First Watch

So just got here and already not impressed. Long wait, lots of empty tables. Very disorganized, help not very bright. Kids screaming and no place to really wait. Let’s see how the food is? Service was ok after we finally got seated. Food was fine, lots to figure out on the menu. Bacon very well done, asked for eggs over medium, very runny. The waffle was delicious. It was pretty expensive. I am sure I won’t go again. I try to stay away from the chains.

I love going out for breakfast and brunch. Love everything from the super casual diner-​style joints to the more upscale brunch spots. First Watch actually works as a nice middle ground — slightly nicer than the local diners, but still casual and relaxed. I also like that they work to provide healthier options, as sometimes breakfast foods can feel overly heavy.
I’ve gotten quite a few different things there: the chilaquiles, the elevated egg sandwich, the smoked salmon eggs benedict, and the Italian eggs benedict. All are good, but the chilaquiles are, without question, the best thing on their menu. The salsa verde is tangy, with the perfect spice level. I think they’re a seasonal option, though, which will be disappointing if/​when they come off the menu.
The staff is friendly, though service can be a little slow on the weekends (though this is true of many places during the breakfast rush). If you arrive at peak breakfast time, be prepared to wait a little while — there’s often a crowd. Small parties can also sit at the community table, which often has no wait.

My friend and I came on a Sunday at noon. It was not busy. Our waitress took our drinks and food all at once. We waited ten minutes for coffee. Then when our food came I had no syrup on my table for my pancakes. I had to ask the hostess for it before my food got cold. Then when my friend realized there was no dressing on her salad she told another waitress because our waitress was nowhere to be found. Then the waitress instead of admitting the mistake said she would get her «more» dressing (when there was clearly no dressing). Then I went to order something else and it was delivered and set down on the wrong table. Finally we asked for coffee to go. We waited ten minutes then decided to just pay for our meals and hopefully get the coffee at some point. We turn around and our waitress is hanging out doing nothing and sees us and realizes she totally forgot the coffee.
Overall, the food is bland and the service is terrible. I used to love the Good Egg and now I can’t convince anyone to go there again with me.

Saw their commercial and came in today. Everything was delicious! Fresh, loaded club sandwich and skillet that was hot till the end. Best service we’ve had for awhile. Manager Melissa and Jason have done a great job! Servers Jacqueline and Nick were amazing. Prices were reasonable!!! Bathrooms were very clean. Definitely worth a return trip!!! Check them out !!!

Came looking for the Good egg and found this instead and not in a good way. Pancakes were good but deli ham in the omelet? Really? And no potatoes but salad instead? What is this place? If your looking for a traditional breakfast go elsewhere, I know I will.

I came here pretty excited because I’ve been to a first watch before and I was happy to see the chain coming to Tucson. The food was just as good as any other first watch. There’s a good variety of things and a good selection. I’ve had the eggs Benedict and the Belgium waffle here before. The waffle is nice and crunchy on this inside but fluffy on the inside with just a hint of sweetness. So it’s safe to say the food was not the issue. My issue was with the server. It seemed like he was poorly trained and when we asked for things like water and hot sauce his response was «oh, they didn’t get that for you?». I’m not sure who «they» are but that is not an appropriate response. I also heard another server say that to a different table as well and I think this makes the restaurant look bad that their servers do not feel responsible for their own tables.
We were also told at the hostess stand that it would be a 15 min wait and we ended up waiting for 45 mins. When we asked what happened, their respond was «oh it just got really busy». In my experience it is better to over estimate time than underestimate by 30 mins.

I noticed the Good Egg restaurants rebranded to First Watch at the beginning of the year. I know the Good Egg was an Arizona creation established in 80’s and had expanded to multiple locations in Phoenix and Tucson. It seemed very popular with the peeps so I was kind of surprised by the sudden change. Welp… after trying the First Watch… It makes complete sense why this happened. From the the contemporary décor, to the simplified menu, First Watch is a response to the changing times. I had a Ham and Gruyère omelet served with greens and multi grain toast. It was delicious and satisfying. The price was comparable to the Good Egg yet with less guilt. SOOOO… if you are a fan of fatty breakfast foods and nostalgia, there are plenty of other places in Tucson you can patron instead. Don’t come to the First Watch and expect the Good Egg… It’s different, a rare example of something good coming out of Florida. They get that breakfast is the most important meal of the day… Not to be interpreted as important to eat so much that you blow out your pants or require a mid-​morning nap after consumption. 4 stars only? The coffee is meh and the service was a bit on the slow side but not dreadful. Also I hope they do a better job than the Good Egg ever did keeping the menu fresh

Wonderful place for a great breakfast! My husband and I enjoyed a delicious breakfast for lunch today. Superb service (Vanessa was very efficient and friendly), fabulous food and pleasant atmosphere (great acoustics). The Trifecta is a favorite of mine as it includes a Belgian waffle, eggs and sausage link (yum!). You will enjoy the atmosphere and the comfy seating options (large, private booths where the table is actually the right height!). You will be well pleased by this pleasant restaurant!

