I had breakfast here last weekend with my partner, his parents, and some of their friends. They were quite busy but we still only waited about 15 minutes to get a table. Service was a little slow, but the waiter himself was fun and friendly. Compared to 40+ minutes at another place we had tried to visit, we were not going to complain about 15 minutes and waiting a bit for the server to finally get to us! I had the pineapple cooler juice drink and the biscuits and gravy meal. I love that their gravy is made out of turkey meat. It still had a nice kick to it, and the fresh-made biscuits were thick and fluffy. The seasoned breakfast potatoes that came with it were really great. Everyone at the table raved about them--even those who aren't huge fans of breakfast potatoes. My partner had the Chickichanga and really enjoyed it. I didn't realize this was a chain restaurant until I went to write this review. It certainly didn't *feel* like we were walking into a chain restaurant, and that is really nice. This location had a pretty homey feel, lots of greens and neutrals. My biggest complaint is that there weren't enough glasses when we sat down. A table for six had three coffee cups and three plastic glasses, set in front of three place settings. The other three were just empty. Perhaps we were overzealous, but we had to ask our server to bring additional water glasses. This is minor, but it's just crazy to me that you'd knowingly seat six people at a table and not have glasses for everyone. Glancing around the restaurant, it looked like most tables were set for fewer than the actual number of seats at them. Maybe they were just running low on glasses, maybe they just assume most people will buy juice or another drink and not use the cups on the table? Silly hang up, I know.
(4)
Angela M.
We spent the holiday weekend in St. Louis and we were getting ready to head out of town. This restaurant came as a recommendation to us from a local. It's more of a fru fru place that has all organic, cage free stuff and is a bit pricier than a diner. With that said, the food was very good. My kids had the chocolate chip pancakes and French toast. I had a crepe with turkey and avocado in it and my husband had a hash dish with bacon and onion. Our bill was $37 for 2 adults and 2 kids. The coffee is good. The waiter even gave us to-go cups filled with piping hot coffee for the road. I'd recommend this place if you are looking for something a little nicer than the usual breakfast place. Oh, and our server was very friendly.
(5)
Julie N.
2.5 ish stars. I like that they use the No Wait app so that we had a very quick wait once we got here on a busy Sunday and the food tasted fine mine but my florentine benedict and the potatoes on the side were cold. Considering I watched people who came in after us get their food before us I suspect our food sat around for a bit before being served. The air conditioning vent blowing on top of me while I was eating only helped to continue to chill it faster. My husband was happier with his breakfast tacos.
(3)
Ally C.
Not impressed. To me it seemed like an upscale Denny's. While our food came out relatively quickly, mine wasn't piping hot but more so just warm/room temperature. I got the biscuits & turkey gravy, egg whites & potatoes. If I had gotten a whole plate of those breakfast potatoes I would have been happy. However my biscuits were hard, the turkey gravy had zero flavor - I had to keep adding pepper & hot sauce to give it something. When you have this mindset that you're going to have a plate of hot fluffy biscuits smothered in gravy and you get what I got, you're disappointed. I wish I would have taken pictures of the water glasses they gave us - THEY WERE FILTHY. We asked twice for new glasses and each time the glasses came back filthier. I'm not sure if she took them walked around and brought us back the exact same ones or if every glass looked like a 5 year old with slimy hands had brought them to us. Despite the food & dirty glasses, the service was great - from the hostess, waitress to check out everybody was extremely friendly and kept a smile on their faces even though it was hectic in there! Waitress checked on us often, asked if we wanted our bill split right off the bat and just provided all around great service. But you won't be seeing me at First Watch again. I had my First & Last experience at that place.
(2)
Christy A.
By far my favorite First Watch location. Not only is the staff pleasantly welcoming but absolutely awesome in terms of accommodating guests requests. I am a picky health nut and there is no request left undone when I am in the place. I will travel across town just to get to this First Watch and have "Dan the Man" serve me. Juan, Rick, Alejandro cook my deliciously bizarre pancakes; Paul or Jane greet me with a warm smile. It just feels like home.
(5)
Brendan C.
This place is really popular! We came here at 11:30a for some brunch but it was packed and we waited 20 minutes. Be sure to come expecting a short wait at least! The food was definitely worth the wait though. We ordered crepes and I had the chikichanga. The chikichanga and crepes were great! The chikichanga was well-cooked, the potatoes they came with were well-seasoned but not crispy, and it also comes with a side of fresh fruit. The sizes were good and the fillings were delicious. The crepes came with yogurt on top, strawberry and bananas, and granola. Happy Eating!
(3)
Sarah L.
I've come here for brunch a couple of times and had good experiences both times. On the weekends this place gets pretty busy for brunch, I would recommend using the No Wait app to get yourself on the list before showing up... some wait times were 30+ minutes! They offer all types of brunch/breakfast/lunch foods! I've tried the Fresh Fruit Crepe and the Chicken Salad Melt with tomato soup. Their hash breakfasts look amazing, and that is next on my list to try. I am very much obsessed with the chicken salad melt and highly recommend it! The fresh fruit crepe was really good and a good healthy option! I will say, I didn't have excellent service here both times... our waitress kind of ignored us and served all the people who sat down before us first. I won't judge their service on just this, but it didn't sit that well with me! Overall, the food was really good and I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Jenna C.
Space! So much space inside! Coming from Chicago, a booth to myself and room to breathe was a nice change of pace. I thought the atmosphere was pleasant - came around noon on a Wednesday and it was not too busy or loud. The waitstaff was friendly and accommodating. I ordered the crepes with fresh fruit but asked if they could leave out the bananas and they said yes. The fruit was fresh and the crepe itself was yummy. It came with granola and a muffin, which were good as well. Along with a large iced coffee, my bill only came to ~$11, which I felt was a fair price. The only part of the meal I thought was a little strange is that they brought my check only 5 minutes after I started eating! Lol I wasn't even halfway through! Oh well - I still hope to come back and try more of their menu, and their nice outdoor patio space! All in all, a solid 3.5 star brunch spot (if yelp did half stars).
(3)
Marilyn A.
For years, I used to be here every Saturday. It's been a long time since then. It was good to come back and see so many familiar servers. They take good care of me here! Breakfast was good, fast, efficient. I had never used the NoWait! App for this place before; they know how to drive it well! I walked in and was sat right away. Thank you! Not every restaurant know the ins and outs of that app. Genius ! They have redone the place in the "farm" theme, cornered the market on cutting boards, but left the acoustical cloud ( whose aesthetic value is even more pleasing ). Go see Tomas, Paul and all the others. When servers are 'lifers', the customers are assured of a fine experience and good value.
(4)
Richa T.
I came here for brunch a little while ago with a friend. The restaurant looked amazing, but the wait was just so long, we decided it wasn't worth it to wait out the crowds. So we ended up getting it to go instead. Pros: + Great selection of good + Delicious seasonal dishes that are simply amazing + healthy (and not so healthy [pronounced delicious]) options + PARKING - for crowded downtown Clayton, not making me walk a mile and a half and battle to the death for a spot gets it some browny points + More brownie points for having Eggs Florentine. I always always want this dish for brunch but most places I go to give me so much trouble to make substitutions to an Eggs benedict instead. Cons - way too crowded - I'm talking like an hour and a half wait - felt a little rushed out - not much seating while we were waiting (probably because of crowds, but it kinda felt a little hard to breath in there.
(3)
Jessica C.
Sold, reliable breakfast place. The menu is large, so there is definitely something for everyone. They have a decent selection of healthy options, so I appreciate that, too. I can't quite figure out why there's always such a long wait for tables. The wait staff is competent but tends to rush you once you get a table, which I assume is a result of the large crowds. Overall a good place for breakfast, just nothing to write home about.
(3)
Isah K.
Fresh food. Large portions. Water served out of glass jars. Turkey sausage, egg whites, and egg substitutes are all offered at no extra charge. Free wiFi. Wonderful outdoor seating. Spacious open dining area. The only reason for the 4 star instead of 5 is the price. It is very pricey for a breakfast meal, but worth it all and all.
(4)
Andrew N.
I'm not a big brunch fan -- at 10am on Sunday morning with a headache from one too many whiskies the night before, the last thing I want to do is wait in line for 30 minutes for a 20 minute meal. But, when I am drug out to brunch, First Watch is where I like to go. I usually go with the 3 stack of plain mutligrain pancakes ($6). They are pretty big and the multigrain batter makes me think they're good for me (in reality they are 450 calories a piece). They also have a "hash" bowl which mixes breakfast potatoes, bell peppers, and mushrooms with an egg on top. It's pretty delicious. They do have healthier options too, though I've never thought to try them. Their orange juice is fresh, service is good and typically, the wait is less than most other brunch places in STL. Pros: good pancakes, healthy options, good service, fresh ingredients Cons: typically a wait on weekend mornings
(4)
Kevin D.
Delicious breakfast / brunch. Yes it's a chain, but it's very well managed and everything we ordered came out correct and delicious. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Katharine K.
I love this place! It's a perfect location to grab breakfast/brunch with friends in clayton! The wait on weekends can be a bit long but it's always well worth it! I've never had a meal here I haven't enjoyed and I've dined here many, many times. The wait staff is always kind and courteous while also being efficient and attentive. I love tall Paul and Dan! The inside of the restaurant was recently redone and looks great! It has a more modern feel now and they've even added a 'community table' where you can grab a bite if you don't want to wait for a private table.
(5)
Keith R.
So so food. Bad coffee. Sterile atmosphere. FREEZING cold. My breakfast was stone cold before I finished half. My old the waitress and She could have cares less. Bring a parka and a portable heat plate!
(2)
Tom K.
Great variety and selection for Breakfast and Lunch, but don't come too late since they close after lunch (2:30pm). I have always had great eggs here and the pancakes are the size of the plate. Another great experience at this brunch place.
(5)
B B.
Solid reliable breakfast and lunch!very good food but underwhelming coffee. French toast consistently good and omelets do not disappoint. Coffee upgrade desperately needed.
(4)
Tiffany S.
Great breakfast spot for families or solo! The service is always on point as is the quality of food. It's known to get crowded on the weekends so come with patience.
(5)
Anthony S.
I'll be honest, I'm a huge fan of First Watch. They are reliable and consistent, service is always stellar and fast, food is great and the menu is plenty varied for whatever your in the mood for and they plentiful healthy low fat low carb options if you're into that.
(5)
Sara R.
Reasons why place rocks: there's coffee while you are waiting to be seated, personal coffee pot upon being seated, cute little breakfast potatoes, food comes out right away, bathrooms are clean, and menu options are out-of-control. While this probably is a slightly upscale IHOP, this spot made all my brunch desires come true. We had the chickichanga and an omelette. Would recommend subbing whatever sauce the chickichanga comes with (i believe a mix of hollandaise and salsa) for just plain salsa. Add hot sauce! Only disappointment was the "side" of fruit that came with my meal. Infant-sized portion.
(4)
Dennis T.
This place is a typical, okay diner. Food is okay. Environment is okay. Just very average all around.
(3)
Jesse P.
This is another great St. Louis find for me. Went to breakfast here and the menu was great. We ended up ordering a Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl and a Butternut Squash Quinoa Bowl. About 3 minutes after we ordered the waitress came back and said they were out of the butternut squash quinoa bowl and we ordered another item on the menu. 5 minutes after that the chef came out of the kitchen and apologized for not having the butternut squash quinoa bowl and asked us if we would like to try a new bowl they were going to introduce to the menu. They ended up giving us this new bowl for free. All the food was fantastic and delicious. The waitress and the chef were super nice. I would recommend this place for a great breakfast or lunch while in St. Louis!!
(5)
Ben S.
Sadly, there is but one place in the world that can reliably make Eggs Benedict the way I like...and this ain't it. Don't get me wrong, the dish was delicious and well prepared but the eggs just weren't quite right. Everything was delicious - english muffin nicely toasted, hollandaise slightly tangy, ham griddled to bring out the full flavor - even though the eggs were underdone per my taste and order. Oh well, I suppose I should be used to that by now as "medium well" only comes out medium well from the kitchen at the Standard Club in downtown Chicago. I suppose I really need to stop ordering the dish elsewhere as my eggs are perpetually undercooked. Maybe I will become a waffle aficionado when it comes to breakfast? There seems to be room to move in that foodie segment!
(4)
Ann H.
This Is the best brunch place in St.Louis. love floridian French toast, chicken chimichanga, trifecta, all things pancake or hash. Love the omelets. We ate here 3 times in the last 3 days that's how much we love it. We always come here when we are in St. Louis. I would have given it 4 stars except for one particular server today. I absolutely detest the back dining room. Anytime we sit back there we are forgotten. Today however, our server from yesterday remembered us and saved the situation by taking our order even though he wasn't our server. He kept an eye and brought us coffee too!!!! After that our assigned server seemed to step up too. Don't let this stop you. Sit in the main dining room and try to pick form the great choices on the menu! Don't be afraid to ask for fruit instead of potatoes, french toast instead of the included pancake. There might be a slight up charge but they are happy to please!
(5)
Katherine B.
I guess I have so much time, I wait for breakfast now. I wanted to know what all the hubbub was about - there was a 30 minute wait, and we ended up being seated in less than that. The pancakes...giant fluffy pancakes. When I say giant, I mean, "as big as an extra large dinner plate" giant. The coffee is good and strong. I usually don't order english muffins, but decided to switch it up. The english muffins were buttered and crispy. I also like their menu, a little better than run of the mill brunch. Things are flavored well, and the dishes are not bland like alot of brunch chains. Great service, too.
(5)
Heidi Q.
Such a wonderful place for a daytime meal. There is a lot of variety in the menu. I got the fruit Crepe and it was phenomenal. So are their fresh made muffins. Yum! We sat outside and it was a beautiful day. Very peaceful environment. Our waitress was nice. Did nothing wrong. Seemed a little distracted. But stil, a great experience. i will be back.
(4)
Riana Elizabeth E.
