it's becoming weirdly rare these days: the food was cooked correctly and served hot. Hot. As in actually warm when it hit the table and not sitting under a heat lamp long enough to qualify for Social Security. I ordered the omelette, and it absolutely hit the spot. Comfort food done properly. Fluffy, flavorful, filling, and exactly what I wanted breakfast to be. My daughter ordered the steak and egg hash, and visually... let's just say this isn't a dish entering any beauty pageants. It kind of arrives looking like breakfast got into a small argument with itself. But one bite in and none of that mattered. It was rich, hearty, luscious, and cooked just right. The kind of dish where every bite feels indulgent enough that you briefly stop caring about cholesterol or responsibility. This location honestly felt dialed in. The kitchen was on point, the service was strong, and the overall experience reminded me that consistency is what separates a good restaurant visit from a forgettable one. Because of my mixed history with First Watch overall, I can't quite bring myself to throw five stars into the air like confetti... but this particular location absolutely earned four stars and deserves credit for getting it right.

4.5 Stars Overall. 5 Service, 4.25 Food, 4.5 Ambiance, 3.0 Entering from and Exiting to SR 436…read more First Watch and their refresh has pleasantly surprised me, and as a result, stays on the "where can we go" options list when I meet others for breakfast. At this location when we recently met friends here, the best part of our visit was Vivian, our server. She was friendly, knowledgeable, professional, and open to food options not on the menu. Specifically, one in our party asked for a side of quinoa, if possible, since this gluten-free food was not under the Sides menu. Vivian checked in back and happily delivered a small bowl of fresh quinoa. Secret menu item? I don't think so, but Vivian asked and made it happen! My wife and I ordered the Salmon with sautéed vegetables Frittata and the salad, and I chose the artisan bread. The frittatas were cooked just right and the sautéed veggies enhanced the Sockeye salmon, flavor-wise. The artisan bread was fresh and the slightly melted butter was just right. I also ordered the "Sunrise Project" coffee which comes in a carafe - I'm a big fan. Our table's orders arrived in a reasonable amount of time, accurately, and at the right temperature. Vivian kept us taken care of during our meal and with a genuine cheery attitude. The interior is bright, modern, and open up to the roof. The plentiful seating is a combination of tables and booths. Located separately was a juice and coffee bar. MISC East Altamonte Drive (SR 436) can be a challenge at times to enter into the parking lot and exit back on it. But don't let it stop you from enjoying this place.

Breakfast @ the Maitland Breakfast Club, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise! Our waitress,…read moreCindy A., was as sweet as apple pie and made us feel right at home. On my first visit, I ordered the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes with link sausages and a glass of orange juice. The pancakes were delicious, the sausages hit the spot, and the orange juice was... well, you know... orange juice. It did its job! The atmosphere reminded me of a classic country diner--cozy, welcoming, and filled with an older crowd, which I honestly prefer. One thing I really appreciated was being able to seat myself. That's always a plus in my book. Sometimes being escorted to a table means ending up in that one awkward corner nobody wants... but I digress. Overall, I had a great experience and would happily come back. My significant other, however, wasn't nearly as impressed. Oh well--you win some, you lose some! Sometimes breakfast is just a pancake split decision.

Maitland Breakfast Club reminds me of why the diners are an ultimate American staple. Diners are a…read morecompletely American thing that started in America as a mobile eatery and has transformed into what it is now, which are stationary eateries that feature affordable, filling food that appeals to the blue collar man. Fun fact, diners were started in New England region of America in the 1850s. All this to say, I love a good diner. I mean the American diner has always been there for middle America. The closest one to me and honestly it's definitely hidden away is the Maitland Breakfast Club. It's pretty much situated on the boundary line of where the City of Altamonte Springs starts. They have large space that's casual and what you would expect for a diner. Anyone can walk in wearing their Sunday best to pajamas. The waitresses are very welcoming and exactly the kind of person I would expect to invite me into a diner. We had gone on a Saturday afternoon and they're not a diner that's open late, so more of a breakfast diner really. Now I got the eggs Benedict with bacon and hash browns. For me, there are three breakfast staples I believe all amazing must revisit breakfast places should have. A good cup of warm regular coffee, eggs Benedict, and good crispy hash browns. I mean some places have other things like lattes and hash brown bowls, and I'm not saying those aren't good. However, when you nail the basics, you can do anything else. The hollandaise sauce was great and didn't split and bacon was crispy. The hash browns were super crispy, which I loved, and I could tell it had been made on a flat top grill, which is another very classic American restaurant kitchen appliance. The cup of coffee was good, I mean they had the sugar packets and the creamers right there. Overall, I would rate it a 9/10 and it set us back about $15 for just my portion. I will be back (said menacingly), Maitland Breakfast Club.

This used to be Max and Meme's restaurant. They opened a few months ago, temporarily shutdown to…read morefix an AC issue, and now they're open and ready to serve with a smile. Our server was so kind as well was another employee that stopped by to chat with us. They offered suggestions and their fave menu items. My food was good. I really enjoyed the grits. My country fried steak was ok. I ordered rye toast but received multigrain. It was still delicious. I really wish they offered fountain sodas rather than cans at $2.99. Next time I would order coffee so I can get my caffeine fix. Also, I would prefer that they offered really butter instead of a butter/margarine blend. My last suggestion would be offering actual hot sauce mini bottles rather than a plastic cup of nondescript hot sauce. I have faith that this place will be great. They've already hired the best employees and service was great. There's just a few personal preferences I think the could add. Pay them a visit.

