First Watch — Restaurant in Houston

I came in on 7/20/25 around 1:30pm and the hostess Angie ( I’m not even sure if that’s her real name) greeted us and asked how many people would be dining with us and I responded by saying “2 and a toddler”. She looked at me with a blank stare and repeated the question so I repeated my reply. It seemed as though she had an attitude but I’m not sure why. She guided us to our table along with the regular menus and before she left I asked her if we could get a high chair for my son and she said “yes” in a very dismissive manner. She never brought the high chair. Once we sat down we also realized she didn’t give us a kids menu or crayons. I have been to first watch countless times with my son and they ALWAYS give us a kids menu and crayons without us having to ask. Once our server came to our table, we asked if we could get a high chair and he brought one to us in less than 2 minutes. When we finished our meal and went to pay, Angie was at the only available cash register. I handed her our receipt and she started checking us out. Usually when we go to first watch and we’re being checked out, the cashier asks us how the food was and how our experience was but Angie didn’t say anything. I asked her what her name was and she paused for a second as if she had to think of a response, then replied saying “Angie” in a dry tone. She asked me “what is it for” and I didn’t respond. She then asked “is it for a review” and I said yes. She then smirked and chuckled. As I was finishing my transaction, she started helping the people behind us on the other cash register. Usually they ask if we want a receipt or not but I had to ask her for my receipt. Once I left I called the store and spoke with one of the general managers, Paris, and shared my experience with her. She was very apologetic and explained that what I experienced was not the norm and is not what they strive to cultivate in their hostesses. She was very helpful and understanding. She told me that my family and I would recieve a complimentary meal the next time we stop by. I was not satisfied with the service we received from the hostess but I was very satisfied with the food and experience we received from the general manager...

I was originally introduced to First Watch some years ago, in Austin, by a then-acquaintance who liked it as a good brunch place. It was not a memorable experience for me, but I don't recall any glaring negatives, so it never wound up on my blacklist. But in the intervening years, I learned that a newer location off Kirby Drive here in Houston had opened. So I figured I'd give it a try, again, as an alternative to the local favorite and “defending champion”, House Of Pies, nearly just across the street.

First Watch is a bright, airy-decor place with a patio out front. It is a chain, not a Houston-based establishment, based out of Bradenton, Florida, with over 500 locations nationwide.

I had a French toast breakfast consisting of two pieces of toast, two scrambled eggs a-la carte (with chives added), bacon (also a-la carte), and an orange juice. There was no “combo platter” type deal. The French toast reminded me of a long-departed local chain, Le Peep. Anyone longing for French toast like they had will be quite happy with First Watch's version.

I had no issues with the speed or friendliness of service. Both were good. What I was a little surprised by was the price. My meal, with an 18% tip, was $32.64. That is a lot for a French toast breakfast. For comparison, you can get a French toast breakfast – called the “griddle platter” – at House Of Pies, including tax, a drink, and tip, for around $5 less. I cannot ever recall spending northwards of $30 at House Of Pies for breakfast (or anything else). Even better values for French toast and other breakfasts can be had at IHOP.

The menu does mention a “traditional” breakfast – eggs, bacon, toast and potatoes for $13.49, but by the time you add a drink, tax, and a tip, that will almost certainly swell to $21 to $22. Do the math vs other places.

First Watch does indeed have good food, and you may be paying some for the atmosphere, which is admittedly upbeat. Just realize that your upscale experience will require a few more greenbacks from you. Also, get yourself there before 2:30pm – that's...

My experience at this specific location has been very good in the past. With the understanding on the weekends it is packed and very busy and has always delivered great service. The restaurant On this day that it's not as busy, especially being a weekday and not many diners there was unexpectedly odd for our breakfast to take long as it did. Our waitress had a total of 4 diners including us. However she was a sweetheart but didn't like that she was trying to fool me and sell me omelette style eggs when we ordered over medium hard eggs for my mom's Farmhouse Hash. What got me more upset was how the cook placed the omelette style eggs that were burnt on the bottom that sits on top of the Farmhouse Hash fixings so it won't be visible. How is the chef okay to serve that, is beyond belief. Not sure if there was any quality control to pass that plate out to the server to be giving their diners. First of all the eggs did not have any shed of whites on it, again the server was saying that it was over medium eggs etc. With my cook experience as a chef I was able to tell that it was not even hardshell eggs. Long story short we were able to see the manager there and kind enough to try to make our terrible experience somewhat better but all appetite was gone after seeing the execution on how the eggs were, the egg portion on my trifecta plat was ridiculous. The chicken sausage patty was burnt on one side and not even seared on the other. The crazy part was when I was being told that their cook was new and needed training. Which left me speechless. However any cook/chef should be able to cook any style eggs. That's class training for any culinary school Over easy eggs Medium eggs Over hard eggs Benedict eggs Scrambled eggs Ground eggs Omelette eggs Etc. So it's a big problem if you are hiring cooks that can't do that. It's no excuse for any of these foods to be burnt on a First Watch restaurant especially for it being in the Kirby area. The Least was done to take care of the ticket. Sadly it is a waste of food and...