Did you know you get unlimited refills of the breakfast potatoes at First Watch?!? Neither did I until today and I've been coming here for a while! That's one of the many small touches today that caused me to come back & change my 4 star review to a 5...and it was all because of my server, E.B. (Yep, that's her name.) I still recommend the "Lean Machine" breakfast - it's my favorite: single turkey patty, tomato slices, english muffin, and 2 cholesterol-free, fat free eggs (I "cheat" and get 2 poached real eggs and add a side of avocado). Stack everything for the perfect breakfast or lunch! E.B. left a pitcher of lemoned water and carafe of earthy coffee with us (standard First Watch etiquitte), and then convinced us that, in addition to our Lean Machine & Bacado Omelette (Bacon, Avocado, & Montery Jack cheese) entrees we should split the Floridian French Toast we were both eyeing (French toast dusted with cinnamon sugar and wheat germ, and then topped with kiwi, bananas, and strawberries with warm fruit compote on the side). You should basically trust any suggestions this girl has. I'll be back (now regularly ordering 2 entrees) and will hopefully never have another server.
(5)
Chris X M.
Fast, fresh, friendly. Massive line on Sat/Sun, but worthy as a great value breakfast spot with super service. For that, it's a 9/10. If you want a more unique and funky breakfast, try Half & Half nearby.
(4)
Dee L.
Good value and great menu selections. Waiting for breakfast at peak time is not bad with the coffee availalbe. Friendly atmosphere for kids.
(4)
Joey J.
This place has some good high-quality and healthy options for breakfast and lunch. Unfortunately their menu item "100% fresh-squeezed juice" simply isn't so; it's processed by a supplier who ships it by truck from Florida. I spoke with the COO of this supplier and he tried to say that Florida oranges didn't taste as good as those from elsewhere, but I've had excellent fresh orange juice in Miami when it was squeezed on the premises so clearly something is being altered for the shipping process.
(4)
Cherie O.
I kinda wish I had read the reviews before letting my brother choose this place for breakfast. I'm surprised that this place has been open for several years now...a couple months ago was the first time I had ever heard about this place! And it REALLY does look like a bank...a Commerce bank! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thought so! (My brother thought it looked like a Denny's.) So the only reason why it got three stars instead of two was the coffee. I drank the entire pot. No kidding. It was pretty good. I also was going on two hours of sleep. And I was so wired for the rest of the day. My brother thanks you for giving his sister the carafe, hahaha...and I kinda wish I had asked for a to-go cup...not that I really needed it. It's like midnight right now and I've been up for 19 hours...and I feel like I could do 19 more...do me a favor and send your coffee out to the hospitals. We got there at around 8 AM on a Thursday...and it was...frenetic. Chaotic. Our server was terribly efficient...so efficient the only reason why I remember her name is from the receipt. My coffee came before I even had a chance to open the menu. She wanted to take our orders before I had reviewed all 5 panels of the menu. The check was on the table before I had even gotten through 25% of my breakfast. I bet they do IV coffee back there. I mean, such efficiency isn't bad, but it didn't do much for the atmosphere...it really was a slam, bam, thank you ma'am. And I'm feeling jittery just reading this paragraph back to myself. I ordered the Acapulco Express omelet (Chorizo sausage, avocado, green chilies, onion with melted Cheddar and Monterey Jack, topped with sour cream and served with a side of housemade salsa). Instead of the potatoes and English muffin, I opted for the greens...it came heavily dressed to hide the half wilted greens underneath. My brother got the potatoes and English muffin with his omelet, and they didn't look much better...the potatoes looked like cafeteria potatoes, and the muffin didn't look that toasted and had a slathering of butter on it. The omelet was ok. It was heavy on the onions, light on the chorizo, and smaller than I thought it would be. I really doubt that the salsa is housemade...I thought it was Paco...and I laughed when I read that review that said it was Pace...because I really do agree...it's not housemade, period. The green chilies are from a jar too...and my taste buds aren't up to speed just yet to the different brands, but it was a dollop of green chilies on top of the omelet instead of inside the omelet. I don't know if I got the wrong thing...but it's easily an omelet I can reproduce at home. They do have mint-flavored toothpicks at the register. PS Avocado is spelled wrong on the pop up nutritional facts on their website. Geez. I don't think I'm going to need coffee for the next year and a half.
(3)
Aimee K.
I believe I've already expressed my approval of the First Watch out in Creve Coeur, but I've been to the Clayton location a couple of times now (including this morning) and as much as I'm not a chain restaurant person, this breakfast joint gets it done. Let me preface this review by saying I've jumped on the eating healthy in 2012 bandwagon (and actually plan on making it last this time) so when I friend suggested breakfast out on the second day of the year, I was a little weary. That's when I remembered that First Watch satisfies every type of breakfast lover, from the waffles and pancakes people, to the hearty, cheesy omelet people, to the folks who are trying not to blow themselves up on calories (me). It's a spot where people can unite over breakfast food and make it whatever they want it to be. Chain or no chain, in my book, that's a wonderful thing. The Clayton location is pretty ideal for one huge reason: the parking. Anytime I think of parking in Clayton my hands start to sweat and my heart starts to race as I view it as something close to an Olympic sport, but FW has a big parking lot in the back and if you go early enough in the day, there are meters all around the block that are usually open. Big plus for sure. The service here is always pretty consistent, and during the week it's rare you'll have to wait for a table; Sundays are a different story, but that's to be expected. When it comes time to order, you can get something simple (oatmeal, a veggie omelet, etc.) or go for something a little more outlandish (the Chickichanga or the Sonoran Fritatta.) The "Healthier Side" of the menu is where I stick to, and usually go with my favorite, The Power Wrap. Fluffy egg whites, turkey, spinach and mushrooms are wrapped in a sundried tomato basil tortilla with Swiss cheese, and it's served with fresh fruit and their delicious and perfectly spicy housemade salsa. It pretty much satisfies my every breakfast need, and I give major props to the banana, strawberry, pineapple, and grape medley they serve vs. the usual cantaloupe and melon filler (yuck.) Quality is high and I always feel the right level of full when I'm done. The coffee is really great (it used to not be, something changed) and the coolest thing happened when we were leaving this morning. My friend asked if she could have a to-go cup for her coffee since we needed to head out, but instead they brought her a new and huge steaming cup of coffee to go, free of charge. If that's not great service, I don't know what is! Two full breakfasts and one huge coffee for under $25? That results in a happy tummy AND a happy wallet. The ambiance is a little lame and screams "hello, I'm a chain restaurant and these are my standard tables, chairs, booths, and light fixtures!" but that's really all I've got to complain about. Really glad we've got this as a breakfast option!
(4)
Marisa L.
I can't decide what I like more: the incredible service or the yummy food. As a regular, when I walk in, I am greeted most of the time by name, and am always treated like a friend when I walk through to the table. I genuinely am happy to see the staff smiling back at me. Then, there is the food. The fastest food ever! It is always fresh, warm and delicious. I really can't say enough good things about this place. #BajaTurkeyBurgerForever
(5)
Clarice W.
This review is not about the food because you should know that walking into a First Watch, you're going to get mediocre, chain breakfast food. This review is instead about the service. I've visited this particular First Watch a few times throughout the years but I don't think I truly appreciated the service until I returned back here after a 1-2 year hiatus. Service continues to remain phenomenal. The man at the front of the house (presumably an owner?) greets every patron with a sunny smile and offers you coffee if there is a wait. This jovial demeanor seems to be infectious: it spreads to the servers, cashiers, and ultimately, the customer. That alone means this First Watch will always make my day, regardless of the food!
(4)
Clint W.
First Watch is a polarizing place. It's a family-friendly brunch place, which is surprisingly hard to come by these days. Brunch is all about the granola crowd, cruising out of bed at 11am hungover, and hoping that a strong coffee and southwest burrito will settle their stomach (a doomed enterprise beginning at the club the night before). Brunch places target a very specific demographic, the bobo foodies among us, wearing the chuck taylor high-tops and a wool sweater (i.e. people like myself). They cater to the Sunday afternoon - "give my kid pancakes so he'll stop whining, this place is loud but no louder than the average day in my house" - crowd. For all its convenience, however, it's only run-of-the-mill in terms of brunch. Don't get me wrong, it rises above the status-quo franchise when it comes to the elusively advertised late morning meal, but it doesn't wow and amaze. When it comes to St. Louis, especially University City, the bobos come out in droves on the weekend. They leave their dorm rooms at Wash U or their apartments next to Covenant Seminary, they tote their messenger bags covered in patches and filled with books and bibles, and they head out into the world to find one thing and one thing only: bottomless coffee and an omelet. For those weary travelers, if patience persists, they will forge a path toward Half & Half, or even the lighter fare of Kaldi's, or for the truly adventurous, they may make it all the way to Benton Park Cafe (the Lou's brunch mecca, if you ask me). In lieu of tripping over children and their french toast, there are better options. But for families, for a deafening but painless ambiance, it's a good dish served hot. BYOC - their coffee tastes like lemon juice was squeezed into it. Acidity level off the charts.
(3)
Sarah H.
YUM. First Watch is a known chain in the STL area. I was a tad nervous about dining here, as I heard the location in Clayton can be brutal for wait times. To my surprise, my roomie and I got a table without a hitch. The staff was lovely, very attentive. The menu had plenty of healthy options for my marathon-training belly. Very unassuming front...boring building, often mistaken for a bank. Check-check-check it out! Great spot to take your parents when they are in town for a visit. :)
(4)
Shailee H.
I was visiting a friend in St. Louis and she took me here for breakfast. Waited about 15 minutes for a table. I got oatmeal, fruit, and potatoes. Potatoes were delicious. Coffee was good. But the best part was my server, EB. She was really friendly, and definitely gave some great suggestions to me and my friend. And even though they were busy she never made us feel rushed. If I'm ever in town again, I will be coming back (and hoping she still works there!).
(5)
Kate B.
This place is just okay. Nothing special to write home about, although after seeing some type of blueberry/blackberry compote served with their French toast, it inspired me to start making my own (best idea ever!!) and has since changed my French toast eating experiences. LOL. The food was moderately priced but it was like $3 or $4 for a glass of Tropicana something OJ.... eh. I had eggs benedict and I didn't appreciate that they came with chipped deli ham instead of Canadian Bacon. That kind of made me go WTF. There was a really obnoxious guy sitting off to my left who kept shouting rude stuff at servers and bitching about every last thing. Kind of ruined my experience. The guy behind me was apparently on his phone the whole time and pissed off his date. LOL I guess what I am trying to say is that First Watch is great for people (asshole) watching as well as overpriced OJ and "okay" breakfast food. I might go back here but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. All of the wait staff seemed....slow....at bringing things and/or in the head. I have no idea which it was, if not both... I guess my review seems harsh but I just wasn't impressed. I kind expected more old people to be eating here. The only pro I will say right off the bat is that we DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT TO BE SEATED. Yeah, Half and Half, I am looking at YOU. Get some more kitchen staff up in that biatch. Expand your damned kitchen or hire more people or w/e it takes. I love your food but your pretentious hipster staff telling me the wait is two hours long really grinds my gears. Sorry, First Watch, your review almost turned into a Half and Half rant, lol.
(3)
Nick V.
This place isn't bad, nothing special but their food is always good. If I am going for breakfast in Clayton I would choose this place over Half & Half (honestly don't get the hype for this place especially with the lines). They have a lot of healthier options if that is what you are looking for and have everything that you would expect on a breakfast menu. Nothing I have ever eaten has been memorable, but no complaints either. You could do worse than First Watch if you are looking for breakfast in Clayton, but I wouldn't choose to come here if you aren't already in the neighborhood.
(3)
Kristin F.
First Watch is amazing! We are the business above them and let me tell you, they go over and above to cater to us. They bring hot plate lunches up to our conference room, along with all our drinks! They know we are a "green" focused business so they allow us to do to-go orders without the to-go boxes and utensils! They save on their to-go materials we both save the planet little by little! Our meals are always fantastic and service is always top notch! Neil and his staff really have made us feel at home!
(5)
Shawana P.
The blueberry pancakes are awesome!!! My first time there I fell in love with them and the atmosphere in Clayton Missouri
(5)
Catherine W.
This place is a perfectly serviceable breakfast/brunch/lunch place, but there's nothing really special about it. The coffee is pretty good, and the service is always good, but in all the times I've been here this place has never wowed me. One of the things this place does really well are the healthy options. If you're looking to cut down on calories/carbs/whatever, there are a bunch of fun, tasty offerings - far beyond the standard egg-white omelet and yogurt with granola. Since I, however, have long since given up trying to eat healthy (the cookies... they call to me) I opted for the thing I always get here - the bacon avocado tomato skillet. All of their skillets are great, but this one is my favorite. Another friend got the pecan pancakes - good, but not outstanding. Now I'm not inherently against chains, but I will say that the air of the corporate hangs over this place pretty strong. Many of the menu items are trademarked or copyrighted, so you'll see a lot of menu items marked with an ®. I can see why they do it, but it's kind of weird to see that on a menu.
(3)
Sara B.
simple breakfast. A small cross between IHOP, Denny's and the hope of being like a little cafe. I enjoyed the oatmeal and fresh fruit. Coffee was boring and non interesting. Overall a good start to the day.
(3)
Juan S.
Have been a big fan of First Watch over the years. This is definitely a 3-4 star breakfast place. Service is always quick and friendly, food is tasty, prices are right...no real complaints. However, the times I've had lunch here, they have been underwhelming. I had a salad recently and the dressing was overpowering and chicken was not cooked fresh. Would come back, but due to the disappointing lunch experiences, I'd only return for breakfast/brunch.
(2)
David Z.
