First Watch — Restaurant in Oak Ridge

I’m thrilled that FW has made its way to Oak Ridge—finally, a true sit‑down breakfast spot in town!

Walking in, you’ll immediately notice the open, airy layout. There are tables, booths, bar/counter seats, plus outdoor seating, and windows galore that flood the room with natural light. It’s bright, cheerful, and instantly welcoming.

Every visit I’ve made, the place has been spotless—dining room, restrooms, everything. Plus the WiFi is solid, making this a great weekday spot to work from when I want to linger; they’ve always seemed fine with me setting up at the bar counter in the corner and staying until closing.

Service has always been great. Contrary to some negative reviews I’ve seen, I’ve not had a bad experience here. Every server has been courteous, attentive, and hustling—nothing sloppy, no waiting around.

As for the food—nothing but hits so far. Every dish I’ve ordered has been delicious, the temperature spot‑on, and the presentation pleasing. Some of my favorite go‑tos:

Morning Meditation Fresh Juice — crisp and refreshing

Market Hash — two cage‑free eggs any style, atop fresh seasoned potatoes, with house‑roasted Crimini mushrooms, zucchini, shallots, red peppers, baby spinach, melted Mozzarella, and herbed Goat cheese; served with whole grain artisan toast

Bacado Omelet — bacon, avocado, Monterey Jack, topped with sour cream, served with house‑made Pico de Gallo, lemon‑dressed organic mixed greens, and artisan toast

They even rotate seasonal menu items, so there’s always something new to try. Portions are generous—you’re getting your money’s worth and likely won’t be hungry again until dinner.

Bottom line: I’m a big fan. FW has raised the bar for breakfast in Oak Ridge, and I’m so glad they’re here. Highly...

With much anticipation we waited for First Watch to open in Oak Ridge. Today we finally got to give it a try.

We ordered a couple of Purple Hazes which were incredibly tasty (pictured). This is a nice summer drink and is very pretty. My husband ordered the Avocado Toast which was delish. It came with two eggs / you can pick how you’d like them. He went with fried sunny side up and two pieces of the toast.

I order the 2 For You combo with the roast beef half sandwich and the chicken avocado salad. (Pictured). The roast beef came on grilled Parmesan bread with horseradish sauce on the side. I’m a huge fan of horseradish so I was happy. The sandwich was great. The salad was nice too but for me, there was too much food.

Our waitress Megan, I think, was delightful. She was personable and efficient. The interior was clean and ever seemed to fit into the theme and colors. It was a nice experience.

My only complaint was that it seemed there was a rush for us to leave. A couple waiting for a booth came around and looked to see if our table was clear; I was still trying to get through my salad. The bus boy walked by us a couple of times eager to clear the table and no one asked if I wanted a box for my salad. I get it as it was lunchtime.

So, would we go again? Yes. Would we go during the...

This trip was not as great as other visits. Ranch was very bland and not much flavor with the Cobb salad. Service was fast on food, but the server went to get syrup and was gone forever. She mentioned my salad was missing crunch things, but she never brought them, so Idk if they were good or not. When she did come back, she didn't have the syrup for the kids' waffle. The waffle was getting very cold. Luckily, the syrup was heated when it finally came, and the waffle did not need to be returned. My server was not around for a bit, so I asked, a different server for a vinaigrette. She said she would get it even though she was not our server. However, she never returned. When our server returned, I asked her for the different dressing. Service was very slow for everything but the actual meal. Definitely, I would have enjoyed the salad with a bit more flavor dressing. Breakfast will be my meal of choice here. When we go back. Usually, this place is great just not at...