First Watch — Restaurant in Groveton

We went to the soft opening of First Watch in Alexandria on Richmond Highway near the Giant yesterday. This was our first time trying it so we didn’t know what to expect. Our reservation was at 1 PM and I’m glad since I didn’t want to be near the opening hours rush. We got there about at 1 and showed our reservation and we were offered coffee and a seat to wait while we waited for our table. As someone who uses a mobility device, they were very accommodating and it didn’t take long to get a table. We already knew what we wanted from looking at the online menu beforehand so we could have an idea of what we wanted. We both got the Traditional Breakfast. I ordered scrambled eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, and toast. My daughter got sunny side up eggs, chicken apple sausage patties, breakfast potatoes, and toast. We both got coffee as well with our meals and water as well. I do like the note about special ordering the breakfast potatoes so if you don’t like onions, don’t order them. Let me preface this as saying for someone who is on the autism spectrum, my daughter is very picky about her eggs. She said it’s the first time she’s ever gotten her eggs right from any place we’ve ever been and that’s saying a lot. They either undercook them or overcook them so it was nice making her happy. The portions were big with the breakfast potatoes and very well seasoned. I was expecting 2 pieces of bacon but got 4 so that was a pleasant surprise. My daughter also loved her chicken apple sausage and I tested a bite and was pleased as well. The toast was thick and tasty especially with the preserves they served with it. For what was given to us, it was worth the price. It was very filling to where even walking off it, we weren’t hungry until later last night. We definitely enjoyed it and plan on...

UPDATE Sept. 2025 Continued miscalculated wait times estimated at 25-30 minutes turn to 55-60 minutes.

Only after being seated were we informed that there were no pancakes, waffles, or griddle items. Would have been unfortunate if we waited 1 hour for pancakes only to find that out.

Waitstaff attentiveness and food prep times continue to be an issue. I saw two tables brought incorrect food by rude waitstaff.

Not recommended with so many other choices in the area with better service, shorter waits, and just generally managed better.

———— ORIGINAL REVIEW

Long wait time, poor service, and undercooked breakfast potatoes are the current hallmarks of the newly opened Alexandria First Watch.

The restaurant uses “tip share” for its waitstaff, so don’t expect courteous or attentive service. Our drinks took 20 minutes to get to the table after ordering and many waitstaff were moving quickly but seemingly doing nothing throughout the restaurant. When the food arrived, the potatoes were undercooked, but otherwise the meal was good. Add to these annoyances the extended wait times of 1-1.5 hours for this fast casual spot, and you’d be better off trying any of the many other brunch spots in the area, at least until they work...

Absolutely terrible service! Waited 15 minutes standing at the hostess stand looking to be attended to be seated. No primary hostess available. Tables open everywhere within the restaurant and we were told a 30 minute wait. Seated at a table that had been open the entire time we waited. Took forever to be greeted by our waiter. Hurried to place our order because we had waited so long. Then waited 10 minutes to get our coffee and our waters. Proceeded to sit and wait forever for our meal. At least 20 minutes. Then was served a cold meal. When a mention the fact that our meals were cold, our waiter then replied, "Really". What waiter does this? We were presented our check and given a $5 coupon to use when paying our bill. As I spoke to the cashier I noticed many of the patrons also had a $5 coupon. I said to the cashier, that if you took just 3 of these $5 off coupons and hired more staff, you'd be able to have more help in the restaurant. I then asked if there was a manager on duty and she just answered "Yes". I give up on this location of First Watch. They are experiencing too many growing pains. Save yourself the horrible experience and go...