What a great brunch experience this was! We were visiting St. Louis with a former STL resident, and he suggested this spot for some weekend brunch. We were definitely happy with the results. The bad: - There was a moderate wait for a table. They actually have water and coffee for you while you wait (good), but unfortunately the regular coffee and water were empty while we were waiting (bad). All that was available was decaf. The good: - Service. Our waiter was friendly and efficient. Our food arrived quickly and correctly, and tasty to boot. - They put a coffee pot and water pitcher on the table for you, so you can do your own refills. I love that! - Food. I had a skillet (my usual breakfast go-to) and it was top notch. I love that they have a ton of healthy substitution options as well (egg whites at no extra charge, sugar-free syrup, etc). - Free mouthwash in the bathroom. Score! - Cost. I think everyone paid $10-$12, including tip. Totally worthwhile. The ugly: - While we were there, we saw the UGLIEST parking attempt I have ever seen. This girl tried to parallel park on the street for about 10 minutes. She'd back up about an inch, then turn the wheel the other way, then back up an inch, then turn the wheel the other way, then get out of the car, then get back in, then completely come nowhere near actually parking the car. All the while there was an older woman in the passenger seat (looked like her mother) yelling at her. It was great amusement while we waited for our food. But man, it was UGLY. Would I go back? If I lived in the area, I'd be there all the time! Just be prepared to wait a little while if you do go.
(5)
Renaudo R.
I'm super upset about my takeout order! Only time I'm able spend with my wife, and wanted a nice breakfast, and all our food was cold.
(2)
Iris T.
First impression upon walking in: a nicer IHOP. Second impression: man, there are a ton of people waiting to be seated.. the food here must be great! Unfortunately, sometimes, what you see is what you get. As with IHOP, the food at First Watch was a-ok but nothing to rave about -- or get up early and wait in line for. I had the eggs benedict.. not bad but honestly, not very good either. On the plus side, I at least now know of one place in STL where I can get eggs benedict.
(3)
Leslie S.
Nice location in a busy spot, but if you're not already working in the Clayton area, it can be tough to find parking for this location. If you're traveling by car during the busy daytime, I would recommend the Webster Groves location not too far away in old Webster. I had a Bacado omelette at the Webster location recently and wanted to get it again at this location. Unfortunately, the avocado was tough to cut and a bit on the brown/black side this time, and I wasn't able to finish it. However, I would highly recommend it any other time - just make sure the avocados are ripe that day. The omelette is covered in salsa and sour cream, and they do them right here - no added pancake batter to turn it into a over-filling giant burrito like they do at iHop and Denny's (no offense to those locations - they have their own advantages). The Bacado comes with home fries and choice of bread. Delish! Service was great as it has been at all of the locations. The Bacado and a Diet Coke was just under $11.
(3)
Andrew W.
Agree with the nice IHOP explanation. I thought "ooh a fancy Denny's" when we first walked in. Food was okay. Coffee neither special or standard diner, something inbetween. A lot of strange people both working and eating, so the Denny's part stayed true.
(3)
Shante H.
This place is full of good stuff. Great staff, very clean establishment, cheap public parking, and quick service. Not to mention the food is yummy. I had a turkey and spinach omelet special with a plain multigrain pancake. This is definitely a place that I'll be coming back to when I return to STL.
(3)
Stephanie R.
I'm not a big fan of this place. I came here for brunch on the weekend and ended up waiting a long time for a table of 2 only to receive a mediocre omelette and service. Because of all the hype, I had much higher expectations. I would not come back.
(2)
P L.
Great place for a business breakfast because the servers are attentive and polite, food orders are always accurate, and you can get in and out in an hour or less. I probably go to a breakfast meeting here at least twice a month. My favorite part about the experience is that they leave a full pot of coffee and full pitcher of water at your table. My regular order is the Power Wrap, although I sometimes spring for the Eggs Benedict or Pancakes if I feel like I deserve the calories. The food is not bad at all, but nothing special either. In other words, I don't like to come here on weekends. On weekends the wait for a table can be ridiculous, and in reality the food is not all that much better than a Denny's.
(3)
Caiti H.
Nice atmosphere, super friendly staff, and most importantly the food is pretty tasty. I was skeptical about the multi grain pancakes, but they ate really good and don't taste "healthy"...I'm sure you know what I mean... It is a bit on the pricier side, but the quality is worth the extra buck or two. In a nutshell: nice, quick lunch. Great place to take a work buddy, regular buddy, or your folks when they come into town.
(4)
Taylor L.
Always love going to first watch for a relaxing breakfast. The fresh fruit crepes are my favorite! The staff is very friendly and accommodating at this location!
(4)
Rita Q.
This particular First Watch restaurant is the one that made me fall in love with this chain! I have been there many times for breakfast and LOVE it! The Fresh Fruit Crepes are so good, along with whatever the muffin of the day is (has never let me down!) However, I have to leave some constructive feedback about part of the seating arrangements. There are a few two-person tables lined up uncomfortably close together and I would recommend removing one to allow more space between them. Otherwise, I love First Watch! The staff is always friendly and the food is delicious!
(4)
B T.
Nice breakfast stop. We order for pick up regularly and are always happy with the food.
(4)
Rachel H.
Once upon a million dollars ago, in my college days, I would possibly have given First Watch four lovely shiny stars. I'd always been willing to overlook the wait, which let's be honest, is a bit nuts sometimes, but no matter, I enjoy a good breakfast and you can drink some free coffee while you ponder the menu. I usually go for the skillets, though this visit made me finally try the Bubba's Benny. I am a sucker for dumb names. I got it with poached eggs which were perfect, but the gravy was a little too thick, bland, and all over the place. Back to the skillets. I tried my pal's banana crunch pancake. It would have been much more delicious without that hair underneath it. I should have said that when our waitress asked if our food "still tasted good." Nope, just started sucking just now when you came by. Thanks. I'd still come back but give me a skillet, hold the hair. One thing I do love: The mug I stole from here about 5 years ago. Still loving it.
(3)
Saucy G.
Quick and easy breakfast. I have never tried the lunch. This place screams simplicity and thats exactly what you get in your breakfast for a simple price. Love the skillets. Delicious potatoes. Just overall simple and good!
(4)
Artit V.
This is one of my favorite places to go and get breakfast. They have 4 locations that I can recall. I usually eat at the Des Peres location which is across the street from I office. Today, I had the works omelette. It has ham, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, onions, melted cheeses and diced tomatoes, topped with sour cream. It also comes with potatoes and an english muffin. It was very yummy. 2 of my friends had the Bacado omlette. This omlette has bacon, avocado and melted Monterey Jack cheese, topped with sour cream. Served with a side of homemade salsa. This also looked yummy. Then, my friend, Peter, had the Chickichanga. Basically, it is a breakfast version of the chimichanga. Lindsey was our server and she was awesome. Everytime I have been to a First Watch, the service has been good. I highly recommend First Watch for having breakfast or lunch. Remember, First Watch is only open till 2:30 pm.
(4)
Kelly B.
Gross. TERRIBLE fluorescent lighting. Bad food. Screeching kids. Worse than being at a Denny's. I got a turkey dill mushroom crepe thing. It was drenched in Hollandaise sauce that was basically just melted butter. There were a few sprinkles of dill on top that I ended up brushing aside to dig thru the butter to get to the food. The turkey was that diced chef salad "meat", and the rest of the plate was dry, fried potato chucks and english muffin drenched in butter. I never saw any mushrooms. Carbs and butter - that's what I got out of it. My friend got the Sonoran Fritatta - "An open-faced Mexican-style omelette with Chorizo and onions. Topped with homemade salsa, melted cheese and sour cream". Bland and processed-tasting. The salsa was definitely not homemade, it was Pace. The chorizo was bad. The food was cold. The cheese on top was barely melted. A wasted brunch opportunity.
(1)
Jeff F.
Not fancy...but clean and reliable...we have tried the other usual spots near Clayton, and since I can do way early most mornings, this is the spot. Parkings easy on weekends, the waffles are great and the servers are on target. You can lounge or eat and run. Not perfect to discuss serious biz...but we can make our normal snide remarks , and catch up on what everyone did the night before without spoiling the peace and innocence of the other diners. Server Paul is always smiling and works hard to get the food out quick...always clean...
(3)
Christine F.
I went here on a Sunday awhile back with a guy I used to date. I don't remember if it was a holiday but I think it may have been because it was jam-packed. But still, I've been to different First Watches on Father's Day and such and never had an experience like this. What turned me off this place was the service when we went. Our waitress basically rushed us the entire time. As soon as we were sat, she rushed over and asked if we were ready to order. No introductions, nothing. Umm, no...I haven't even sat my butt down all the way yet, let alone looked at the menu?? She gave us about 2 or 3 minutes to peruse the menu before coming back again to ask if we were ready, and I just went ahead and ordered what I always do because I felt pressured. Shortly after we got our food, she brought us the check without a word. Then-boyfriend was pretty annoyed at this point and was in no hurry to leave. Boyfriend flagged down waitress and asked for a refill on his glass of iced tea. Waitress plopped a cup of tea on our table and ran off. It was in a to-go cup. We were at this table from start to finish for a total of about 20-30 minutes. It's not like we were hogging her table for over an hour or something. Look, I know there's a huge crowd waiting and you want to turn those tables, but we waited for a long ass time (about 45 minutes) to sit down and eat and enjoy our meal. Don't friggin' rush us as soon as we sit down. We took the to-go cup as a sign of her saying, "Okay, time for you to go now. Get up and leave" and were pissed. Pissed enough that we went ahead and left and alerted the manager on the way out. He was very apologetic and comped the entire bill, of which I was very appreciative. I may go back when they aren't busy, because of the redeeming way the manager handled it (and I'm sure not every server is like that...maybe she was having a bad day...I dunno), but if I see a crowd waiting, I'm not even gonna deal with it. Not worth it.
(2)
Matt H.
Great menu selection. Healthy and non healthy choices like egg white and wheat tortillas. Amazing pancake. Creamy sausage gravy. Chikichanga was good, lots of chicken. Fresh and tasty fruit. Good service. I'm coming back next time I'm in STL.
(4)
Ashley R.
I agree that this place is nothing tremendously special. When I have gone, it's always been very clean. If there is a wait, it never seems to be a long one. All of the servers are quite cheery (sometimes eerily so). I like the concept of the restaurant: breakfast and brunch any day of the week. I also like that the kitchen is open. You can somewhat see them preparing the food, if you wish. There is one thing that will keep me coming back: The Eggs Benedict Florentine. It is a yummy, vegetarian version of the original-- with avocado and tomato in place of canadian bacon. The eggs are perfectly poached and the hollandaise is tasty. Accompanied with fresh fruit and delectable potatoes. Delicious.
(4)
Stephanie S.
Went here today for a brunch get together with my mom and sister. We went around 11AM, and it was pretty empty, so I guess this is the time to go! No wait whatsoever. Am I the only person who thought this place was a bank at first? It's in a really sterile, nondescript building. Who knew? Anyway, food. Their menu is pretty expansive, and contains both breakfast and lunch food. There's definitely something for everyone. It helps that they have their entire menu online, along with nutrition values for each selection. I went the boring route and had the french toast with a side of bacon. Not bad. Not bad at all. Nothing knocked my socks off or anything; it was just standard breakfast fare. No bells and whistles here! Our server was extremely friendly and attentive, and I appreciate how the pitcher of water was kept on the table for us to refill our glasses as we pleased. And boy did we have to -- their glasses are TINY! I'm not itching to come back anytime soon, but I wouldn't turn down an offer to eat there again or anything. A solid three stars.
(3)
Carolyn C.
First Watch makes me laugh. I always thought it was a bank, too, and still sometimes think it is. There is always a wait, and I really don't understand why considering it really is just a glorified IHOP...but we wait along with everyone else. The BF swears by the Bacado, and I'm all about the chocolate chip pancake or the Far West omelette, egg whites only, no onions. We'll keep coming, it's better than decent breakfast fare. Just two wishes: A bit better silverware scrubbing and NO on the pleated khaki pants!
(3)
Zach M.
I guess I would give it 2.5 stars, but I just can't bring myself to round up to 3. We go here all the time because it is close to home and easy to get in and out of. The service is always 5 star - nice young servers who don't seem terribly hungover, very friendly and attentive, and quick with everything. Rambunctious children are welcome and can be isolated in a back room. Decent, clean dining areas and nice restrooms. The food bothers me for two reasons - the bacon is thin and overcooked - I think they must oven bake it because it just tastes like bacon grease. The coffee sucks too. It is weak and tastes like paper. If they would upgrade their bacon and their coffee, this would be a top-notch breakfast joint.
(2)
Michelle P.
Thought this was only a breakfast place but their lunch was really good! Not the classiest lunch spot, but the service was pretty good and the food came out super quick. Not a huge menu, but a different place to go to for lunch every once in a while.
(4)
Kelsey R.
Yes, there is usually a line to get a table. But it moves incredibly fast and there's complimentary coffee while you wait. The staff is consistently friendly, and the food well-priced. I tend to order the oatmeal, a banana-crunch pancake and a cup of coffee. Also, try the parfait! And the muffins!
(5)
Andy D.
I like First Watch! Coming from the East Coast, I'm pretty used to IHOPs, which are pretty well known as hives of scum and villainy that occasionally serve a mean breakfast. If you sucked all the evil sleaze out of the IHOP chain and added a splash of syrupy good cheer, you'd get First Watch. You walk inside and the morning crowd's a preview that you're going to have a good time. The wait might be long, but a little free coffee bar helps the time fly by. The menu, as you might expect, is chock full of all sorts of breakfast offerings of various caloritude. Bacon's all over the place, too, just as it should be. The servers are friendly (mine looked like an old college professor), the tables and bathrooms are clean-- what's not to like? Definitely stop by First Watch if you want a reliable, family-safe, and conventional breakfast. Let me know what you think!
(3)
Jessica E.
Hung Over? Coming back from church? Parents in town? First Watch will hit the spot!! Breakfast/Brunch is A+ for all walks of life. Don't be discouraged if there is a wait when you arrive. They offer free hot coffee for the wait, friendly staff, and manage the wait list with ease. For the health nut, my fave is the "Triathlete Omelet" made with egg whites and served with yummy salsa. No need to skimp on the calories? The skillets with diced First Watch potatoes are great. Small detail... but I love the fact they leave the coffee pot and water pitcher on the table. So no need to get impatient waiting for that refill.
(5)
Stacey S.
Love this place. I got the Floridian french toast. It was almost to pretty to eat. Fresh fruit on top. It was amazing. We had great service too.
