First Watch — Restaurant in Shelby Charter Township

Or food was good but the process from checking in online to checking in in the restaurant was an issue. We checked in online at 10 am for 5 people. This said 40-55 min wait. We got to the restaurant at 10:30 and physically checked in. They told us it would be about 15 more min. After 25 more minutes, we checked our time. They told us only a few more minutes that 3 more parties were ahead of us. They proceeded to seat 6 more smaller parties. I finally said something to the male host. He said it's not a great system and a lot of larger parties get bumped because smaller parties. After seeing 3 more parties of 2, 3 & 4 were seated I said something to the female host seating everyone. She claimed we weren't being bumped and that they obviously couldn't seat a larger group at a smaller table but we watched her separate multiple tables to seat smaller groups. We asked to be sat at the open booth in the back. She told us no that she already alerted another group. She sat 2 more small groups then came back and sat us at the large booth she originally told us no. We were finally seated at 11:10. Our waitress was nice and tried to do the best she could but she seemed very overwhelmed and may have been short staffed. We didn't get our food until noon then didn't get silverware until about 5 min later. We asked for drink refills but ended up getting them in Togo cups from waiting so long. It is a very popular place and was very busy but disappointed when we were told multiple different times and overlooked throughout our visit. The food and the waitress were nice and we will be coming back but our experience this time was very underwhelming. There seems to be no point in adding to the online waiting system because we still didn't get seated until 45 minutes after we physically check ed in and I feel that that was only because I...

I'm only writing this review because I'm too upset to wait until tomorrow to speak to a manager. I order my food around 12:50/1:00 pm. I'm at work and have a set lunch. My food was supposed to be here by 2:24 pm, I get a text around 1:23 saying there is an issue, I contacted the restaurant and the young lady who took my call basically told me they had a ticket, she didn't see what was wrong with it, I mentioned that that for some reason there was two forms of payment on my receipt (one of which the card is no longer active) and maybe that was the issue. She asked if it was a pick up and I stated it was a delivery and she goes on to tell me that they don't do delivery and that is done through doordash, I explained that I did the order through the website and she continued to say that delivery is powered through doordash and maybe give them a call. I get it is powered through door dash but the order was still done through their website. She basically told me I called during their rush hour and someone will give me a call back. Well thank you for making me feel like my order was not important even though it was submitted 20 minutes prior to that phone conversation and then NO ONE CALLED ME BACK! So not only did I feel my situation was pushed to the back burner but then to not call me back to get it fixed, I'm baffled! I proceeded to call them and now they're closed. I will never order anything from this location again. I've never had this issue with the Sterling Heights location and the only reason I didn't order from them today was because the online ordering was down per the website. I am definitely giving corporate a call about this, poor...

I can't say enough good things about the First Watch family at the 23 Mile and Hayes location in Shelby, MI. The food is great, but the real reason we keep coming back is because of Carol, who runs the place, and the incredible wait staff—April, RJ, Jess, Delaney, and so many others! We've been coming here multiple times a week with my dad for over three years, ever since my mom passed, and it’s become like a second family to him. Carol and the crew always make him feel special, with everyone stopping by to say hello—even when they’re not serving us.

Yesterday was something truly special. My dad, who has been battling cancer, had part of his lip removed in surgery on Tuesday. It had been a tough couple of days, but by Sunday, he was eager to return to see his First Watch family—stitches and all! Not only did Carol and the crew greet him warmly and express how happy they were to see him, but they also surprised him with a card signed by the entire team and a $20 gift card. He was beaming and opened that card several times during our meal, smiling ear to ear.

First Watch isn’t just a restaurant to us—it’s an extension of our family and a place where my dad feels seen, valued, and cared for. Thank you, Carol and the entire Shelby First Watch team, for the difference you’ve made in my father’s life—and ours. Your card now sits proudly on his entryway table for...