First Watch — Restaurant in Durham

My family and I enjoyed our recent breakfast experience at First Watch in Raleigh, NC.

Entering the restaurant about brunch time on a Sunday morning, we stood at the hostess stand for a while before anyone noticed we were waiting to be sat, [It was busy]. Finally, a hostess came over and after determining the size of our party [which was three] mentioned the wait would be between 20 to 30 minutes before being seated in the dining room. We had the option to seat outside but it was a wee bit chilly and windy for our liking.

After 25 minutes, the hostess called our names and guided us to our table. She then placed the menus in front of us and informed us that our server would be with us shortly.

Our server came to the table and welcomed us to the restaurant. She was friendly and hospitable. She was smiling. She took our beverage orders. I had the Pomegranate Pear Punch and in this drink, the ingredients are pomegranate, pear, cane sugar and lime. With the cold season coming upon us and the flu season, I decided to add a boost of wellness shots to my drink. The boost has vitamins B3, C & D, Zinc, Echinacea & Elderberry. Great blend with my Pomegranate Pear Punch and I have added the boost to my Morning Meditation Fresh Juice.

For my meal, I had my usual Blueberry Pancakes and A.M. Superfoods Bowl.

Food was served in good fashion. The Blueberry Pancakes were very big and loaded with blueberries, served with warm syrup. My A.M. Superfoods Bowl looked appetising and it was delicious. Everyone else at the table was pleased with their food and drink selection.

Our server, once again was friendly and kept our water glasses full and did well to insure our satisfaction. She helped make this a very good brunch experience. We recommend First Watch and look forward to more visits to try many of the interesting menu combinations.

A review of their most recent health inspection showed they scored a 91 which shows they are doing a good job with food...

Our experience started out well. We were seated quickly. And they had the kind of tea my girlfriend likes. However, they didn't have the Purple Haze drink that's advertised with a large picture in their window and smaller pictures at every single one of their tables. But they had sweet tea so okay I recovered from that. It's not the staff's fault that management leaves up advertisements for a product they don't sell anymore.

Our food came out, and it looked delicious. It smelled delicious. The only problem is that the staff had failed to bring us silverware. We told the staff that served our food that we need silverware. She acknowledged this and darted off into the chaos never to be seen again. About a minute later, we spot our original waitress with silverware in her hands. I make eye contact and mouth silverware. She triumphantly holds up the silverware in her hands while she's stopping at other tables. She gives our silverware to the other table she's speaking to and disappears into the abyss. Minutes pass. The delicious smell of the food is overwhelming. I am reminded that this is similar to a kind of torture that prisoners of war suffer where they are starved and are forced to watch others eat with food just out of their reach. My girlfriend says that she has never had this experience before in her life. I think back, and I can't remember ever having to wait several minutes after I receive my meal to finally receive my silverware. Ultimately our meals were good (only slightly cold), but our experience was not.

Not having silverware is the closest thing to a dining emergency next to choking. They fail where it really counts. Skip...

I would like to say I respect all hospitality workers as many places are finding it hard to hire people. However, on Monday, Dec. 27th, the host, waiters, and cooks were not on point. I ordered 2 traditional breakfast meals (one with bacon and one with Turkey sausage) and 2 plain pancakes via the app. I expected to walk in, pick up my bag and leave in a timely manner. I mean, why else would I order ahead. But that didn’t happen.

First, my bag didn’t contain pancakes. I told the workers that my pancakes were missing. They went on to say we need to see you receipt that was sent to my email. Not sure, why they couldn’t pull it up. But they claimed it didn’t come through on their computer. Once I showed them the receipt, they had to cook the pancakes, which extended my wait time.

Secondly, the toast for both traditional meals were in the same container. Big no no. The meals were for two different people. It made no sense for me to remove a toast so I could give the other person their toast in the container. We are trying to minimize contact with other people’s food during this time of the pandemic, right?! The last two times that I ordered from this exact restaurant, they included the toast in the same container as the actual meal. It wasn’t boxed separately. Not sure why that changed it this time.

Lastly, the sides were just all wrong. They included pork sausage instead of Turkey sausage. I didn’t realize that until I got home. The bacon wasn’t done. And, the potatoes were burnt.

But after all that was said and done, I will say the pancakes were delicious.

Thank you hospitality workers for all that you do. But next time, please pay...