(5)
Maggie H.
So great! The good was fresh and fast. Probably the best breakfast I've ever had! The coffee was strong which was fine for me but may be too much for some people's taste! Service was fast and accommodating! I really enjoyed my experience and would recommend it to anyone who wants a delicious, unique breakfast for a fair price!
(5)
Jacqui C.
Eggs Benedict! Gotta love it! I am almost certain that I have ordered the eggs benedict every time I have visited. It is consistently good. Comes with hash browns and fruit. This location has a breakfast bar in the cafe and is a nice alternative to the wait that one often has to endure. The service can be super fast or super slow at the bar, but if you flag down a server, you get to order right away. Food always comes out rather quickly too. The wait staff is always friendly and will give you a to go cup for your beverage, if you ask for it. A pitcher with water and lemons is always brought to the table or available at the bar, so enjoy :)
(3)
Jonathan K.
This was a decent breakfast place, which didn't compare to the other Clayton breakfast restaurants. The Traditional was a fairly boring breakfast, but the turkey sausage just tasted bad and the bagel was terrible. The carrot cake pancake was delicious, and the waffle was good as well, but didn't make up for the other dishes I had a taste of, including one of their skillets. As mentioned by other reviewers, the manager was ecstatic to see us, unreasonably so as it was far too early in the morning for him to be that happy. The service was good, but our waiter was almost as happy as the manager, which just seemed fake. If you come, I'd definitely avoid the egg dishes as they tasted fairly plain, and I'd go for some pancakes. The comparison to iHop is completely valid, First Watch made me think of a nicer and cleaner iHop.
(2)
Stacey T.
I really want to like First Watch, I really do. For some reason, my friend always wants to hit this spot when she's hungover. We went in today at about 10AM to a ten minute wait. The manager, who is always greeting guests near the door, never fails to exude tons of energy as he demonstrate his general lust for life. I am slightly jealous of all this happiness and wonder what it is that HE'S eating at First Watch. Our server was average. Not so friendly or patient.... but she did leave us with two pitchers of coffee and one pitcher of water. That made everyone's lives easier. I had the bacon and avocado skillet (you can paint yourself a picture). Hmmm.... I think I could've made this at home and saved some money. Nothing amazing here. My girls had biscuits and gravy.... they were weak sauce. The biscuits looked like they came from the freezer aisle of your local grocer and the gravy tasted like flour. :( No one said anything good or bad about their meals. I feel like First Watch is simply a cleaner, less smokey IHOP. And personally, I'd rather get the free entertainment the drunks at IHOP bring to the table.
(2)
Alex L.
Like most others, I was over-hyped about First Watch before trying it for the first time. I heard it was the best, and it got great reviews, and all that jazz. I guess I was expecting a better atmosphere, service, and food. None of those three delivered. Atmosphere - (3 stars). Nothing much to notice except for the seemingly corporate office exterior. Service - (1 star). Our party of three didn't come during rush hour traffic, and there were maybe 7-8 other parties there at the time. That didn't stop us from having to wait 10 minutes to order and then roughly another twenty minutes to order. I mean they might of forgotten about us or something, but by that time my stomach acid was already wearing away at the lining. Food - (2 stars). For a place with such great ratings, they serve pretty run-of-the mill food. I could get food like this at any diner in Atlanta for roughly half the price. I was disappointed, very much so. I don't give out many low ratings, but my experience here has thoroughly earned the two stars I am giving it IMO.
(2)
Julia W.
I've lived in St. Louis for almost a year now, yet somehow, every time I drive past a First Watch, I mistake it for a bank. This has got to be the most boring looking breakfast place on Earth. Even Denny's has bright signage and IHOP has a blue roof, but First Watch is just a blah brick building with a dull font sign. Sigh. Uninspired. So, I expected First Watch to have uninspired food offerings. When my dad and Tina were in town for Thanksgiving, they wanted to go out for breakfast. When I'm not on a donut crawl or making ginormous omelettes with friends, I generally get by on a granola bar for breakfast, so I honestly had no idea where to take the family. I am sort of amazed that the Breakfast Bank (as I like to call First Watch) even entered my thoughts, it's so innocuous, but that's where we decided to go--and I'm glad we did! While the inside of this First Watch is not particularly inspired either, the food is good, generously portioned and reasonably priced. The french toast was custardy and delicious. My dad's Greek Fetish (how fun to order the Fetish?) omelette got raves from the papa and Tina loved her breakfast as well. The OJ was fresh and tasty, the servers leave you with your own carafe of coffee (good thing for my dad) and offer a nice variety of teas if that's more your thing. Service is friendly and quick. I get the feeling this First Watch is one of the go-to spots for the Clayton business-folks' weekday breakfast meetings, which might explain the lack of personality inside. It's a comfortable enough space, but seems a little buttoned-up, if that makes sense. I prefer a little more rock and roll with my french toast, but this place was friendly and served good food, so I certainly won't write it off in the future...
(4)
Cameron R.
While the atmosphere of this chain restaurant is a bit "Dennys-ish", I can't say the menu is anything of the sort. I usually get the chickichanga (spelling?) and none of the Denny's or IHOPs I've been to has anything that can compare. There is usually a pretty long wait to be seated but there is coffee while you wait and once seated the food always comes quickly.
(4)
Christal V.
This place is very simple...which is a good thing! Very simple, wholesome, straightforward food. I usually order an omelet, which totally satisfies! The wait staff is very friendly and attentive, even with the otherwise chaotic scene! They handle it with easy...never have a seen a frazzled waitress! If you don't feel like cooking...this is the place to go!
(4)
Randy C.
It's like someone said, "Let's make a Denny's, but without all the pretentiousness." A lot of people have nice things to say about this place, but I don't get it. Our table was sticky, and when we pointed it out the server just rubbed a damp rag across it. The food was terrible, even by "I'm hungover and just want grease" standards. The entire place was empty when we were there on a Saturday and yet we had to flag somebody down to get a water refill. If I could give a negative star, I would. If you want crappy hangover food, go to a Denny's, an iHop, or better yet some hipster cafe in South City.
(1)
Dustin G.
Woah, First Watch is getting a sad rap. 1: First Watch does sort fo look like a bank on the outside, but eh 2: The name First Watch is sort of cool....the first watch would be the one who sees the aurora and the sun rise 3:It's crowded for a reason... 4: That reason being that the food is excellent. The vegetarian eggs benedeict florentine is to die for. This dish is so good, that I actually ordered another one after I finished the first one. Seriously...I did. And I'm not a big dude. In fact, I'm slightly under-weight...so that is saying something. I ate here three times during the brief St. Loius stint, and everytime was great. The service was good, and the prices reasonable, as well as the selection. Seriously I have no idea what Jenny K is going on about. In conclusion: St. Loius = bleh, First Watch = yah
(5)
Raya K.
Just an okay place to have breakfast. It gets pretty crowded on the weekends and honestly isn't worth the wait.
(3)
Kristen W.
I loved First Watch when I lived in St. Louis. I usually went to the Kirkwood location and never had a bad meal. On a trip back this weekend, the hubs and I went to the Clayton location and were just underwhelmed with the whole experience. The wait wasn't bad (25 min), but we watched the busser clear off our table, then we were seated when there were still giant crumbs left on the table. Everything seemed to be a little dirty and sticky, like a greasy diner. The memories of First Watch I had were that everything was clean and fresh, but I didn't have that experience here. The hubs and I left satisfied with our food, but not blown away by anything, and not having a strong desire to return next time we're in town.
(3)
Michelle S.
I always have to wait but it never seems to be too long. The bubbly greeters are a bit much for me but I guess some people like that sort of thing. The servers are friendly enough and the service has always been ok. But don't let the boring building, decor and employees turn you off - the food is great! I'm a blueberry fiend and this place has the best blueberry pancakes I have ever had.
(4)
Tom W.
Nice place for a breakfast. We had to wait a little (10 minutes) for a table but it was a Saturday. Prices are reasonable and they have a wide variety of choices including healthy options. The servers were younger and very friendly. Definitely something I'd go back to.
(4)
Claire K.
Yummy pancakes and french toast. The omlettes are nothing to write home about but I love all the their pancakes and french toast selections. I used to go here every weekend when I lived in STL and I still miss it.
(3)
Ali V.
THIS PLACE IS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!! YOU MUST GO HERE!!!!!!!!!!! I'm back in town with my mom visiting my brother and his girlfriend, and we went here again!!!!!!!! I absolutely love this place!!!! I wish we had it in Houston because it is soooooooooooo yummy!!!!!!!! This morning my mom and Meredith both got the eggs benedict, which they both thoroughly enjoyed!!!!!!!!! Christopher got his usual omelette with cheese and sausage, which he devoured! This morning I tried something new, and it was so great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got the fresh fruit crepes, which are crepes filled with banana and topped with organic strawberry yogurt. The sweet strawberry yogurt combined with the crepes makes an absolutely delicious combination! Also, on the side of the plate they give you the fresh muffin of the day, and it was one of the best blueberry muffins that I have ever had!!!!! The crepes were cooked to perfection and the presentation on the plate was stunning. The colors of the fruit and yogurt reiterated the beginning of spring that is in the air in St. Louis this weekend! The muffin was tender and contained lots of blueberries, and the flavor was astounding!!! This is an absolutely fantastic breakfast/ brunch place!!!! Definitely go here!!!!!!!
(5)
Joe H.
Go here on the weekends, always bushy. Food is good but don't take out as the quality is not there.
(4)
Alison M.
The food is pretty average, I had the Greek "fetish" omelet (which, by the way, is awkward to order when you're lunching with a co-worker that you don't know very well). Anyway, the omelet was ok, I wish it came with kalamata olives instead of the regular black ones. Also, the potatoes could have used some sort of seasoning. But, on the plus side, the service was great--our waiter was really friendly, courteous, and fast. Incredibly fast! Like, my lunch came out in probably under 7 minutes! I was impressed!
(3)
Linda C.
We came with high expectation but the food is only OK. We came for breakfast and was seated pretty quickly. We had the coffee which was pretty weak. We had the cranberry juice. We both had The Traditional --scrambled with sausage and the First Watch potatoes. It was bland. Nothing special.
(3)
Rob C.
common brunch chain, sorta reliable when you can't find anything else unique (particularly stl doesn't seem that big into specialty breakfast). does have a lineup on the weekend. I'd rather go here than IHOP
(3)
Lauren D.
From the outside, First Watch looks like a bank. Plus, who names a breakfast establishment First Watch? It sounds like it should be on a harbor or something. Egg Harbor maybe. Anyways, good pancakes, good oatmeal, good sides. Busy on the weekends. Get there early. Pretty much one of the only decent breakfast places in St. Louis.
(4)
Michael M.
CREPEGGS!!! I'm not sure if this is an original or not, but this is the first I've ever heard of them, and they are dee-lish! My girlfriend loved her omelet as well. Good juice, good service, comfy seats.. and you'd never suspect it by the generic-looking brick facade...
(5)
Stefani P.
Yummy breakfast/brunch place. Be prepared for a long wait on a Sunday.
(4)
DJ J.
My friends and I ventured here as one of them raved about the place. As we went toward the restaurant, we saw an outside patio where customers were just hanging out. The interior is bright and inviting. We went to the cafe to get free coffee (SCORE!!!!) while we waited for our seat. With the overflow of customers, I was surprised at how quickly we got our table. Oh, and the bathroom has MOUTHWASH! How cool is that?!??!?!? The lunch menu to me was not as extensive as it should be. The service was great and unlike most restaurants, they give you a pitcher of (insert drink) rather than flagging someone down for a refill. That day, I got a Rueben sandwich. In my entire life, this was the second Reuben sandwich that I have eaten and if this was my first, I probably wouldn't have ordered it again. The sandwich was greasy and falling apart. It was so greasy, I am NOW queasy from it. BLECCHH! I'm glad it came with fruit, breakfast potatoes, and a salad to offset this sandwich. Its not a hefty sandwich-- it's pretty small. Oh, BTW, you know where I got the better Reuben sandwich? St. Mary's hospital. It is light, not greasy, not soggy, and generous. Sure, you want to keep doctors happy by serving them good food, but I expect a restaurant to have better food than a hospital. I was not impressed with their "doggy bag." Considering I ate half of my meal, it was indeed too small for it. BTW, my other friend (the one who didn't recommend it) said her food (off of the healthy options menu) were bland. EDIT: I am now giving it 1 star because my meal is making me real sick to the point where I can't eat the rest of it. I only ate the leftover potatoes. Everything else made me GAG. No amount of mouthwash (conveniently located in the bathroom) and chocolate mints can shadow the fact that my food was bad.
(1)
Elizabeth B.
A decent brunch option. Nice that the coffee carafe and water pitcher are on the table. It makes the service much more efficient. In fact, service was super efficient and really friendly, which included a manager asking about our experience. Food was decent. Egg burrito was tasty, caprese benedict tasted just as one would expect it to. Slightly expensive for what we got (glorified diner food) but I suppose that's a chain restaurant for you. Also, nice touch with fruit on the side, but no one's health is going up with 3 grapes and a cube of pineapple. Could try a little harder on it.
(3)
Jenny K.
Really NOT good. In fact, it's pretty terrible. The prices are reasonable, and the descriptions are appealing on the menu. Unfortunately, when your food arrives, it's a huge letdown. The food looks like someone else's leftovers, transferred to a clean plate. And the taste? What taste? They must have run out of that before you arrived. Find an IHOP. They, too, leave a carafe of hot coffee on your table ... that's the only positive thing going for this First Watch restaurant. Blech.
(1)
Kat M.
When I come home from school, I ALWAYS make an effort to get to First Watch. My friends and I would go there all the time in high school and college (apologies to the wait staff for how hungover we were! :) ) and we still love it. The potatoes are awesome, and I've never had a bad entree either. I've had the quesadilla, the bacado omlette, and the eggs florentine (my personal favorite!) and everything was perfect. The coffee is always awesome and served hot. Even when they're very crowded, the staff is always so nice, and they've always been great. Now I can't wait to go home for christmas so I can get my first watch fix! :)
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Caitlin M.
