It wasn’t all that long ago that breakfast options in Frisco were pretty limited…. the Depot Café, IHOP, and Le Peep, but that was about it. As Frisco has grown, the “breakfast out” options have expanded accordingly.
One of the newer options is First Watch, which bills itself as the “daytime café,” and it opened in August at Lebanon Road and Preston Road in a space formerly occupied by the Egg and I. First Watch, which serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch, got its start in 1983 in California. The company was founded by two former Le Peep executives and is now based in Bradenton, Florida.
As for the food, their breakfast options are bountiful. Naturally, there are plenty of egg-based dishes like several varieties of Eggs Benedict, omelets, and frittatas, but there are also the breakfast sweets and starches like French toast, pancakes, and waffles.
Touting a breakfast special, it consists of one pumpkin pancake with two eggs any style with a choice of breakfast meat. Initially, I was skeptical thinking one pancake would not be sufficient to fill me up, but their friendly server assured me the flapjacks were plate-sized, so I went with the special. But the best thing about their breakfast special is that all of the proceeds from that dish go to help No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit that provides healthy after-school meals to children in need.
First Watch offers several other varieties of pancakes including banana granola crunch, blueberry, carrot cake, chocolate chip, and lemon ricotta. Their French toast is made from thick-cut brioche bread and is available in two varieties. With sides like biscuits and gravy, breakfast tacos, an egg sandwich, or several varies of hash, you won’t leave First Watch hungry. They also offer something dubbed the Chickichanga, a breakfast-themed version of the Tex–Mex chimichanga staple.
For those who are trying to be “extra good” calorie-wise, First Watch features a healthier side of their menu with steel-cut oatmeal, a power wrap, and several other wholesome and healthy options.
My server wasn’t lying when she said the pancakes are huge because my pumpkin pancake was enormous. It was also rather thick and fluffy, and quite delicious as there was plenty of pumpkin flavor. The size of the pancake reminded me of a Houston institution, The Buffalo Grille, where my late father and I used to eat frequently while he worked in the Bayou City.
I opted for two scrambled eggs, in addition to my pumpkin pancake, which were perfectly cooked, and some turkey sausage, which was also outstanding. I added an order of two nice-sized turkey sausage links that were unlike any store-bought turkey sausage I’ve ever tasted… savory and spectacular. Just in case I didn’t get enough, I added a side of breakfast potatoes of the home-fry variety.
Other breakfast meat options besides the sausage links include hardwood smoked bacon, smoked ham, or pork sausage. First Watch’s potatoes were also top-notch, featuring nicely cooked chunks of potato with a little bit of onion sprinkled in for flavor. A great way to round out any breakfast at First Watch would be to have some of their Sunrise select coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice, or maybe a thirst-quencher from their fresh juice bar.
The restaurant’s interior features a wide open and rather rustic space, giving it an inviting vibe for anyone, Whether you want to grab a meal alone, get something on the go, take the family somewhere for a nice meal, or bring visitors from out of town, First Watch will meet any and all appetites.
But First Watch doesn’t only serve breakfast and brunch. They also serve lunch before closing at 2:30 each afternoon. Among their lunch offerings are four different salads, including a Cobb Salad and a Sweet Honey Pecan Salad, eight different sandwiches including a BLTE (a BLT with an egg), a club sandwich, and a mouth-watering ham & gruyere melt. Can’t decide? First Watch will let you pick two selections from selected sandwiches, salads, and soups.
One thing First Watch prides itself on is the fact that it doesn’t have deep-fryers or heat lamps at any of its locations. That plus the fact that everything is fresh made-to-order ensures their commitment to freshness is never compromised.
Hours:
Sunday – Saturday 7AM – 2:30PM daily
Location
northeast corner of Lebanon and Preston Road
5404 Preston Road, Frisco TX 75034
469.362.5500