First Watch — Restaurant in Oak Brook

I recently visited First Watch with high expectations based off of reviews and social media, but my experience was nothing short of disappointing. From the moment we arrived, the service was disheartening. We had reservations and ended up having to wait longer because they didn’t have a table ready for us.

Our waitress greeted us with a noticeable attitude, showing irritation and impatience even though we came in with smiles on our faces. That moment itself started to set a negative tone for the entire time we were there.

When ordering food, two of the people of our party were having a conversation, so they said to politely finish getting everyone else’s orders and they’d be ready to order as well. The waitress agitatedly said that if it was the case, she’d be back, and started to put her stuff away even though 2 people already ordered, and 2 more were ready to order. We ended up finishing our order in the next 30 seconds and she walked away.

The food, unfortunately, did not redeem the poor service. My friend’s meal was completely burnt to a crisp. (See the first few pictures of when he noticed it tasted off). It was clear that minimal care had been put into preparing the dish. Each bite was a letdown, far from the quality one would expect from a restaurant with First Watch’s reputation. The other dishes were quite alright, so I have no clue why one dish was just abysmal compared to the others.

On top of that, our waitress never swung by to ask if we needed refills on drinks, if we needed boxes, or even how the food tastes. We literally had to put our hand up as she finished up another table so that we can show her what happened and to ask for refills. Nor did we get a “thank you” as we left.

Overall, our visit to First Watch was a regrettable experience. We were so excited about the occasion and even planned weeks in advance to visit. The combination of rude service and subpar food left us feeling unwelcome and dissatisfied. I regret that nobody from our group, or any of our friends and family, plan on making the effort to return to this...

The moment you walk in you’re greeted by a warm, inviting modern atmosphere. The hostess smiles genuinely, immediately making you feel welcome. I was seated quickly (it was 7ish in the am on a Saturday), and the server arrived soon after, offering coffee with a cheerful demeanor and a sense of urgency that doesn't feel rushed.

The menu has a wonderful balance of classic breakfast staples and creative options. They even have Mimosas and a few other specialty adult beverages to chose from.

My server- Jordan- was knowledgeable, offering recommendations that feel personal, not scripted. He listened attentively, and my special request—to substitute the regular bacon with their famous Million Dollar bacon—was met with a positive attitude and reassurance that it’s no problem.

When the food arrived, it was aesthetically pleasing and hot. The Million Dollar bacon (one of the things that keeps me recommending this chain of restaurants in multiple states) is the perfect blend of sweet and savory. The cheese grits- I have to admit that I never order grits from restaurants because I’m a southern girl and most don’t get them to my liking - where perfectly textured and flavored. Everything is cooked to perfection, showing care in the kitchen.

Throughout the meal, Jordan checked in at just the right moments, refilling drinks and ensuring everything was to my satisfaction.

The vibe of the place is relaxed but lively, with a soft background of chatter, music and the occasional sound of clinking coffee cups.

The experience wraps up smoothly with the both the hostess and my server- Jordan- promptly offering the check, thanking me warmly, and wishing me a great rest of my day. You can scan the QR code with your mobile phone on the bill and pay right from your seat or pay at the front desk.

You leave feeling satisfied—not just with the meal but with the overall experience, excited to...

The down home country atmosphere really set the tone for what's to come. The hostess and servers were pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu, deals and informed us of upcoming seasonal changes to the menu without being prompted. Everyone made me feel like I had found a southern gem in the north! The hibiscus tea was very balanced not too sweet or too treat and the toffee caramel crunch beverage was a nice treat but both were on their way out with the new years seasonal menu. We started with million dollar bacon and seasonal ginger donutholes. Then for entrees I had the chickenchanga and my wife opted for the triple threat. The eggs were high quality and scrambled perfectly. The sausage had a nice blend of herbs. The potatoes were jam-packed with flavor and fresh fried onions. The chikenchanga was by far the best breakfast burrito I've had in a long time. I'd you're a fan of cheese, chorizo Anna avocados you'll love it. We left with our spirits lifted, our bellies full and smiles on our faces. Very happy to see the brand is consistently good from Kansas to Illinois. The location was great too if you need to do errands before or after brunch. We also appreciated the extra touches like being able to see the short order cooks work their magic due to the open door plan and ensuring the theme was consistent even in the restroom. The only cons: not being able to make a reservation so there's always at least 10 minute table wait, the million dollar bacon is highly overrated so I wouldn't order it again, the fruit was somehow flavorless, the cashier ran out of gift cards right before I checked out and although the staff was super sweet to the customers the hostess and cashier were obviously not getting...