I had breakfast here last weekend with my partner, his parents, and some of their friends. They were quite busy but we still only waited about 15 minutes to get a table. Service was a little slow, but the waiter himself was fun and friendly. Compared to 40+ minutes at another place we had tried to visit, we were not going to complain about 15 minutes and waiting a bit for the server to finally get to us! I had the pineapple cooler juice drink and the biscuits and gravy meal. I love that their gravy is made out of turkey meat. It still had a nice kick to it, and the fresh-made biscuits were thick and fluffy. The seasoned breakfast potatoes that came with it were really great. Everyone at the table raved about them--even those who aren't huge fans of breakfast potatoes. My partner had the Chickichanga and really enjoyed it. I didn't realize this was a chain restaurant until I went to write this review. It certainly didn't *feel* like we were walking into a chain restaurant, and that is really nice. This location had a pretty homey feel, lots of greens and neutrals. My biggest complaint is that there weren't enough glasses when we sat down. A table for six had three coffee cups and three plastic glasses, set in front of three place settings. The other three were just empty. Perhaps we were overzealous, but we had to ask our server to bring additional water glasses. This is minor, but it's just crazy to me that you'd knowingly seat six people at a table and not have glasses for everyone. Glancing around the restaurant, it looked like most tables were set for fewer than the actual number of seats at them. Maybe they were just running low on glasses, maybe they just assume most people will buy juice or another drink and not use the cups on the table? Silly hang up, I know.
(4)Angela M.
We spent the holiday weekend in St. Louis and we were getting ready to head out of town. This restaurant came as a recommendation to us from a local. It's more of a fru fru place that has all organic, cage free stuff and is a bit pricier than a diner. With that said, the food was very good. My kids had the chocolate chip pancakes and French toast. I had a crepe with turkey and avocado in it and my husband had a hash dish with bacon and onion. Our bill was $37 for 2 adults and 2 kids. The coffee is good. The waiter even gave us to-go cups filled with piping hot coffee for the road. I'd recommend this place if you are looking for something a little nicer than the usual breakfast place. Oh, and our server was very friendly.
(5)Julie N.
2.5 ish stars. I like that they use the No Wait app so that we had a very quick wait once we got here on a busy Sunday and the food tasted fine mine but my florentine benedict and the potatoes on the side were cold. Considering I watched people who came in after us get their food before us I suspect our food sat around for a bit before being served. The air conditioning vent blowing on top of me while I was eating only helped to continue to chill it faster. My husband was happier with his breakfast tacos.
(3)Ally C.
Not impressed. To me it seemed like an upscale Denny's. While our food came out relatively quickly, mine wasn't piping hot but more so just warm/room temperature. I got the biscuits & turkey gravy, egg whites & potatoes. If I had gotten a whole plate of those breakfast potatoes I would have been happy. However my biscuits were hard, the turkey gravy had zero flavor - I had to keep adding pepper & hot sauce to give it something. When you have this mindset that you're going to have a plate of hot fluffy biscuits smothered in gravy and you get what I got, you're disappointed. I wish I would have taken pictures of the water glasses they gave us - THEY WERE FILTHY. We asked twice for new glasses and each time the glasses came back filthier. I'm not sure if she took them walked around and brought us back the exact same ones or if every glass looked like a 5 year old with slimy hands had brought them to us. Despite the food & dirty glasses, the service was great - from the hostess, waitress to check out everybody was extremely friendly and kept a smile on their faces even though it was hectic in there! Waitress checked on us often, asked if we wanted our bill split right off the bat and just provided all around great service. But you won't be seeing me at First Watch again. I had my First & Last experience at that place.
(2)Christy A.
By far my favorite First Watch location. Not only is the staff pleasantly welcoming but absolutely awesome in terms of accommodating guests requests. I am a picky health nut and there is no request left undone when I am in the place. I will travel across town just to get to this First Watch and have "Dan the Man" serve me. Juan, Rick, Alejandro cook my deliciously bizarre pancakes; Paul or Jane greet me with a warm smile. It just feels like home.
(5)Brendan C.
This place is really popular! We came here at 11:30a for some brunch but it was packed and we waited 20 minutes. Be sure to come expecting a short wait at least! The food was definitely worth the wait though. We ordered crepes and I had the chikichanga. The chikichanga and crepes were great! The chikichanga was well-cooked, the potatoes they came with were well-seasoned but not crispy, and it also comes with a side of fresh fruit. The sizes were good and the fillings were delicious. The crepes came with yogurt on top, strawberry and bananas, and granola. Happy Eating!
(3)Sarah L.
I've come here for brunch a couple of times and had good experiences both times. On the weekends this place gets pretty busy for brunch, I would recommend using the No Wait app to get yourself on the list before showing up... some wait times were 30+ minutes! They offer all types of brunch/breakfast/lunch foods! I've tried the Fresh Fruit Crepe and the Chicken Salad Melt with tomato soup. Their hash breakfasts look amazing, and that is next on my list to try. I am very much obsessed with the chicken salad melt and highly recommend it! The fresh fruit crepe was really good and a good healthy option! I will say, I didn't have excellent service here both times... our waitress kind of ignored us and served all the people who sat down before us first. I won't judge their service on just this, but it didn't sit that well with me! Overall, the food was really good and I'll definitely be back!
(4)Jenna C.
Space! So much space inside! Coming from Chicago, a booth to myself and room to breathe was a nice change of pace. I thought the atmosphere was pleasant - came around noon on a Wednesday and it was not too busy or loud. The waitstaff was friendly and accommodating. I ordered the crepes with fresh fruit but asked if they could leave out the bananas and they said yes. The fruit was fresh and the crepe itself was yummy. It came with granola and a muffin, which were good as well. Along with a large iced coffee, my bill only came to ~$11, which I felt was a fair price. The only part of the meal I thought was a little strange is that they brought my check only 5 minutes after I started eating! Lol I wasn't even halfway through! Oh well - I still hope to come back and try more of their menu, and their nice outdoor patio space! All in all, a solid 3.5 star brunch spot (if yelp did half stars).
(3)Marilyn A.
For years, I used to be here every Saturday. It's been a long time since then. It was good to come back and see so many familiar servers. They take good care of me here! Breakfast was good, fast, efficient. I had never used the NoWait! App for this place before; they know how to drive it well! I walked in and was sat right away. Thank you! Not every restaurant know the ins and outs of that app. Genius ! They have redone the place in the "farm" theme, cornered the market on cutting boards, but left the acoustical cloud ( whose aesthetic value is even more pleasing ). Go see Tomas, Paul and all the others. When servers are 'lifers', the customers are assured of a fine experience and good value.
(4)Richa T.
I came here for brunch a little while ago with a friend. The restaurant looked amazing, but the wait was just so long, we decided it wasn't worth it to wait out the crowds. So we ended up getting it to go instead. Pros: + Great selection of good + Delicious seasonal dishes that are simply amazing + healthy (and not so healthy [pronounced delicious]) options + PARKING - for crowded downtown Clayton, not making me walk a mile and a half and battle to the death for a spot gets it some browny points + More brownie points for having Eggs Florentine. I always always want this dish for brunch but most places I go to give me so much trouble to make substitutions to an Eggs benedict instead. Cons - way too crowded - I'm talking like an hour and a half wait - felt a little rushed out - not much seating while we were waiting (probably because of crowds, but it kinda felt a little hard to breath in there.
(3)Jessica C.
Sold, reliable breakfast place. The menu is large, so there is definitely something for everyone. They have a decent selection of healthy options, so I appreciate that, too. I can't quite figure out why there's always such a long wait for tables. The wait staff is competent but tends to rush you once you get a table, which I assume is a result of the large crowds. Overall a good place for breakfast, just nothing to write home about.
(3)Isah K.
Fresh food. Large portions. Water served out of glass jars. Turkey sausage, egg whites, and egg substitutes are all offered at no extra charge. Free wiFi. Wonderful outdoor seating. Spacious open dining area. The only reason for the 4 star instead of 5 is the price. It is very pricey for a breakfast meal, but worth it all and all.
(4)Andrew N.
I'm not a big brunch fan -- at 10am on Sunday morning with a headache from one too many whiskies the night before, the last thing I want to do is wait in line for 30 minutes for a 20 minute meal. But, when I am drug out to brunch, First Watch is where I like to go. I usually go with the 3 stack of plain mutligrain pancakes ($6). They are pretty big and the multigrain batter makes me think they're good for me (in reality they are 450 calories a piece). They also have a "hash" bowl which mixes breakfast potatoes, bell peppers, and mushrooms with an egg on top. It's pretty delicious. They do have healthier options too, though I've never thought to try them. Their orange juice is fresh, service is good and typically, the wait is less than most other brunch places in STL. Pros: good pancakes, healthy options, good service, fresh ingredients Cons: typically a wait on weekend mornings
(4)Kevin D.
Delicious breakfast / brunch. Yes it's a chain, but it's very well managed and everything we ordered came out correct and delicious. Will definitely be back.
(4)Katharine K.
I love this place! It's a perfect location to grab breakfast/brunch with friends in clayton! The wait on weekends can be a bit long but it's always well worth it! I've never had a meal here I haven't enjoyed and I've dined here many, many times. The wait staff is always kind and courteous while also being efficient and attentive. I love tall Paul and Dan! The inside of the restaurant was recently redone and looks great! It has a more modern feel now and they've even added a 'community table' where you can grab a bite if you don't want to wait for a private table.
(5)Keith R.
So so food. Bad coffee. Sterile atmosphere. FREEZING cold. My breakfast was stone cold before I finished half. My old the waitress and She could have cares less. Bring a parka and a portable heat plate!
(2)Tom K.
Great variety and selection for Breakfast and Lunch, but don't come too late since they close after lunch (2:30pm). I have always had great eggs here and the pancakes are the size of the plate. Another great experience at this brunch place.
(5)B B.
Solid reliable breakfast and lunch!very good food but underwhelming coffee. French toast consistently good and omelets do not disappoint. Coffee upgrade desperately needed.
(4)Tiffany S.
Great breakfast spot for families or solo! The service is always on point as is the quality of food. It's known to get crowded on the weekends so come with patience.
(5)Anthony S.
I'll be honest, I'm a huge fan of First Watch. They are reliable and consistent, service is always stellar and fast, food is great and the menu is plenty varied for whatever your in the mood for and they plentiful healthy low fat low carb options if you're into that.
(5)Sara R.
Reasons why place rocks: there's coffee while you are waiting to be seated, personal coffee pot upon being seated, cute little breakfast potatoes, food comes out right away, bathrooms are clean, and menu options are out-of-control. While this probably is a slightly upscale IHOP, this spot made all my brunch desires come true. We had the chickichanga and an omelette. Would recommend subbing whatever sauce the chickichanga comes with (i believe a mix of hollandaise and salsa) for just plain salsa. Add hot sauce! Only disappointment was the "side" of fruit that came with my meal. Infant-sized portion.
(4)Dennis T.
This place is a typical, okay diner. Food is okay. Environment is okay. Just very average all around.
(3)Jesse P.
This is another great St. Louis find for me. Went to breakfast here and the menu was great. We ended up ordering a Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl and a Butternut Squash Quinoa Bowl. About 3 minutes after we ordered the waitress came back and said they were out of the butternut squash quinoa bowl and we ordered another item on the menu. 5 minutes after that the chef came out of the kitchen and apologized for not having the butternut squash quinoa bowl and asked us if we would like to try a new bowl they were going to introduce to the menu. They ended up giving us this new bowl for free. All the food was fantastic and delicious. The waitress and the chef were super nice. I would recommend this place for a great breakfast or lunch while in St. Louis!!
(5)Ben S.
Sadly, there is but one place in the world that can reliably make Eggs Benedict the way I like...and this ain't it. Don't get me wrong, the dish was delicious and well prepared but the eggs just weren't quite right. Everything was delicious - english muffin nicely toasted, hollandaise slightly tangy, ham griddled to bring out the full flavor - even though the eggs were underdone per my taste and order. Oh well, I suppose I should be used to that by now as "medium well" only comes out medium well from the kitchen at the Standard Club in downtown Chicago. I suppose I really need to stop ordering the dish elsewhere as my eggs are perpetually undercooked. Maybe I will become a waffle aficionado when it comes to breakfast? There seems to be room to move in that foodie segment!
(4)Ann H.
This Is the best brunch place in St.Louis. love floridian French toast, chicken chimichanga, trifecta, all things pancake or hash. Love the omelets. We ate here 3 times in the last 3 days that's how much we love it. We always come here when we are in St. Louis. I would have given it 4 stars except for one particular server today. I absolutely detest the back dining room. Anytime we sit back there we are forgotten. Today however, our server from yesterday remembered us and saved the situation by taking our order even though he wasn't our server. He kept an eye and brought us coffee too!!!! After that our assigned server seemed to step up too. Don't let this stop you. Sit in the main dining room and try to pick form the great choices on the menu! Don't be afraid to ask for fruit instead of potatoes, french toast instead of the included pancake. There might be a slight up charge but they are happy to please!
(5)Katherine B.
I guess I have so much time, I wait for breakfast now. I wanted to know what all the hubbub was about - there was a 30 minute wait, and we ended up being seated in less than that. The pancakes...giant fluffy pancakes. When I say giant, I mean, "as big as an extra large dinner plate" giant. The coffee is good and strong. I usually don't order english muffins, but decided to switch it up. The english muffins were buttered and crispy. I also like their menu, a little better than run of the mill brunch. Things are flavored well, and the dishes are not bland like alot of brunch chains. Great service, too.
(5)Heidi Q.
Such a wonderful place for a daytime meal. There is a lot of variety in the menu. I got the fruit Crepe and it was phenomenal. So are their fresh made muffins. Yum! We sat outside and it was a beautiful day. Very peaceful environment. Our waitress was nice. Did nothing wrong. Seemed a little distracted. But stil, a great experience. i will be back.
(4)Riana Elizabeth E.
