First Watch — Restaurant in Hershey

We had a very bad experience at the Hershey location and it is very sad to say that because we were so excited going in. This wasn’t the first time we have eaten at a First Watch but this experience was by far the worst. I utilize the app to skip the in-person line and check in. So around 9:15, we got in line on our way there. Once we arrived, I walked to the man standing at the front desk (please note, out arrival time and seating time was between 9:31and 9:36am). We arrived at 9:32am. They were busy and we knew that walking in but the app is supposed to “skip the line”. I told the gentleman that we got in line through the app and told him my name. As I stood there watching what he was doing in the iPad looking device, I could see that he seemed as if he couldn’t find me. I showed him my screen on my phone and still nothing. He added me to the right of the screen. He said we’d be seated in a few short minutes. We said “okay”. But I thought it was odd because by that point it was 9:45am and I still hadn’t received a text saying my table was ready. We walked outside and saw 5 empty tables. If you have a bunch of people waiting, why not use those empty tables to seat the unhappy customers standing/sitting outside. Time went by and time went by. It was now 10:20am. 50 minutes of us standing outside (don’t forget, we got in line around 9:15 - on our way to the restaurant and checked in with them around 9:32). I got really agitated and walked back in calmly. Once it was my turn to talk to the front desk, a new girl was standing there beside the gentleman that “assisted” us. I point blankly asked her “Hi, how long would someone have to wait when they utilized the app and was supposed to be seated around 9:30 (showing my screen to her)? She asked my name and found me right away and slide over to check me in. I came to realize that the gentleman that helped me earlier created a new customer and a new wait time. We got seated immediately. We thought we were good. After saying hello to our waitress (no fault to her), we received a pitcher of water with small white floaties throughout it. Needless to say, we didn’t touch the water. I ordered my food and my boyfriend ordered his along with a side of million dollar bacon to share. The bacon came right out (which was odd because it usually takes a little bit). The bacon was very cold and unsatisfying. My Floridian French toast that I ordered was hard around the edges and very cold. My boyfriend ordered an omelet which had the option of lemon dressed mixed greens. We’ve had these things before so we know what to expect. His mixed greens - no dressing. We were very unhappy with how THIS First Watch operated. Regardless of how busy you are, nothing should be made ahead of time and nothing should be rushed. We are very unhappy and don’t think we will be going back when we are in...

I recall going to First Watch a few times when visiting Missouri, years ago. I have fond memories of it being a great basic breakfast place…Something seems to have happened in the interim years since my last visit and they’ve upped their game to be a bit nicer with more unique modern offerings. Basically this ain’t your mamas First Watch. This Hershey, PA location which we ate at before visiting some of the Hershey attractions is a large open space with a modern upscale feel to it.

I started with coffee, of course, and was happy to discover it was very good! (Not a given at many American breakfast spots. They give you a coffee pot so you can refill yourself (I even tipped myself after the first refill [not really.]) My wife had Steep brand premium tea…They give you two teabags with the order, which is nice since one is never enough for a properly steeped second cup of tea.

So the many has gone from basic breakfast to upscale, new-American without your typical basic breakfast menu that I vaguely recall First Watch having. But all the elements are there such as pancakes and egg dishes.

Also, the maple syrup is served warm, so they take their syrup pretty seriously.

I had the Market Skillet with egg whites over potatoes. It came with mushrooms, onions and red peppers, along with melted gruyere cheese which I requested instead of the mozzarella it normally comes with. There was a little confusion and they forgot to add the goat cheese which it also was supposed to come with, but the dish didn’t really need it and I found it very satisfying. The potatoes were perfect and the portion size was just right for me.

It also came with bread (though it didn’t say so on the menu) It was a thick, whole grain bread pre-buttered, which tasted good, though I would’ve probably chosen a biscuit had I known that it came with bread.

My wife had a side of scrambled eggs, along with mixed vegetables and grits, all of which was excellent. She said the Bob’s Red Mill grits which were perfectly cooked and textured, and didn’t need any extra butter or anything. She said the vegetables were the star of the meal.

Our kid ate all of his chocolate chip pancakes and really liked it, and he thought the potatoes were excellent as well.

Well done First Watch…you’ve upped your game and put yourself back...

I ate at FIRST WATCH for the first time, the food was Divine!!! They say they have million dollar bacon, let me tell you it was nostalgic for me, reminded me of my childhood. So that bacon that my neighbors Husband used to bring from the farmers market back in the 80s when food was really good and not full of chemicals and processed, FIRST WATCH Took me back to my childhood and that was a moment for me. So I had the cheesy grits which were on point, no lumps it wasn’t soupy. It was just right the way I would make it myself. I owned my own catering business and with soul food cooking grits are always what we eat. It Is something that I love too. I can tell you from experience those grits hit me in a good way, that bacon was crispy and just right. And I had two eggs over hard and then the fact that they have raw Juice, I’ve been juicing for 23 years+ and I was so happy 😁 that they had the kale raw juice, I was in a different mindset at this point, because most of the time you get fresh and good things when you make it from home and I just wanted to spend time with my son and he knew about this spot. I was so surprised. The restaurant was nice. The ambience was nice. It was clean the organic ketchup. Everything was just perfect to top it off I was having breakfast with my son that I don’t get to see that often because I work seven days a week so to see him and then have this great breakfast and good conversation. It was just an amazing Morning!!!! First Watch you have A new customer for life. And unbeknown to me I work in New Jersey in brick and I was always shopping at the ShopRite and never looked up at the sign to see that there was a FIRST WATCH right here in Brick, NJ where I work . Lol I was flabbergasted called my son right away And told him, but I would rather go to Hershey to have breakfast with my son at my favorite spot now, thank you for making things fresh and good the way it’s...