The Hungry Stork has been open for about two months. It has been remodeled and painted since the…read moreprevious restaurant in its location. The wait staff are so friendly and accommodating. The restaurant is clean and the a/c is working. The bacon was perfectly cooked, the wheat toast and grape jelly were delicious, the eggs were very good. I did not care for the hash browns. They were not bad just not crispy enough for my taste. The coffee was hot but not a strong blend which I prefer. Our main server Savannah was so kind and efficient and the head server/ manager checked on us often during our breakfast. They both were amazing and kind. I think it was a good breakfast with a good price. I am sure to come back again to try some other items from the menu.

The best lunch! My work squad chose here to have lunch and celebrate 2 employees birthdays. It…read morelooks like the restaurant is in a building that was a bank. There is a few sparking spots in the front but plenty of parking in the large lot in the back. There are several patio tables out front and a few inside. We were seated at a large round table and we all loved the real roses on the tables. The eclectic charm is very whimsical can welcoming. The drinks came in cute pink glass where WITH HEART SHAPED STRAWS. What a cute touch. There was lots of options on the menu and I went with the fried chicken burger with all the toppings and a caesar salad. I was WOWED. They food was incredible. My salad was plentiful for a side salad with delicious croutons. The chicken burger was fresh and juicy. The presentation is fantastic. Everyone's food was served on heart wooden trays and the sandwich had a cute heart pick in the top. Service was great and we loved the feel of the place. Good food. Good service. Cutesy vibes. We had a fantastic meal.

This is a very unique cafe overflowing with creativity in their art, interior design and menu…read more We were able to work on a project, brainstorm and dine at a leisurely pace because this is such an inviting place to hang out. My only suggestion would be to serve water more frequently because I ran out and would have liked a refill, but other than that, perfection! Hoping to go again soon!

Coming back from New Orleans is tough, especially when this foodie ate his fill of fried chicken…read moreand gumbo. But I had an urge to find some fried chicken that is lightly battered and this place hit the spot. Located just off of Park Avenue and Fairbanks is The Hen & Hog. Got a 6 piece fried chicken anf a few sides which consisted of mac and cheese, fries and a pickled slaw. Juicy freshly fried and ever so gently battered chicken that was crisp with every bite. Definitely some tasty chicken. I really liked the slaw that had garlic onions celery and some other items but it cut through the savoriness of the chicken. Yes, i ate all of it to the bone. Wife also got chicken and waffles which she thoroughly enjoyed. Also had fried banana peppers with a pimento spread. Pretty nice combination. Staff was super helpful. They also have wings with a lot of great sauces to try. That will be my order for next time. Cant wait to come back.

Crunchy outside and juicy inside is the epitome of fried chicken! The tender platter was colossal…read moreand fed both kids and could really have fed two adults. I liked the t beers (white meat) the best. Melting the mouth breast with crunchy exterior. My chicken and waffles did not really hit the spot for me. I learned I'm not a fan of open fried thighs because they were fatty and that consistency in my mouth was not appetizing; but, they were well done and seasoned perfectly. The waffle was fluffy inside and just a tad burnt outside. FYI: the syrup is kinda spicy. Pleasant interior with friendly and attentive service.

As a nonlocal wandering and lost by Lake Eola, a barista from Deeply Cafe suggested we check out…read moreBriarpatch in Winter Park. They were rightfully packed solid on a Sunday afternoon. We got lucky with bar seating, starting off with the Coco espresso -- kahlua coffee liqueur, bailey's irish cream, tito's vodka, coconut, espresso. I went with avocado toast topped with smoked salmon. My partner in crime went with the California Benedict with home fries. Briarpatch serves up an iconic from-scratch brunch in a beautiful part of town that was unknown to us until now. The crew is passionate. This is a landmark.

I believe ChatGPT recommended this restaurant when I was searching for places to eat in the Orlando…read morearea. When we arrived for brunch the restaurant was busy but we were seated immediately inside. The restaurant was nice looking and the table was clean. We ordered our food and it didn't take long to be served. The food was delicious! The waitress (forgot name) was awesome. If we ever return to the Orlando Winter Park area we will definitely eat here again

If you want the most delicious pastries you've ever had in your life, Buttermilk is your girl…read more My go to is the Bacon Cheddar Pull Apart Bread. However, they always have fun creations popping up in their case. Some fan favorites are the Mango Sticky Rice Tart and literally any of their pop tarts. The staff is kind and efficient. There's usually a line out the door. However, we never wait longer than 15 minutes to get the goods. The space is definitely small on the customer end inside. However, they have plenty of outdoor seating that's perfect for hanging out with friends on a Sunday morning. Literally one of my favorite spots. Thank you Buttermilk for being THAT girl.

Small and cute bakery with a great variety of interesting flavors! They definitely sell out the…read moremost popular items fast, especially on the weekends, but we arrived 30 minutes before they closed with absolutely no expectations and still scored a fantastic spread! So even if you're late to the party, I still say it's worth a stop in. Flavor creations like roasted shiitake croissant with gochujang and scallions, katchapuri egg croissant, and mortadela hot honey snails have caught my eye. This visit I tried the quiche with roasted tomatoes and goat cheese, orange chocolate tea cake, salty malty financier, and mango lime cake donut, and every one was fresh, unique, and full of flavor. There is no inside seating but a good amount of outside seating, and there is a ramp from the parking lot to the seating area for those who need it. The parking lot is behind the building, and the entrance to the parking lot is to the left of the building.

A pretty average fast-casual breakfast spot. The food is satisfying if you want a quick biscuit or…read moresome tots, but the flavors didn't quite live up to the hype or the high-energy name.

The southern biscuits are incredibly tasty and a great value for an inexpensive ($) spot. However,…read morethe online ordering system and pickup line can be pretty disorganized, leading to much longer wait times than expected. Good food if you have the time to spare, but not ideal for a quick breakfast on the go.