Absolute mediocrity and the food was a great let down as Good Egg fans. The new décor is nice and the service was acceptable but the food is disappointing. I had the Bacado omelet, which was OK. Not much flavor, unripe avocado, oddly textured eggs. Multigrain toast was good. Overall I wouldn’t order it again. My husband had the Trifecta with sunny side up eggs, turkey sausage and a waffle. Eggs were fine, turkey sausage was good, waffle was far too sweet — before even adding syrup or compote. Tastes very processed. We miss the full flavors of the Southwest and wide menu that the Good Egg had along with the strong Arizona connection/​fun sports vibe (with the waitstaff wearing their favorite team jerseys). This was like eating at a Denny’s with better décor at double the price. If you loved the Good Egg, this place will break your heart.

THE EXPERIENCE:
8:15 on a Saturday morning finds First Watch’s first patrons steadily coming in for breakfast. My friend and I were immediately greeted by Riley as we walked in the door. We liked the décor and feel of the restaurant, lots of lighting and contemporary furniture. We waited awkwardly near the door for about 2 minutes with no sign of the hostess.
Riley was checking someone out at the register and we asked if we were to seat ourselves. She promptly took us to a table where we sat for over 10 minutes while countless servers passed by us averting their gaze. They also stood near the register chatting and occasionally one would acknowledge someone who came in by asking if they had been helped yet. A designated hostess would nip that in the bud.
After several parties around us were seated and also seemingly ignored by the staff, Riley came back to check on us and was very apologetic that no one had even gotten us water. She was very friendly, helpful, and attentive despite the fact that her other tables were on the other side of the restaurant.
THE FOOD:
My friend ordered the traditional breakfast. She liked it. It’s kind of hard to mess up a traditional breakfast.
I ordered the elevated egg sandwich. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t think I would order it again. The egg and sausage were hot, the avocado was cold out of the fridge. Room temp would’ve made it much, much better. I originally had the potatoes as a side, but they were loaded with onion. One bite felt like I had just eaten cooked onions — nothing else. Riley happily subbed a cup of fresh fruit which more than made up for the side of onions.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
This place has a long way to go. Where it hits the mark with atmosphere, presentation, and creative menu offerings — it really hits. Where it misses is customer service (except Riley) and attention to detail — two big things for me when dining out. I might consider coming back once they get more settled, but it won’t be soon. I think the experience for me was a one star, but Riley’s friendliness and attentiveness boosted my rating.

I’m really surprised this place only has 3.5 stars at the time of this review. We stopped in Sunday morning for breakfast and really couldn’t have been more impressed. I can’t wait to go back.
This was one of the best breakfasts that I’ve had in a restaurant in a long time. The food was just amazing! The menu had a wide range of health-​conscious choices as well as more traditional savory breakfast fare. There was wifi, and while we chose to be seated inside, we had a nice view of the outdoor patio, which looked quite comfortable. The portions were more that sufficient for even the largest appetites, and the prices were really quite reasonable.
We were greeted immediately on arrival and seated promptly. Our server, Tammy, was a true pro; she was friendly, efficient, knowledgeable about the menu, and attentive throughout our meal without being intrusive. When we finished and left, the staff made an effort to thank us for stopping in and say goodbye; we felt like valued customers through the whole experience. The only criticism I can think of was that our coffee, unlike the setting, the staff, the amazing food, and the experience as a whole was really pretty average. It was hot and strong, but nothing to write home about and adequate enough to still award five stars.

Just moved back to Tucson from Portland, OR. As I lived there the last 10 years. I tried this place after thinking the Good Egg was still in this location… But I was very impressed and liked it better then the good egg! The healthy options were wonderful and I’m going back for sure! The waitress was very responsive to my allergies, and the staff in general were all very friendly. The place looks much nicer then what I remember the good egg to be. Loved the smoothy and granola /​muesli options too! This is going to be my regular breakfast spot for sure. And I’m excited to try it for lunch too! The prices I thought were reasonable and I can see why the place was so popular for sure.

