First Watch — Restaurant in Wilmington

08-28-21

Back in June 2017 in Omaha we went to a restaurant called Railcar Modern American Kitchen and on their Brunch Menu they had Lemon Ricotta Pancakes which my wife fell in love with. We couldn’t find any other restaurant in Omaha that could match these pancakes until First Watch opened. In 2019 we moved to Wilmington and the search started over again. In October 2020 First Watch came to Wilmington but unfortunately their Lemon Ricotta Pancakes didn’t match up. Then on Saturday August 28, 2021, bingo, we hit the jackpot at the First Watch in the Independence Mall.

Now for the bad news, I’m 77 years old, fully vaccinated and have been diagnosed with Heart Failure. A couple of months age, I probably wouldn’t have mentioned this, but with the Delta variant running wild and attacking vaccinated people, thing have changed. I noted that several of the Waitstaff wore their masks like scarfs around their necks exposing both nose and mouth, this is contrary to both CDC and State guidelines. It is the first business that I have been in recently, that shows such blatant disrespect for its customers.

Now for the good food news, as you can guess my wife had their Lemon Ricotta Pancakes which they describe as” We add fresh, whipped ricotta cheese to our multigrain batter. Served as a ”mid-stack” of two pancaked topped with marinated berries, creamy lemon curd and powered cinnamon sugar”. My wife just described it as “OH YAH!!”. She also had her standard side of crispy bacon which they prepared to her liking. I ordered The Works omelet which contains ham, bacon, sausage, house-roasted Cremini Mushrooms, onions and tomatoes with Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Topped with all-natural sour cream with a side of “floppy” bacon. It was delicious.

Although their Bloody Mary’s are average, the way they serve them is unique and I think need to be mentioned. They are served in a Swing Flip Top Glass Bottle, this allows you to add additional hot sauce and shake it, to customize the Bloody Mary to your taste, without spilling any. This is a lot harder to do if the Bloody Mary is served in a glass and all dressed out.

I would have given this restaurant a 5 Star review, but I just couldn’t give that rating to a restaurant that puts it customer’s health in danger, thus the 3 Star rating. Hopefully they will give their staff instructions on the correct way to ware a face mast as...

Here’s a glowing review for The First Watch Breakfast Restaurant at Oleander Dr:

I can’t say enough great things about The First Watch Breakfast Restaurant on Oleander Drive in Wilmington! This has quickly become my go-to spot, and for good reason. Every visit feels like a treat, with food that’s not only delicious but also thoughtfully prepared with a healthy twist. The ingredients are always fresh, the meals are cooked to perfection, and the portions? Generous enough to leave you completely satisfied—but not uncomfortably so.

One of the best parts about dining here is how impressively fast the food arrives. Whether you’re popping in for a quick bite or settling in for a leisurely breakfast, you never have to wait long, which is a lifesaver during a busy day.

And let me take a moment to rave about the staff. The service here is outstanding—consistently friendly, welcoming, and attentive. It’s clear that the team genuinely cares about making every guest feel at home.

To top it all off, this place offers the best value for money in Wilmington. It’s rare to find a restaurant where quality, portion size, and affordability align so perfectly, but The First Watch nails it every time.

If you’re looking for a breakfast or brunch spot that ticks all the boxes—healthy, delicious, fast, friendly, and affordable—you really can’t go wrong with The First Watch on Oleander Drive. It’s hands down my favourite place to eat...

First Watch at Independence Mall has become something of a go-to for us after being disappointed by other restaurants. We ate there this morning to celebrate Father's Day; my son has been working double shifts this summer and said he'd treat. Signing up for the wait list before leaving home is brilliant. We were seated 5 minutes after arrival and got a prime table. Our waitress was prompt, engaging, just fantastic. Coffee was good. We each ordered entrees (BLT Benedict for me, BLTE for the wife, and the big breakfast with eggs, pork, potatoes, and toast for the boy), and as is our way ordered a 'breakfast dessert' for the table, Tres Leche French toast with strawberries and whipped cream, which was excellent. I get it was 11:30 on a busy Sunday, and i should have expected the kichen to be in the weeds. It was. My eggs were overdone, which spoiled my expectations of a runny yolk mixing with the hollandaise. The hollandaise had too much lemon, too little salt, no cayenne. The plate was under seasoned, and the salad was wilted. My SO's BLTE was a disappointment. The bread wasn't toasted, there was something like mandarin orange in the sandwich, the yolk was hard, the tomatoes unflavorful. It was a mess. We tipped our waitress generously but will be looking around for...