Did you know you get unlimited refills of the breakfast potatoes at First Watch?!? Neither did I until today and I've been coming here for a while! That's one of the many small touches today that caused me to come back & change my 4 star review to a 5...and it was all because of my server, E.B. (Yep, that's her name.) I still recommend the "Lean Machine" breakfast - it's my favorite: single turkey patty, tomato slices, english muffin, and 2 cholesterol-free, fat free eggs (I "cheat" and get 2 poached real eggs and add a side of avocado). Stack everything for the perfect breakfast or lunch! E.B. left a pitcher of lemoned water and carafe of earthy coffee with us (standard First Watch etiquitte), and then convinced us that, in addition to our Lean Machine & Bacado Omelette (Bacon, Avocado, & Montery Jack cheese) entrees we should split the Floridian French Toast we were both eyeing (French toast dusted with cinnamon sugar and wheat germ, and then topped with kiwi, bananas, and strawberries with warm fruit compote on the side). You should basically trust any suggestions this girl has. I'll be back (now regularly ordering 2 entrees) and will hopefully never have another server.
(5)Chris X M.
Fast, fresh, friendly. Massive line on Sat/Sun, but worthy as a great value breakfast spot with super service. For that, it's a 9/10. If you want a more unique and funky breakfast, try Half & Half nearby.
(4)Dee L.
Good value and great menu selections. Waiting for breakfast at peak time is not bad with the coffee availalbe. Friendly atmosphere for kids.
(4)Joey J.
This place has some good high-quality and healthy options for breakfast and lunch. Unfortunately their menu item "100% fresh-squeezed juice" simply isn't so; it's processed by a supplier who ships it by truck from Florida. I spoke with the COO of this supplier and he tried to say that Florida oranges didn't taste as good as those from elsewhere, but I've had excellent fresh orange juice in Miami when it was squeezed on the premises so clearly something is being altered for the shipping process.
(4)Cherie O.
I kinda wish I had read the reviews before letting my brother choose this place for breakfast. I'm surprised that this place has been open for several years now...a couple months ago was the first time I had ever heard about this place! And it REALLY does look like a bank...a Commerce bank! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thought so! (My brother thought it looked like a Denny's.) So the only reason why it got three stars instead of two was the coffee. I drank the entire pot. No kidding. It was pretty good. I also was going on two hours of sleep. And I was so wired for the rest of the day. My brother thanks you for giving his sister the carafe, hahaha...and I kinda wish I had asked for a to-go cup...not that I really needed it. It's like midnight right now and I've been up for 19 hours...and I feel like I could do 19 more...do me a favor and send your coffee out to the hospitals. We got there at around 8 AM on a Thursday...and it was...frenetic. Chaotic. Our server was terribly efficient...so efficient the only reason why I remember her name is from the receipt. My coffee came before I even had a chance to open the menu. She wanted to take our orders before I had reviewed all 5 panels of the menu. The check was on the table before I had even gotten through 25% of my breakfast. I bet they do IV coffee back there. I mean, such efficiency isn't bad, but it didn't do much for the atmosphere...it really was a slam, bam, thank you ma'am. And I'm feeling jittery just reading this paragraph back to myself. I ordered the Acapulco Express omelet (Chorizo sausage, avocado, green chilies, onion with melted Cheddar and Monterey Jack, topped with sour cream and served with a side of housemade salsa). Instead of the potatoes and English muffin, I opted for the greens...it came heavily dressed to hide the half wilted greens underneath. My brother got the potatoes and English muffin with his omelet, and they didn't look much better...the potatoes looked like cafeteria potatoes, and the muffin didn't look that toasted and had a slathering of butter on it. The omelet was ok. It was heavy on the onions, light on the chorizo, and smaller than I thought it would be. I really doubt that the salsa is housemade...I thought it was Paco...and I laughed when I read that review that said it was Pace...because I really do agree...it's not housemade, period. The green chilies are from a jar too...and my taste buds aren't up to speed just yet to the different brands, but it was a dollop of green chilies on top of the omelet instead of inside the omelet. I don't know if I got the wrong thing...but it's easily an omelet I can reproduce at home. They do have mint-flavored toothpicks at the register. PS Avocado is spelled wrong on the pop up nutritional facts on their website. Geez. I don't think I'm going to need coffee for the next year and a half.
(3)Aimee K.
I believe I've already expressed my approval of the First Watch out in Creve Coeur, but I've been to the Clayton location a couple of times now (including this morning) and as much as I'm not a chain restaurant person, this breakfast joint gets it done. Let me preface this review by saying I've jumped on the eating healthy in 2012 bandwagon (and actually plan on making it last this time) so when I friend suggested breakfast out on the second day of the year, I was a little weary. That's when I remembered that First Watch satisfies every type of breakfast lover, from the waffles and pancakes people, to the hearty, cheesy omelet people, to the folks who are trying not to blow themselves up on calories (me). It's a spot where people can unite over breakfast food and make it whatever they want it to be. Chain or no chain, in my book, that's a wonderful thing. The Clayton location is pretty ideal for one huge reason: the parking. Anytime I think of parking in Clayton my hands start to sweat and my heart starts to race as I view it as something close to an Olympic sport, but FW has a big parking lot in the back and if you go early enough in the day, there are meters all around the block that are usually open. Big plus for sure. The service here is always pretty consistent, and during the week it's rare you'll have to wait for a table; Sundays are a different story, but that's to be expected. When it comes time to order, you can get something simple (oatmeal, a veggie omelet, etc.) or go for something a little more outlandish (the Chickichanga or the Sonoran Fritatta.) The "Healthier Side" of the menu is where I stick to, and usually go with my favorite, The Power Wrap. Fluffy egg whites, turkey, spinach and mushrooms are wrapped in a sundried tomato basil tortilla with Swiss cheese, and it's served with fresh fruit and their delicious and perfectly spicy housemade salsa. It pretty much satisfies my every breakfast need, and I give major props to the banana, strawberry, pineapple, and grape medley they serve vs. the usual cantaloupe and melon filler (yuck.) Quality is high and I always feel the right level of full when I'm done. The coffee is really great (it used to not be, something changed) and the coolest thing happened when we were leaving this morning. My friend asked if she could have a to-go cup for her coffee since we needed to head out, but instead they brought her a new and huge steaming cup of coffee to go, free of charge. If that's not great service, I don't know what is! Two full breakfasts and one huge coffee for under $25? That results in a happy tummy AND a happy wallet. The ambiance is a little lame and screams "hello, I'm a chain restaurant and these are my standard tables, chairs, booths, and light fixtures!" but that's really all I've got to complain about. Really glad we've got this as a breakfast option!
(4)Marisa L.
I can't decide what I like more: the incredible service or the yummy food. As a regular, when I walk in, I am greeted most of the time by name, and am always treated like a friend when I walk through to the table. I genuinely am happy to see the staff smiling back at me. Then, there is the food. The fastest food ever! It is always fresh, warm and delicious. I really can't say enough good things about this place. #BajaTurkeyBurgerForever
(5)Clarice W.
This review is not about the food because you should know that walking into a First Watch, you're going to get mediocre, chain breakfast food. This review is instead about the service. I've visited this particular First Watch a few times throughout the years but I don't think I truly appreciated the service until I returned back here after a 1-2 year hiatus. Service continues to remain phenomenal. The man at the front of the house (presumably an owner?) greets every patron with a sunny smile and offers you coffee if there is a wait. This jovial demeanor seems to be infectious: it spreads to the servers, cashiers, and ultimately, the customer. That alone means this First Watch will always make my day, regardless of the food!
(4)Clint W.
First Watch is a polarizing place. It's a family-friendly brunch place, which is surprisingly hard to come by these days. Brunch is all about the granola crowd, cruising out of bed at 11am hungover, and hoping that a strong coffee and southwest burrito will settle their stomach (a doomed enterprise beginning at the club the night before). Brunch places target a very specific demographic, the bobo foodies among us, wearing the chuck taylor high-tops and a wool sweater (i.e. people like myself). They cater to the Sunday afternoon - "give my kid pancakes so he'll stop whining, this place is loud but no louder than the average day in my house" - crowd. For all its convenience, however, it's only run-of-the-mill in terms of brunch. Don't get me wrong, it rises above the status-quo franchise when it comes to the elusively advertised late morning meal, but it doesn't wow and amaze. When it comes to St. Louis, especially University City, the bobos come out in droves on the weekend. They leave their dorm rooms at Wash U or their apartments next to Covenant Seminary, they tote their messenger bags covered in patches and filled with books and bibles, and they head out into the world to find one thing and one thing only: bottomless coffee and an omelet. For those weary travelers, if patience persists, they will forge a path toward Half & Half, or even the lighter fare of Kaldi's, or for the truly adventurous, they may make it all the way to Benton Park Cafe (the Lou's brunch mecca, if you ask me). In lieu of tripping over children and their french toast, there are better options. But for families, for a deafening but painless ambiance, it's a good dish served hot. BYOC - their coffee tastes like lemon juice was squeezed into it. Acidity level off the charts.
(3)Sarah H.
YUM. First Watch is a known chain in the STL area. I was a tad nervous about dining here, as I heard the location in Clayton can be brutal for wait times. To my surprise, my roomie and I got a table without a hitch. The staff was lovely, very attentive. The menu had plenty of healthy options for my marathon-training belly. Very unassuming front...boring building, often mistaken for a bank. Check-check-check it out! Great spot to take your parents when they are in town for a visit. :)
(4)Shailee H.
I was visiting a friend in St. Louis and she took me here for breakfast. Waited about 15 minutes for a table. I got oatmeal, fruit, and potatoes. Potatoes were delicious. Coffee was good. But the best part was my server, EB. She was really friendly, and definitely gave some great suggestions to me and my friend. And even though they were busy she never made us feel rushed. If I'm ever in town again, I will be coming back (and hoping she still works there!).
(5)Kate B.
This place is just okay. Nothing special to write home about, although after seeing some type of blueberry/blackberry compote served with their French toast, it inspired me to start making my own (best idea ever!!) and has since changed my French toast eating experiences. LOL. The food was moderately priced but it was like $3 or $4 for a glass of Tropicana something OJ.... eh. I had eggs benedict and I didn't appreciate that they came with chipped deli ham instead of Canadian Bacon. That kind of made me go WTF. There was a really obnoxious guy sitting off to my left who kept shouting rude stuff at servers and bitching about every last thing. Kind of ruined my experience. The guy behind me was apparently on his phone the whole time and pissed off his date. LOL I guess what I am trying to say is that First Watch is great for people (asshole) watching as well as overpriced OJ and "okay" breakfast food. I might go back here but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. All of the wait staff seemed....slow....at bringing things and/or in the head. I have no idea which it was, if not both... I guess my review seems harsh but I just wasn't impressed. I kind expected more old people to be eating here. The only pro I will say right off the bat is that we DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT TO BE SEATED. Yeah, Half and Half, I am looking at YOU. Get some more kitchen staff up in that biatch. Expand your damned kitchen or hire more people or w/e it takes. I love your food but your pretentious hipster staff telling me the wait is two hours long really grinds my gears. Sorry, First Watch, your review almost turned into a Half and Half rant, lol.
(3)Nick V.
This place isn't bad, nothing special but their food is always good. If I am going for breakfast in Clayton I would choose this place over Half & Half (honestly don't get the hype for this place especially with the lines). They have a lot of healthier options if that is what you are looking for and have everything that you would expect on a breakfast menu. Nothing I have ever eaten has been memorable, but no complaints either. You could do worse than First Watch if you are looking for breakfast in Clayton, but I wouldn't choose to come here if you aren't already in the neighborhood.
(3)Kristin F.
First Watch is amazing! We are the business above them and let me tell you, they go over and above to cater to us. They bring hot plate lunches up to our conference room, along with all our drinks! They know we are a "green" focused business so they allow us to do to-go orders without the to-go boxes and utensils! They save on their to-go materials we both save the planet little by little! Our meals are always fantastic and service is always top notch! Neil and his staff really have made us feel at home!
(5)Shawana P.
The blueberry pancakes are awesome!!! My first time there I fell in love with them and the atmosphere in Clayton Missouri
(5)Catherine W.
This place is a perfectly serviceable breakfast/brunch/lunch place, but there's nothing really special about it. The coffee is pretty good, and the service is always good, but in all the times I've been here this place has never wowed me. One of the things this place does really well are the healthy options. If you're looking to cut down on calories/carbs/whatever, there are a bunch of fun, tasty offerings - far beyond the standard egg-white omelet and yogurt with granola. Since I, however, have long since given up trying to eat healthy (the cookies... they call to me) I opted for the thing I always get here - the bacon avocado tomato skillet. All of their skillets are great, but this one is my favorite. Another friend got the pecan pancakes - good, but not outstanding. Now I'm not inherently against chains, but I will say that the air of the corporate hangs over this place pretty strong. Many of the menu items are trademarked or copyrighted, so you'll see a lot of menu items marked with an ®. I can see why they do it, but it's kind of weird to see that on a menu.
(3)Sara B.
simple breakfast. A small cross between IHOP, Denny's and the hope of being like a little cafe. I enjoyed the oatmeal and fresh fruit. Coffee was boring and non interesting. Overall a good start to the day.
(3)Juan S.
Have been a big fan of First Watch over the years. This is definitely a 3-4 star breakfast place. Service is always quick and friendly, food is tasty, prices are right...no real complaints. However, the times I've had lunch here, they have been underwhelming. I had a salad recently and the dressing was overpowering and chicken was not cooked fresh. Would come back, but due to the disappointing lunch experiences, I'd only return for breakfast/brunch.
(2)David Z.
