First Watch — Restaurant in Cape Coral

I dined at the new Cape Coral location with a friend and my daughter during the restaurant’s opening week. It was quite busy, as expected, but we were seated within 15 minutes. It took a bit to have our drink order taken and, when meals arrived, my meal was missing. There was a lack of communication from staff (our server and the food runners) about what happened and when it would come out. After about 5 minutes, someone stopped by and said it would be ready in a minute and a half, but it still didn’t show up for another 5 minutes. The manager approached me and profusely apologized and gave me a dining card for a future visit, which I greatly appreciated. I wasn’t terribly upset about the mishap with my meal and only mention it now to show that the manager very much cared about my happiness, which is not common among restaurants these days. I was very impressed with her. My meal, which was the Barbacoa Eggs Benedict, was the very best Benedict I have ever had…hands down, the winner! The meat was incredibly tender, the poached eggs were perfectly cooked and the Hollandaise sauce was amazing. I ordered breakfast potatoes instead of the greens normally served with it and they were very good. I will definitely be back! Despite the mishap, I was very pleased with the experience. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and feels inviting.The location is great, providing ample parking and is easy to get in and out of and back onto the main roads without any hassles or confusion. I would have given it a 4.5 if that was an option, but chose to go with a 4 instead of 5 because the wait staff needs to improve their communication with the guests. I have no doubt that the manager will have the kinks worked out with the staff in no time because she obviously cares deeply about the customer experience. So, 4.5 stars from me and I will absolutely...

2024 Update: We gave this location another try a few months ago and have been hooked ever since. Great food and friendly staff. Some of the staff even recognize us when we come in now! I’m glad we gave this another try. It’s one of our go-to spots if we get up early enough. 😊 One last thing: they’re really great about working with my allergens. Can’t wait to go back. . . 2023 First Visit to location… My boyfriend and I were so excited to try the new First Watch location in Cape Coral, as we love going to the one in downtown Fort Myers. But unfortunately, we never got to actually eat here.

We knew it was going to be busy, so we joined the wait list online. Turns out, that doesn't do much for holding a spot because you still have to confirm your place in line when you get to the restaurant. When we arrived, my boyfriend and I waited a relatively short 15 minutes and were sat near the kitchen.

After that, though, it was like we didn't exist. No one came by to get our drinks order, or even looked in our direction. People all around us were getting their orders taken and delivered. At least 7 staff members walked by us and not one stopped to even check in.

I will say that we came on a Saturday mid-morning, which is their busiest time of day. I expected slow service, but I didn't expect to be straight out ignored. That's inexcusable.

After waiting a solid 20 minutes, we left disappointed and hungry. We're not sure if we want to give this location another try. First impressions are...

monday August 11th - i visited First Watch recently, arriving ten minutes before closing. While the restaurant still had plenty of customers, the greeting we received from the front of house closer was far from welcoming. instead of a warm hello or a smile, the greeter snapped, “okay, do you guys know what you want because we’re closing soon.” this was shockingly rude and set a terrible tone for our visit. while checking out I notified the manager on duty about this behavior and she keenly listened. having worked for First Watch myself, I know this is not how we were trained to treat guests. the customer always comes first, and no one—whether a current employee or a first-time guest—should be made to feel like an inconvenience. this kind of greeting doesn’t just fail to invite people back; it actively drives them away. on a positive note however, our server, Jacqueline, was a shining exception. despite our late arrival, she greeted us warmly, with a genuine smile, and provided exceptional service throughout. she’s always treated us this way. her professionalism stood in stark contrast to the inexperienced and unwelcoming greeter at the door. Jacqueline’s efforts deserve recognition, but the initial interaction left such a sour taste that it’s hard to imagine returning to this specific location. First Watch needs to address this issue to ensure every guest feels valued, no matter what time they arrive. three stars for Jacqueline minus two for...