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First Watch
Rating Details »
Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown700 Walnut St #100
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 721-4744
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
7 reviews for First Watch
First Watch downtown is a serviceable breakfast spot. Nothing wrong with the place--it's clean, food is fine, service is fine, prices are fair. It's just kind of anonymous. It could be any decent breakfast place anywhere. Nothing on the menu that we tried was exceptional, nothing was bad. I think the Belgian waffle was above average, though, so I'd recommend getting that (with eggs and sausage as part of a 'Tri-fecta' it's a good deal.
Treat this as a refueling stop in downtown and you will be satisfied, just no reason to go out of your way to visit.
Why is this considered a Cincinnati institution exactly? It seemed pretty plain to me. Service was good but breakfast was only so-so. I had the Bacon Avocado omelette. I think they called it Bacocado or Avobacon or something clever. Clearly, I'm not as clever as First Watch! The consistency of the omelette was okay, the eggs were fluffy, but they piled it with heavy sour cream. There are two places one should never use sour cream and those are: 1) the Bedroom and 2) In an omelette!
It came with a side of salsa, which was more like ketchup with some onions thrown in for looks. Totally nasty. The "idea" of this omelette looked great on paper, but was completely lost in translation. Also, do people in Ohio not eat Oatmeal? Didn't see it on First Watch's menu nor on my hotel room service menu either. Are y'all hatin' on the Quaker oats guy? Don't hate the Quaker, hate the game!
I liked it!
There's lots to choose from off of their menu. I ended up ordering the mushroom and cheese omelette. My husband went for the Belgian waffle.
My omelette was quite delicious. I didn't think I'd finish the whole thing, but I did. It was served with home fries (which were like small pieces of steak fries... so good) and an English muffin. I don't think I've had an English muffin in a long long time, and now I'm on an English muffin kick. It was just so buttery and crunchy and good!
There are lots of condiments available on the table: half and half, assorted jams, sugar, ketchup, tabasco sauce. The table that we were at had a ledge next to it, so we were able to move some of these items up there to make more room. A nice convenience.
When you order tea, they bring you an entire rack of teas to select from, plus your own little pot of hot water.
I had a bite of the Belgian waffle and it was yummy. It came with a blueberry sauce on the side. Mmmm.
Definitely a nice place to have brunch and meet up with friends. Service was quick and friendly. It wasn't too crowded when we went at 10 a.m., but it was filling up when we were just about to leave.
Easter Sunday and nothing in downtown Cincinnati is open (and actually when it is it looks closed, like this spot). I got the heads up on this brunch spot from a hotel doorman and was sooo pleased it was open and bustling inside.
I had no idea this was a chain, nor that it was so popular. But I didn't have to wait as there were plenty of tables for small groups or lone diners like me. I love that I get my own fresh pot of coffee...it seemed to taste better than any other cafe coffee because of that...placebo effect?
I ordered off of the healthy menu: fruit crepes with yogurt, granola and a muffin (which I carried in my pocket up Mt Adams, to the airport in the cab and onto my flight only to dump it before I landed in LAX?! What an odd boy I am ;0 )
Not bad on a weekday for breakfast. Just unsure what all the hype is about.
Overcrowded, overpriced, and overrated. Yes, this is good breakfast food, with excellent pancakes, but it's not worth standing in line on a cold Sunday morning to eat those pancakes or the slightly less successful eggs benedict. First Watch is a national chain and seems to be everybody's favorite breakfast joint in Cincy, but I don't think it's all that. I'd rather take my newspaper to Kaldi's in Over-the-Rhine and have the bagel breakfast sandwich.
It's like Denny's but with waitresses who don't have a cigarette dangling out of their mouth when they bring you your food.