What a great brunch experience this was! We were visiting St. Louis with a former STL resident, and he suggested this spot for some weekend brunch. We were definitely happy with the results. The bad: - There was a moderate wait for a table. They actually have water and coffee for you while you wait (good), but unfortunately the regular coffee and water were empty while we were waiting (bad). All that was available was decaf. The good: - Service. Our waiter was friendly and efficient. Our food arrived quickly and correctly, and tasty to boot. - They put a coffee pot and water pitcher on the table for you, so you can do your own refills. I love that! - Food. I had a skillet (my usual breakfast go-to) and it was top notch. I love that they have a ton of healthy substitution options as well (egg whites at no extra charge, sugar-free syrup, etc). - Free mouthwash in the bathroom. Score! - Cost. I think everyone paid $10-$12, including tip. Totally worthwhile. The ugly: - While we were there, we saw the UGLIEST parking attempt I have ever seen. This girl tried to parallel park on the street for about 10 minutes. She'd back up about an inch, then turn the wheel the other way, then back up an inch, then turn the wheel the other way, then get out of the car, then get back in, then completely come nowhere near actually parking the car. All the while there was an older woman in the passenger seat (looked like her mother) yelling at her. It was great amusement while we waited for our food. But man, it was UGLY. Would I go back? If I lived in the area, I'd be there all the time! Just be prepared to wait a little while if you do go.
(5)Renaudo R.
I'm super upset about my takeout order! Only time I'm able spend with my wife, and wanted a nice breakfast, and all our food was cold.
(2)Iris T.
First impression upon walking in: a nicer IHOP. Second impression: man, there are a ton of people waiting to be seated.. the food here must be great! Unfortunately, sometimes, what you see is what you get. As with IHOP, the food at First Watch was a-ok but nothing to rave about -- or get up early and wait in line for. I had the eggs benedict.. not bad but honestly, not very good either. On the plus side, I at least now know of one place in STL where I can get eggs benedict.
(3)Leslie S.
Nice location in a busy spot, but if you're not already working in the Clayton area, it can be tough to find parking for this location. If you're traveling by car during the busy daytime, I would recommend the Webster Groves location not too far away in old Webster. I had a Bacado omelette at the Webster location recently and wanted to get it again at this location. Unfortunately, the avocado was tough to cut and a bit on the brown/black side this time, and I wasn't able to finish it. However, I would highly recommend it any other time - just make sure the avocados are ripe that day. The omelette is covered in salsa and sour cream, and they do them right here - no added pancake batter to turn it into a over-filling giant burrito like they do at iHop and Denny's (no offense to those locations - they have their own advantages). The Bacado comes with home fries and choice of bread. Delish! Service was great as it has been at all of the locations. The Bacado and a Diet Coke was just under $11.
(3)Andrew W.
Agree with the nice IHOP explanation. I thought "ooh a fancy Denny's" when we first walked in. Food was okay. Coffee neither special or standard diner, something inbetween. A lot of strange people both working and eating, so the Denny's part stayed true.
(3)Shante H.
This place is full of good stuff. Great staff, very clean establishment, cheap public parking, and quick service. Not to mention the food is yummy. I had a turkey and spinach omelet special with a plain multigrain pancake. This is definitely a place that I'll be coming back to when I return to STL.
(3)Stephanie R.
I'm not a big fan of this place. I came here for brunch on the weekend and ended up waiting a long time for a table of 2 only to receive a mediocre omelette and service. Because of all the hype, I had much higher expectations. I would not come back.
(2)P L.
Great place for a business breakfast because the servers are attentive and polite, food orders are always accurate, and you can get in and out in an hour or less. I probably go to a breakfast meeting here at least twice a month. My favorite part about the experience is that they leave a full pot of coffee and full pitcher of water at your table. My regular order is the Power Wrap, although I sometimes spring for the Eggs Benedict or Pancakes if I feel like I deserve the calories. The food is not bad at all, but nothing special either. In other words, I don't like to come here on weekends. On weekends the wait for a table can be ridiculous, and in reality the food is not all that much better than a Denny's.
(3)Caiti H.
Nice atmosphere, super friendly staff, and most importantly the food is pretty tasty. I was skeptical about the multi grain pancakes, but they ate really good and don't taste "healthy"...I'm sure you know what I mean... It is a bit on the pricier side, but the quality is worth the extra buck or two. In a nutshell: nice, quick lunch. Great place to take a work buddy, regular buddy, or your folks when they come into town.
(4)Taylor L.
Always love going to first watch for a relaxing breakfast. The fresh fruit crepes are my favorite! The staff is very friendly and accommodating at this location!
(4)Rita Q.
This particular First Watch restaurant is the one that made me fall in love with this chain! I have been there many times for breakfast and LOVE it! The Fresh Fruit Crepes are so good, along with whatever the muffin of the day is (has never let me down!) However, I have to leave some constructive feedback about part of the seating arrangements. There are a few two-person tables lined up uncomfortably close together and I would recommend removing one to allow more space between them. Otherwise, I love First Watch! The staff is always friendly and the food is delicious!
(4)B T.
Nice breakfast stop. We order for pick up regularly and are always happy with the food.
(4)Rachel H.
Once upon a million dollars ago, in my college days, I would possibly have given First Watch four lovely shiny stars. I'd always been willing to overlook the wait, which let's be honest, is a bit nuts sometimes, but no matter, I enjoy a good breakfast and you can drink some free coffee while you ponder the menu. I usually go for the skillets, though this visit made me finally try the Bubba's Benny. I am a sucker for dumb names. I got it with poached eggs which were perfect, but the gravy was a little too thick, bland, and all over the place. Back to the skillets. I tried my pal's banana crunch pancake. It would have been much more delicious without that hair underneath it. I should have said that when our waitress asked if our food "still tasted good." Nope, just started sucking just now when you came by. Thanks. I'd still come back but give me a skillet, hold the hair. One thing I do love: The mug I stole from here about 5 years ago. Still loving it.
(3)Saucy G.
Quick and easy breakfast. I have never tried the lunch. This place screams simplicity and thats exactly what you get in your breakfast for a simple price. Love the skillets. Delicious potatoes. Just overall simple and good!
(4)Artit V.
This is one of my favorite places to go and get breakfast. They have 4 locations that I can recall. I usually eat at the Des Peres location which is across the street from I office. Today, I had the works omelette. It has ham, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, onions, melted cheeses and diced tomatoes, topped with sour cream. It also comes with potatoes and an english muffin. It was very yummy. 2 of my friends had the Bacado omlette. This omlette has bacon, avocado and melted Monterey Jack cheese, topped with sour cream. Served with a side of homemade salsa. This also looked yummy. Then, my friend, Peter, had the Chickichanga. Basically, it is a breakfast version of the chimichanga. Lindsey was our server and she was awesome. Everytime I have been to a First Watch, the service has been good. I highly recommend First Watch for having breakfast or lunch. Remember, First Watch is only open till 2:30 pm.
(4)Kelly B.
Gross. TERRIBLE fluorescent lighting. Bad food. Screeching kids. Worse than being at a Denny's. I got a turkey dill mushroom crepe thing. It was drenched in Hollandaise sauce that was basically just melted butter. There were a few sprinkles of dill on top that I ended up brushing aside to dig thru the butter to get to the food. The turkey was that diced chef salad "meat", and the rest of the plate was dry, fried potato chucks and english muffin drenched in butter. I never saw any mushrooms. Carbs and butter - that's what I got out of it. My friend got the Sonoran Fritatta - "An open-faced Mexican-style omelette with Chorizo and onions. Topped with homemade salsa, melted cheese and sour cream". Bland and processed-tasting. The salsa was definitely not homemade, it was Pace. The chorizo was bad. The food was cold. The cheese on top was barely melted. A wasted brunch opportunity.
(1)Jeff F.
Not fancy...but clean and reliable...we have tried the other usual spots near Clayton, and since I can do way early most mornings, this is the spot. Parkings easy on weekends, the waffles are great and the servers are on target. You can lounge or eat and run. Not perfect to discuss serious biz...but we can make our normal snide remarks , and catch up on what everyone did the night before without spoiling the peace and innocence of the other diners. Server Paul is always smiling and works hard to get the food out quick...always clean...
(3)Christine F.
I went here on a Sunday awhile back with a guy I used to date. I don't remember if it was a holiday but I think it may have been because it was jam-packed. But still, I've been to different First Watches on Father's Day and such and never had an experience like this. What turned me off this place was the service when we went. Our waitress basically rushed us the entire time. As soon as we were sat, she rushed over and asked if we were ready to order. No introductions, nothing. Umm, no...I haven't even sat my butt down all the way yet, let alone looked at the menu?? She gave us about 2 or 3 minutes to peruse the menu before coming back again to ask if we were ready, and I just went ahead and ordered what I always do because I felt pressured. Shortly after we got our food, she brought us the check without a word. Then-boyfriend was pretty annoyed at this point and was in no hurry to leave. Boyfriend flagged down waitress and asked for a refill on his glass of iced tea. Waitress plopped a cup of tea on our table and ran off. It was in a to-go cup. We were at this table from start to finish for a total of about 20-30 minutes. It's not like we were hogging her table for over an hour or something. Look, I know there's a huge crowd waiting and you want to turn those tables, but we waited for a long ass time (about 45 minutes) to sit down and eat and enjoy our meal. Don't friggin' rush us as soon as we sit down. We took the to-go cup as a sign of her saying, "Okay, time for you to go now. Get up and leave" and were pissed. Pissed enough that we went ahead and left and alerted the manager on the way out. He was very apologetic and comped the entire bill, of which I was very appreciative. I may go back when they aren't busy, because of the redeeming way the manager handled it (and I'm sure not every server is like that...maybe she was having a bad day...I dunno), but if I see a crowd waiting, I'm not even gonna deal with it. Not worth it.
(2)Matt H.
Great menu selection. Healthy and non healthy choices like egg white and wheat tortillas. Amazing pancake. Creamy sausage gravy. Chikichanga was good, lots of chicken. Fresh and tasty fruit. Good service. I'm coming back next time I'm in STL.
(4)Ashley R.
I agree that this place is nothing tremendously special. When I have gone, it's always been very clean. If there is a wait, it never seems to be a long one. All of the servers are quite cheery (sometimes eerily so). I like the concept of the restaurant: breakfast and brunch any day of the week. I also like that the kitchen is open. You can somewhat see them preparing the food, if you wish. There is one thing that will keep me coming back: The Eggs Benedict Florentine. It is a yummy, vegetarian version of the original-- with avocado and tomato in place of canadian bacon. The eggs are perfectly poached and the hollandaise is tasty. Accompanied with fresh fruit and delectable potatoes. Delicious.
(4)Stephanie S.
Went here today for a brunch get together with my mom and sister. We went around 11AM, and it was pretty empty, so I guess this is the time to go! No wait whatsoever. Am I the only person who thought this place was a bank at first? It's in a really sterile, nondescript building. Who knew? Anyway, food. Their menu is pretty expansive, and contains both breakfast and lunch food. There's definitely something for everyone. It helps that they have their entire menu online, along with nutrition values for each selection. I went the boring route and had the french toast with a side of bacon. Not bad. Not bad at all. Nothing knocked my socks off or anything; it was just standard breakfast fare. No bells and whistles here! Our server was extremely friendly and attentive, and I appreciate how the pitcher of water was kept on the table for us to refill our glasses as we pleased. And boy did we have to -- their glasses are TINY! I'm not itching to come back anytime soon, but I wouldn't turn down an offer to eat there again or anything. A solid three stars.
(3)Carolyn C.
First Watch makes me laugh. I always thought it was a bank, too, and still sometimes think it is. There is always a wait, and I really don't understand why considering it really is just a glorified IHOP...but we wait along with everyone else. The BF swears by the Bacado, and I'm all about the chocolate chip pancake or the Far West omelette, egg whites only, no onions. We'll keep coming, it's better than decent breakfast fare. Just two wishes: A bit better silverware scrubbing and NO on the pleated khaki pants!
(3)Zach M.
I guess I would give it 2.5 stars, but I just can't bring myself to round up to 3. We go here all the time because it is close to home and easy to get in and out of. The service is always 5 star - nice young servers who don't seem terribly hungover, very friendly and attentive, and quick with everything. Rambunctious children are welcome and can be isolated in a back room. Decent, clean dining areas and nice restrooms. The food bothers me for two reasons - the bacon is thin and overcooked - I think they must oven bake it because it just tastes like bacon grease. The coffee sucks too. It is weak and tastes like paper. If they would upgrade their bacon and their coffee, this would be a top-notch breakfast joint.
(2)Michelle P.
Thought this was only a breakfast place but their lunch was really good! Not the classiest lunch spot, but the service was pretty good and the food came out super quick. Not a huge menu, but a different place to go to for lunch every once in a while.
(4)Kelsey R.
Yes, there is usually a line to get a table. But it moves incredibly fast and there's complimentary coffee while you wait. The staff is consistently friendly, and the food well-priced. I tend to order the oatmeal, a banana-crunch pancake and a cup of coffee. Also, try the parfait! And the muffins!
(5)Andy D.
I like First Watch! Coming from the East Coast, I'm pretty used to IHOPs, which are pretty well known as hives of scum and villainy that occasionally serve a mean breakfast. If you sucked all the evil sleaze out of the IHOP chain and added a splash of syrupy good cheer, you'd get First Watch. You walk inside and the morning crowd's a preview that you're going to have a good time. The wait might be long, but a little free coffee bar helps the time fly by. The menu, as you might expect, is chock full of all sorts of breakfast offerings of various caloritude. Bacon's all over the place, too, just as it should be. The servers are friendly (mine looked like an old college professor), the tables and bathrooms are clean-- what's not to like? Definitely stop by First Watch if you want a reliable, family-safe, and conventional breakfast. Let me know what you think!
(3)Jessica E.
Hung Over? Coming back from church? Parents in town? First Watch will hit the spot!! Breakfast/Brunch is A+ for all walks of life. Don't be discouraged if there is a wait when you arrive. They offer free hot coffee for the wait, friendly staff, and manage the wait list with ease. For the health nut, my fave is the "Triathlete Omelet" made with egg whites and served with yummy salsa. No need to skimp on the calories? The skillets with diced First Watch potatoes are great. Small detail... but I love the fact they leave the coffee pot and water pitcher on the table. So no need to get impatient waiting for that refill.
(5)Stacey S.
Love this place. I got the Floridian french toast. It was almost to pretty to eat. Fresh fruit on top. It was amazing. We had great service too.
