Copy of First Watch

There are few things greater than finding a restaurant with straight A’s in all four spheres; atmosphere, service, price, and quality. Lucky for me, one of these highly recognized restaurants is a hop skip and a jump from where I reside. First Watch is a breakfast restaurant that is located on the corner of Wade Green and Jiles rd. They serve traditional breakfast food like pancakes, bacon, and eggs; but they also offer a twist on these traditional breakfast foods such as the elevated egg sandwich, lemon ricotta pancakes, and the farm stand breakfast tacos. I will go ahead and tell you that this post will make you want to stop what you are doing and head out to First Watch to enjoy one of these favorites. However, unlike the 24 hour Waffle House down the road, First Watch is only open from the wee hours of 7:00 am to 2:30 in the afternoon. So those of us that like to enjoy breakfast for dinner cannot do so in the comfort of First Watch’s hospitality.

I would like to review First Watch in all four spheres; atmosphere, service, price, and quality. Starting with the most exciting part, the quality of the food! I have been to this location various times and have tried various items on the menu and have never been disappointed in my choice. However, my go-to order is the elevated egg sandwich. This sandwich comes out perfect every time and is always satisfying. It comes with a fresh, over-easy cage-free egg, two strips of perfectly cooked bacon, Gruyere cheese, fresh smashed avocado, mayo and lemon dressed arugula, perfectly layered onto a brioche bun. Let me tell you, the egg dripping over the edge of the sandwich is basically how I look drooling over the thought of having one of these right now. The potatoes come as a side and are normally cooked to perfection, although sometimes I feel like if they were smaller and crispier, I would like them better.

The restaurant prides itself on their idea of farm fresh food. Their slogan “yeah, it’s fresh” is advertised on the menu as well as in the restaurant. They describe food items as exactly what they are, fresh; Fresh avocados, fresh fruit, and fresh baked muffin to name a few. They are also particular about expressing food items in such a way that educates their customers about where it is from. For example, using phrases like all-natural house preserves, fresh cage-free eggs, and all-natural white meat chicken. They also add the calories next to the menu items to help portray their brand as health conscious.

Other than having high quality food, First Watch also provides a unique atmosphere for their customers. When you walk in you will feel the farm fresh vibe they work so hard to portray. With décor such as shiplap floors, sliding barn doors, cast iron skillets on a wire wall, and wooden lighting elements, they provide an atmosphere that matches their product of farm fresh food. Every time I have gone in there it has been lively and busy sometimes creating an hour long wait that people are willing to wait for. Tip: if you are going on a weekend morning there is bound to be a wait, skip the line by putting your name on the waitlist before you leave the house and to be able see how many parties are ahead of you. You can use the Yelp! app to do this.

The service at the Kennesaw location is phenomenal. I have come to know most of the servers there because of how many times I have been there. There is always a hostess at the front door that greets you and either sits you or puts you on a waitlist. Normally, after being seated, a server will be at your assistance within seconds. Sometimes it takes a little longer depending on the volume. When you are introduced to the server you are asked if you would like to have coffee, if you say yes they pour you some immediately and leave the coffee pot on the table for you to self-serve and if you say no they take the mug out of your way. I have always experienced friendly service when going to First Watch. The food comes out in a respectable timely manner with respect to volume. However, like any restaurant mistakes can be made causing a longer wait time. What matters to me is how situations like that are handled. To me, if I am being compensated for a drastic wait time, I am a happy camper.

The prices on the menu are great in comparison to quality. The entrees vary from $7.99 to $11.79 and in my opinion the prices are fair. You are getting fresh food, the atmosphere, and great service. In this case you are paying for the quality of the food and the experience. It is not your average breakfast joint. You aren’t going to have a pancake for a dollar or two because of the ingredients that go into the pancake.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this spot. Not only would I recommend it to people living in the Kennesaw area but I would also recommend it to people further out. It is worth the drive.