First Watch — Restaurant in River Forest

Hello Foodzies, today we went to a restaurant in River Forest; First Watch at 7215 w Lake St. the restaurant officially opens Sept. 1st., but they had a tasting. All the meals were free; they just only asked that we tip the server and if we chose donate to the local food pantry. The restaurant is brand new so it was bright and clean. The restaurant was bustling so it was a little loud, but tolerable. Our server Ju Ju was awesome. She was helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. We were given, what they called a limited menu; which was quite voluminous. The menu covered many different categories (healthy, omelets and frittatas, power bowls, pancakes and waffles) each of us had an entree and we were also given a choice of a side dish to share. We ordered the A.M. superfoods bowl (Coconut milk chia seed pudding, fresh bananas and berries, mixed berry compote, housemade granola with almonds and our whole grain artisan toast with almond butter and Maldon sea salt) this was hearty, flavorful and healthy, Eggs Benedict (Two poached cage-free eggs atop toasted ciabatta with hollandaise. Served with lemon-dressed organic mixed greens) the mix of these items made for a tasty bite, Chicken Avocado Chop (Chopped romaine and arugula, all-natural chicken breast, avocado, tomatoes, corn, black beans, reta cheese and crispy tortila strips with citrus chipotle dressing) this was an explosion of flavor and texture and the Works omelet (Ham, bacon, sausage, house-roasted Crimini mushrooms, onions and tomatoes with Cheddar and Monterey Jack. Topped with all-natural sour cream). Another tasty meal, the cheese, mushrooms and array of meat meld together well and the arugula salad and whole grain toast added a nice refreshing textural experience. There were a couple miss steps (the one of poached eggs was over cooked and the million dollar bacon was cold) these were brought to the attention of Ju Ju who in turn notified the manager; Danielle who took care of everything she had them remake the bacon and eggs and also included the million dollar potatoes (potatoes, grilled onions, sour cream and bacon) these were awesome. I added the newly poached eggs to it and I could have made this a meal all by itself. I definitely give this restaurant 5 stars. Give it a try and let me know your opinion. Ciao, Ciao for now. Don’t forget to follow me on TikTok...

Customer service is always the first thing I pay attention to when I walk into any establishment—and this restaurant truly delivered.

From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by Carolyn at the host stand. Despite it being a busy day with a 15-minute wait, Carolyn welcomed us with a bright smile and friendly demeanor. She quickly offered us seating at the bar when she learned we were short on time—a small gesture that made a big impact. Her attentiveness and proactive thinking set the tone for what became a truly exceptional dining experience.

At the bar, we were fortunate to be served by Levi, who was an absolute standout. He greeted us immediately, got our drinks started without delay, and offered thoughtful recommendations from the menu. I trusted his suggestion and it did not disappoint. But what impressed me most was Levi’s unwavering work ethic—he never stopped moving, never missed a beat, and never let his attention to guests falter. Even between tasks, he was helping others and jumping in wherever needed, multitasking, all without being asked. It was clear that providing top-tier service is just who he is.

So impressed was I, I had to speak with the manager—and I’m glad I did. Erik, the manager on duty, received my praise with sincere appreciation. Just like Levi, he was actively engaged, visible, and hands-on—truly leading by example. It’s rare to see management so present and involved in the daily flow.

One final detail that really stood out: from our seats at the bar, I noticed a food prep team member very carefully handling raw bacon with gloves, taking clear precautions to prevent cross-contamination. As someone who doesn’t eat pork, seeing this kind of care in the kitchen meant a lot to me. Cleanliness and food safety clearly matter here.

This was my first visit to this location, and it absolutely won me over. Carolyn, Levi, and Erik—thank you for making it such a seamless and memorable experience. Keep up the...

This is a relatively new spot and my first time here, so.... First impressions, parking lot? NUTS. It doesn't help there's a construction crane taking up two rows of much needed spaces, but that's hardly the restaurant's fault. Plan at least 15 minutes to find a spot at peak periods. Decor? Modern farmhouse. Kudos to the decorator who placed roomy, turquoise wicker pub stools at the bar. They are divine. Menu? The selection could be better. They offer minimal egg/breakfast dishes (a few Benedicts, 2 skillets, 2 pancake choices and 1 waffle/French toast option, oatmeal and 1 combo). I was disappointed in the selection but ordered the Farmer's skillet. It came with their house cubed potatoes. This style of potato isn't my fav as I find in most places they're very often served cold and/or dry. Plus, I'm a hash brown chic. But I digress, these potatoes were simply dyno. They were hot and full of flavor and I was pleasantly surprised. The other ingredients were well prepared and delish. My only wish was that there was a bit more cheese in the dish. The coffee? I had the decaf, it came and sorry, but this was a hard no. I had originally asked for a decaf iced coffee, couldn't get that either as it's a pre-mixed product. So, if you're a decaf person you're pretty much SOL. They offer a few salads and sandwiches to round out their menu. Think Panera. All-in-all it was decent and will return for the food. ...