(5)Maggie H.
So great! The good was fresh and fast. Probably the best breakfast I've ever had! The coffee was strong which was fine for me but may be too much for some people's taste! Service was fast and accommodating! I really enjoyed my experience and would recommend it to anyone who wants a delicious, unique breakfast for a fair price!
(5)Jacqui C.
Eggs Benedict! Gotta love it! I am almost certain that I have ordered the eggs benedict every time I have visited. It is consistently good. Comes with hash browns and fruit. This location has a breakfast bar in the cafe and is a nice alternative to the wait that one often has to endure. The service can be super fast or super slow at the bar, but if you flag down a server, you get to order right away. Food always comes out rather quickly too. The wait staff is always friendly and will give you a to go cup for your beverage, if you ask for it. A pitcher with water and lemons is always brought to the table or available at the bar, so enjoy :)
(3)Jonathan K.
This was a decent breakfast place, which didn't compare to the other Clayton breakfast restaurants. The Traditional was a fairly boring breakfast, but the turkey sausage just tasted bad and the bagel was terrible. The carrot cake pancake was delicious, and the waffle was good as well, but didn't make up for the other dishes I had a taste of, including one of their skillets. As mentioned by other reviewers, the manager was ecstatic to see us, unreasonably so as it was far too early in the morning for him to be that happy. The service was good, but our waiter was almost as happy as the manager, which just seemed fake. If you come, I'd definitely avoid the egg dishes as they tasted fairly plain, and I'd go for some pancakes. The comparison to iHop is completely valid, First Watch made me think of a nicer and cleaner iHop.
(2)Stacey T.
I really want to like First Watch, I really do. For some reason, my friend always wants to hit this spot when she's hungover. We went in today at about 10AM to a ten minute wait. The manager, who is always greeting guests near the door, never fails to exude tons of energy as he demonstrate his general lust for life. I am slightly jealous of all this happiness and wonder what it is that HE'S eating at First Watch. Our server was average. Not so friendly or patient.... but she did leave us with two pitchers of coffee and one pitcher of water. That made everyone's lives easier. I had the bacon and avocado skillet (you can paint yourself a picture). Hmmm.... I think I could've made this at home and saved some money. Nothing amazing here. My girls had biscuits and gravy.... they were weak sauce. The biscuits looked like they came from the freezer aisle of your local grocer and the gravy tasted like flour. :( No one said anything good or bad about their meals. I feel like First Watch is simply a cleaner, less smokey IHOP. And personally, I'd rather get the free entertainment the drunks at IHOP bring to the table.
(2)Alex L.
Like most others, I was over-hyped about First Watch before trying it for the first time. I heard it was the best, and it got great reviews, and all that jazz. I guess I was expecting a better atmosphere, service, and food. None of those three delivered. Atmosphere - (3 stars). Nothing much to notice except for the seemingly corporate office exterior. Service - (1 star). Our party of three didn't come during rush hour traffic, and there were maybe 7-8 other parties there at the time. That didn't stop us from having to wait 10 minutes to order and then roughly another twenty minutes to order. I mean they might of forgotten about us or something, but by that time my stomach acid was already wearing away at the lining. Food - (2 stars). For a place with such great ratings, they serve pretty run-of-the mill food. I could get food like this at any diner in Atlanta for roughly half the price. I was disappointed, very much so. I don't give out many low ratings, but my experience here has thoroughly earned the two stars I am giving it IMO.
(2)Julia W.
I've lived in St. Louis for almost a year now, yet somehow, every time I drive past a First Watch, I mistake it for a bank. This has got to be the most boring looking breakfast place on Earth. Even Denny's has bright signage and IHOP has a blue roof, but First Watch is just a blah brick building with a dull font sign. Sigh. Uninspired. So, I expected First Watch to have uninspired food offerings. When my dad and Tina were in town for Thanksgiving, they wanted to go out for breakfast. When I'm not on a donut crawl or making ginormous omelettes with friends, I generally get by on a granola bar for breakfast, so I honestly had no idea where to take the family. I am sort of amazed that the Breakfast Bank (as I like to call First Watch) even entered my thoughts, it's so innocuous, but that's where we decided to go--and I'm glad we did! While the inside of this First Watch is not particularly inspired either, the food is good, generously portioned and reasonably priced. The french toast was custardy and delicious. My dad's Greek Fetish (how fun to order the Fetish?) omelette got raves from the papa and Tina loved her breakfast as well. The OJ was fresh and tasty, the servers leave you with your own carafe of coffee (good thing for my dad) and offer a nice variety of teas if that's more your thing. Service is friendly and quick. I get the feeling this First Watch is one of the go-to spots for the Clayton business-folks' weekday breakfast meetings, which might explain the lack of personality inside. It's a comfortable enough space, but seems a little buttoned-up, if that makes sense. I prefer a little more rock and roll with my french toast, but this place was friendly and served good food, so I certainly won't write it off in the future...
(4)Cameron R.
While the atmosphere of this chain restaurant is a bit "Dennys-ish", I can't say the menu is anything of the sort. I usually get the chickichanga (spelling?) and none of the Denny's or IHOPs I've been to has anything that can compare. There is usually a pretty long wait to be seated but there is coffee while you wait and once seated the food always comes quickly.
(4)Christal V.
This place is very simple...which is a good thing! Very simple, wholesome, straightforward food. I usually order an omelet, which totally satisfies! The wait staff is very friendly and attentive, even with the otherwise chaotic scene! They handle it with easy...never have a seen a frazzled waitress! If you don't feel like cooking...this is the place to go!
(4)Randy C.
It's like someone said, "Let's make a Denny's, but without all the pretentiousness." A lot of people have nice things to say about this place, but I don't get it. Our table was sticky, and when we pointed it out the server just rubbed a damp rag across it. The food was terrible, even by "I'm hungover and just want grease" standards. The entire place was empty when we were there on a Saturday and yet we had to flag somebody down to get a water refill. If I could give a negative star, I would. If you want crappy hangover food, go to a Denny's, an iHop, or better yet some hipster cafe in South City.
(1)Dustin G.
Woah, First Watch is getting a sad rap. 1: First Watch does sort fo look like a bank on the outside, but eh 2: The name First Watch is sort of cool....the first watch would be the one who sees the aurora and the sun rise 3:It's crowded for a reason... 4: That reason being that the food is excellent. The vegetarian eggs benedeict florentine is to die for. This dish is so good, that I actually ordered another one after I finished the first one. Seriously...I did. And I'm not a big dude. In fact, I'm slightly under-weight...so that is saying something. I ate here three times during the brief St. Loius stint, and everytime was great. The service was good, and the prices reasonable, as well as the selection. Seriously I have no idea what Jenny K is going on about. In conclusion: St. Loius = bleh, First Watch = yah
(5)Raya K.
Just an okay place to have breakfast. It gets pretty crowded on the weekends and honestly isn't worth the wait.
(3)Kristen W.
I loved First Watch when I lived in St. Louis. I usually went to the Kirkwood location and never had a bad meal. On a trip back this weekend, the hubs and I went to the Clayton location and were just underwhelmed with the whole experience. The wait wasn't bad (25 min), but we watched the busser clear off our table, then we were seated when there were still giant crumbs left on the table. Everything seemed to be a little dirty and sticky, like a greasy diner. The memories of First Watch I had were that everything was clean and fresh, but I didn't have that experience here. The hubs and I left satisfied with our food, but not blown away by anything, and not having a strong desire to return next time we're in town.
(3)Michelle S.
I always have to wait but it never seems to be too long. The bubbly greeters are a bit much for me but I guess some people like that sort of thing. The servers are friendly enough and the service has always been ok. But don't let the boring building, decor and employees turn you off - the food is great! I'm a blueberry fiend and this place has the best blueberry pancakes I have ever had.
(4)Tom W.
Nice place for a breakfast. We had to wait a little (10 minutes) for a table but it was a Saturday. Prices are reasonable and they have a wide variety of choices including healthy options. The servers were younger and very friendly. Definitely something I'd go back to.
(4)Claire K.
Yummy pancakes and french toast. The omlettes are nothing to write home about but I love all the their pancakes and french toast selections. I used to go here every weekend when I lived in STL and I still miss it.
(3)Ali V.
THIS PLACE IS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!! YOU MUST GO HERE!!!!!!!!!!! I'm back in town with my mom visiting my brother and his girlfriend, and we went here again!!!!!!!! I absolutely love this place!!!! I wish we had it in Houston because it is soooooooooooo yummy!!!!!!!! This morning my mom and Meredith both got the eggs benedict, which they both thoroughly enjoyed!!!!!!!!! Christopher got his usual omelette with cheese and sausage, which he devoured! This morning I tried something new, and it was so great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got the fresh fruit crepes, which are crepes filled with banana and topped with organic strawberry yogurt. The sweet strawberry yogurt combined with the crepes makes an absolutely delicious combination! Also, on the side of the plate they give you the fresh muffin of the day, and it was one of the best blueberry muffins that I have ever had!!!!! The crepes were cooked to perfection and the presentation on the plate was stunning. The colors of the fruit and yogurt reiterated the beginning of spring that is in the air in St. Louis this weekend! The muffin was tender and contained lots of blueberries, and the flavor was astounding!!! This is an absolutely fantastic breakfast/ brunch place!!!! Definitely go here!!!!!!!
(5)Joe H.
Go here on the weekends, always bushy. Food is good but don't take out as the quality is not there.
(4)Alison M.
The food is pretty average, I had the Greek "fetish" omelet (which, by the way, is awkward to order when you're lunching with a co-worker that you don't know very well). Anyway, the omelet was ok, I wish it came with kalamata olives instead of the regular black ones. Also, the potatoes could have used some sort of seasoning. But, on the plus side, the service was great--our waiter was really friendly, courteous, and fast. Incredibly fast! Like, my lunch came out in probably under 7 minutes! I was impressed!
(3)Linda C.
We came with high expectation but the food is only OK. We came for breakfast and was seated pretty quickly. We had the coffee which was pretty weak. We had the cranberry juice. We both had The Traditional --scrambled with sausage and the First Watch potatoes. It was bland. Nothing special.
(3)Rob C.
common brunch chain, sorta reliable when you can't find anything else unique (particularly stl doesn't seem that big into specialty breakfast). does have a lineup on the weekend. I'd rather go here than IHOP
(3)Lauren D.
From the outside, First Watch looks like a bank. Plus, who names a breakfast establishment First Watch? It sounds like it should be on a harbor or something. Egg Harbor maybe. Anyways, good pancakes, good oatmeal, good sides. Busy on the weekends. Get there early. Pretty much one of the only decent breakfast places in St. Louis.
(4)Michael M.
CREPEGGS!!! I'm not sure if this is an original or not, but this is the first I've ever heard of them, and they are dee-lish! My girlfriend loved her omelet as well. Good juice, good service, comfy seats.. and you'd never suspect it by the generic-looking brick facade...
(5)Stefani P.
Yummy breakfast/brunch place. Be prepared for a long wait on a Sunday.
(4)DJ J.
My friends and I ventured here as one of them raved about the place. As we went toward the restaurant, we saw an outside patio where customers were just hanging out. The interior is bright and inviting. We went to the cafe to get free coffee (SCORE!!!!) while we waited for our seat. With the overflow of customers, I was surprised at how quickly we got our table. Oh, and the bathroom has MOUTHWASH! How cool is that?!??!?!? The lunch menu to me was not as extensive as it should be. The service was great and unlike most restaurants, they give you a pitcher of (insert drink) rather than flagging someone down for a refill. That day, I got a Rueben sandwich. In my entire life, this was the second Reuben sandwich that I have eaten and if this was my first, I probably wouldn't have ordered it again. The sandwich was greasy and falling apart. It was so greasy, I am NOW queasy from it. BLECCHH! I'm glad it came with fruit, breakfast potatoes, and a salad to offset this sandwich. Its not a hefty sandwich-- it's pretty small. Oh, BTW, you know where I got the better Reuben sandwich? St. Mary's hospital. It is light, not greasy, not soggy, and generous. Sure, you want to keep doctors happy by serving them good food, but I expect a restaurant to have better food than a hospital. I was not impressed with their "doggy bag." Considering I ate half of my meal, it was indeed too small for it. BTW, my other friend (the one who didn't recommend it) said her food (off of the healthy options menu) were bland. EDIT: I am now giving it 1 star because my meal is making me real sick to the point where I can't eat the rest of it. I only ate the leftover potatoes. Everything else made me GAG. No amount of mouthwash (conveniently located in the bathroom) and chocolate mints can shadow the fact that my food was bad.
(1)Elizabeth B.
A decent brunch option. Nice that the coffee carafe and water pitcher are on the table. It makes the service much more efficient. In fact, service was super efficient and really friendly, which included a manager asking about our experience. Food was decent. Egg burrito was tasty, caprese benedict tasted just as one would expect it to. Slightly expensive for what we got (glorified diner food) but I suppose that's a chain restaurant for you. Also, nice touch with fruit on the side, but no one's health is going up with 3 grapes and a cube of pineapple. Could try a little harder on it.
(3)Jenny K.
Really NOT good. In fact, it's pretty terrible. The prices are reasonable, and the descriptions are appealing on the menu. Unfortunately, when your food arrives, it's a huge letdown. The food looks like someone else's leftovers, transferred to a clean plate. And the taste? What taste? They must have run out of that before you arrived. Find an IHOP. They, too, leave a carafe of hot coffee on your table ... that's the only positive thing going for this First Watch restaurant. Blech.
(1)Kat M.
When I come home from school, I ALWAYS make an effort to get to First Watch. My friends and I would go there all the time in high school and college (apologies to the wait staff for how hungover we were! :) ) and we still love it. The potatoes are awesome, and I've never had a bad entree either. I've had the quesadilla, the bacado omlette, and the eggs florentine (my personal favorite!) and everything was perfect. The coffee is always awesome and served hot. Even when they're very crowded, the staff is always so nice, and they've always been great. Now I can't wait to go home for christmas so I can get my first watch fix! :)
(5)