First Watch — Restaurant in Westlake

Horrible experience on our way back to NJ. Fiancé and I came in around 10a. We were directed by some thin-haired hostess to “Just sit over there,” not walking us to the table like other patrons. I responded “Which table,” since she waved in the general direction of over ten tables. She sighed, and walked us over to an obviously dirty table. We immediately voiced that the table had a whole meal on it, and she put her one finger up in the “just a moment” sign, and walked away. We waited about five minutes, and our server came. I asked if she able to bring us some napkins to wipe up the spilled and dried coffee and vegetables off of the table. She obliged, and took our orders. About six more groups of people arrived, ordered, and were seemingly served their orders, while my fiancé and I drank an entire carafe of coffee. At 1106, I realized at that least three of the groups of people who came after us, had ordered and been served, paid and left. I asked our server when she passed by if she had an update on our food, since it had been nearly an hour since we ordered. Additionally, it had to be noted that it was not busy. She said “Oh,” like she realized we hadn’t eaten, and rushed to the back. My fiancé and I decided we were going to pay for the coffee and leave, and tried to wait for the server to let her know. Fifteen more minutes passed by, and we realized no one was coming. We gathered our stuff, and the server finally returned with our food, including with a carrot cake pancake that was made apparently Cajun-style. We told them we had waited too long, and left to pay the bill. The manager sent up the token African American server to apologize and tell us that the coffee “was on the house.” For anyone wondering, I can’t help but believe that if we have been white, we would’ve been shown to a clean table and fed, like all of the other folks in the restaurant. One star, do not recommend....

So place is a little pricey for 4 breakfast meals and one being a kids breakfast (6.99), it costs us close to 70$. However, I do have to say the food was so good. I been to First Watch when I came out to Ohio 10 years ago for a weekend for my brother's wedding. So we just came back last week for a visit and my brother was showing me around and he mentioned a couple of places in Crocker Park-First Watch being one of them. I also searched the night before the Google reviews, and what are must trys. So my son got the Tri-fecta with a multi grain pancake with fruits and whipped cream on top and cleared the plate. My youngest son got the chocolate chip pancake with bacon, he at about 90% of the pancake, all the bacon and his cup of chocolate milk. My husband got the Floridian French toast, 2 slices of toast that filled up the plate, and he ate the whole thing. And I got the Chickechunga (incorrectly spelled) with the million dollar bacon. And Oh My God, I never tasted something so fabulous, and the bacon was unreal and just so pleasant and tasteful. There are 4 slices that come with it, and I did share it. The coffee was good also, and our waitress also very nice, offered to give me a take out cup so I can enjoy the full pot of coffee that I bought.

Also, I do want to mention, from the time that I came in, the host and all the staff were very pleasant. Also, my family we are an interracial family, me being Caucasian, my husband a black Dominican, and my children who are clearly mixed had no issues with anyone in the restaurant, they made us all feel very welcome. Let alone the diversity that filled the restaurant when we were there. I being a white woman, got complimented on my shirt by the two POC in there. I didn't see no racial injustices. I will definitely be back again....

This was the worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant in my life. I will say when we arrived the host/manager was amazing! Very upbeat,friendly and very aware of everything going on around him. Had everything under control. Once seated, it went downhill from there. Our waitress took our drink and food order. We did not see her again until we flagged someone down for things we needed and food that we did not receive. I sent bacon back that was undercooked(which I ordered crispy) to have cooked a little longer and it was never brought back. When I asked for it to be cooked longer the waitress grabbed it abruptly and rolled her eyes. I asked for ketchup since the one on the table was empty and my daughter and husband needed drinks. She brought us all to go cups. My daughter and myself were almost done with our meal before they even brought my husband's food out. As we got up to leave we proceeded to the checkout to pay our bill and when asked how everything was I stated not very well. The cashier said " Oh, will that be cash or card?" I then asked to speak to a manager. As I started explaining what happened I saw our waitress come back to the table where we sat and slam down the plate of bacon. She yelled over to us and the manager and said "it was me, what is the issue and proceeded to scream at us from across the restaurant. A full restaurant at that. It was very embarrassing! The manager offered to pay for our meal but it was not about that. I have never been waited on or treated so horrible in a restaurant! She complained she was overwhelmed because she had 3 tables. I stated if she was overwhelmed with 3 tables she needed to find another job she could handle and not treat...