First time here. The vibe inside was cool and relax. There is a big assortment of breakfast meals on the menu. They offer a wide variety of healthy meals. The wait for our meal was not long. Our waitress is friendly, courteous and helpful. The food presentation was outstanding and the meal itself was very good. I highly recommend the waffle!!!
The only negative part of breakfast is there was some annoying flies inside the restaurant!
I will be back here for breakfast!!!

Veggie omelet was amazing! Bacon is great and the juices are really good! I’m not sure why anybody gives this place a bad review. I’m a food snob and this place meets my requirements.

A great way to get the day rolling.
For the inpatient: broad variety of breakfast choices, many healthy options, very flexible ordering, friendly staff.
I’m probably lucky, in that I have no background of «what came before». All I know is what is, and First Watch is a good place for breakfast. Actually, it’s a damn good place for breakfast. There’s a wide selection, the food is fresh, and the service has been exemplary every time we’ve been here.
I’m also appreciative of how flexible they are in ordering: it’s quite easy to make substitutions if there something in an item you either don’t like or can’t eat. Not to mention the coffee doesn’t suck.
While it is a national chain, that doesn’t preclude it from being good. Whoever manages this particular site is doing a wonderful job of making the customers happy.

I miss The Good Egg… profoundly. I would breakfast/​brunch there two or three mornings each week. My visits to First Watch are much much less frequent. What happened? Most of what I liked about The Good Egg has been lost and what’s new has not impressed me. A breakfast dish that featured avocado came with very un-​ripe avocado that was firm and tasteless. On another occasion a club sandwich came with untoasted white bread (I was told later it was supposed to be sourdough, but it was flavorless) that just crumbled and could not hold together the sandwich. But that’s a sampling of the «new» I don’t care for. But even more problematic is the «old» that I miss:
1) The Good Egg had the best bacon in town. Thick and meaty, it was the best. No longer.
2) The new more limited menu has 86’d my favorite dishes, many of which had a flavor punch from Southwest influences… the Huevos Rancheros, Old Pueblo, Wildcat Scramble, Macho Nacho, etc. These offered me an occasional indulgence and diversification from my more routine bacon/​sausage and egg breakfasts.
3) There used to be a selection of coffees including a special coffee than was most often a dark roast or a full-​bodied Sumatran. No more.
4) I always choose to exclude potatoes from my dishes. The Good Egg would always substitute some Greek yogurt in its place with a dispenser of honey.
5) No longer is there a loyalty punch card. No longer is there my loyalty.
Service and décor are both very good. But the primary reason to visit, the food, is just not what it used to be.

Look. I am a breakfast hound. I train for powerlifting and martial arts, so I try to start my days right.
I have been going to The Good Egg for years. The menu was a bit complex, but the food was good, properly proportioned and a solid value. The servers – WITHOUT EXCEPTION – were attentive, friendly and fast. I had my usual orders with some of the delicious flavored iced teas. I never left hungry or disappointed.
Then the owners pumped a bunch of money into a new interior, new menu and a new name: The First Watch. I have no idea what the new name means, given that the décor is some fusion of urban/​farm stuff. Needless to say, I was skeptical.
My concerns were quickly allayed.
The menu is simpler with fresher ingredients. The food is AWESOME. My new favorites are the quinoa power bowl (with an extra egg) and the chorizo/​avocado omelet with artisan toast. The fresh preserves are a bonus.
The servers remain excellent. That has not changed.
If you want a great breakfast or a healthy lunch, you’d best be steppin’ to The First Watch. You will not be disappointed.

This place needs some help. Not sure how long it’s been around, I know it used to be the good egg. The menu looked amazing unfortunately we were sitting down for 20 minutes and went unnoticed. There were about 12 tables occupied at 10:46 when we were seated. Witnessed about 6 different servers pass by the table with no acknowledgment. At 11:10 we got up and headed to the front hostess to request a manager and advise of the situation. Got offered a complementary meal but declined. First Impressions are everything, and this place will never get my business.

First off let me start by saying i LOVE the Fresh orange juice here. So as I’m waiting to get my food this oj already has me thinking about how amazing the meal is going to be. I ordered the works omelet, this thing is HUGE! And very tasty. I would recommend this to everyone! This place is amazing!

Great food! First time eating here. Avocado toast was great serving size and nice and healthy breakfast option (: