How do employees rate First Watch?

Employees rate First Watch 3.6 out of 5 stars based on 1,889 anonymous reviews on Glassdoor. In 2026 , First Watch employees have voted their company to be one of Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work.

How can I get a job at First Watch?

To get a job at First Watch, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at First Watch and prepare for tough questions.

Do people recommend working at First Watch?

Overall, 59% of employees would recommend working at First Watch to a friend. This is based on 1,889 anonymously submitted reviews on Glassdoor.

How do job seekers rate their interview experience at First Watch?

71% of job seekers rate their interview experience at First Watch as positive. Candidates give an average difficulty score of 1.9 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) for their job interview at First Watch.

How do employees rate the business outlook for First Watch?

59% of employees think that First Watch has a positive business outlook . This is based on anonymous employee reviews submitted on Glassdoor.

Working at First Watch

First Watch Snapshot

3.6

based on 1,885 ratings

59% would recommend to a friend

Chris Tomasso

68% approve of CEO

Restaurants & CafesIndustry

Mission At First Watch, our “You First” mission is to Make Days Brighter. We do this every day in ways big and small. We take a lot of pride in the way we make our employees and customers feel – but even so, we’re always looking for ways to pursue even more goodness. This document includes select examples of our aspiration to always strive for better.

Description First Watch is the leading Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using the freshest ingredients available. Guided by its “Follow the Sun” culinary philosophy, First Watch's chef-driven menu rotates five times a year to feature the highest-quality flavors at their peak, offering elevated executions of classic favorites, fresh juices like the Kale Tonic, and fan favorites such as the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Quinoa Power Bowl, and signature Million Dollar Bacon. For every kid’s meal served, First Watch proudly donates a portion to organizations and causes making a positive impact in our communities – raising more than $1.7 million to date. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” awards, First Watch was voted 2025’s #1 Best Breakfast by Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards and was also named 2025 and 2024’s #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America by the Best Practice Institute (as seen in The Wall Street Journal), after appearing on the list in 2022 and 2023 as well. With a commitment to quality, hospitality, and community, First Watch is redefining Daytime Dining across more than 600 restaurants in 32 states. For more information, visit www.firstwatch.com.

Life at First Watch

Why work with us?

Why First Watch

You First Culture

Careers

Best Place To Work

Giving Back

Because at First Watch, we begin each morning at the crack of dawn, slicing and juicing fresh fruits and vegetables, baking muffins and whipping up our French toast batter from scratch. And just as we greet each morning with the sunrise, we welcome each season into the First Watch menu with ingredients and flavors inspired by the position of the sun. Freshness is never compromised - as we use only the finest ingredients available for the freshest taste possible.

In addition to no night shifts, ever and our fully chef-curated menu, our #1 priority has always been our people. We care about our customers, and we care about our people! That’s where our YOU FIRST culture begins – each day, we put our employees first and strive to make them happy. They are empowered with an independence to make decisions that will help provide an exceptional breakfast, brunch, or lunch experience for their customers.

Company updates

First Watch

4mo

First Watch Named a Best Place to Work in Consumer Services for 2026 First Watch is proud to share that we’ve been recognized as a winner of Glassdoor’s 2026 Employees’ Choice Awards, earning a spot on the list of Best Places to Work in Consumer Services. What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that, unlike other workplace awards, there is no self‑nomination or application process. This honor is based entirely on the voluntary and anonymous feedback shared by our employees on Glassdoor. A huge thank you to our employees for their honest feedback and continued support. Your insights help us grow, improve, and remain a great place to work....Show more

First Watch Named a Best Place to Work in Consumer Services for 2026 First Watch is proud to share that we’ve been recognized as a winner of Glassdoor’s 2026 Employees’ Choice Awards, earning a spot on the list of Best Places to Work in Consumer Services. What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that, unlike other workplace awards, there is no self‑nomination or application process. This honor is based entirely on the voluntary and anonymous feedback shared by our employees on Glassdoor. A huge thank you to our employees for their honest feedback and continued support. Your insights help us grow, improve, and remain a great place to work.

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First Watch

4mo

It’s a (wicked) good day for a (wicked) good day. We’ve officially opened the doors to our Boylston location in Boston’s iconic Back Bay. We’re grateful for the warm welcome from the city! Boston friends: We hope to see you soon! ☕...Show more

It’s a (wicked) good day for a (wicked) good day. We’ve officially opened the doors to our Boylston location in Boston’s iconic Back Bay. We’re grateful for the warm welcome from the city! Boston friends: We hope to see you soon! ☕

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First Watch

7mo

First Watch Named #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America – Again! We’re proud to be recognized as the #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America for the second year in a row by Best Practice Institute – a first in the award’s history! This honor, based on employee surveys and third-party research, reflects the heart of our “You First” culture and the dedication of our 15,000+ team members nationwide. It’s our fourth consecutive year on the list, and we’re grateful to our employees who make First Watch a truly special place to work. See the full list in The Wall Street Journal: https://lnkd.in/ebaSU457...Show more

First Watch Named #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America – Again! We’re proud to be recognized as the #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America for the second year in a row by Best Practice Institute – a first in the award’s history! This honor, based on employee surveys and third-party research, reflects the heart of our “You First” culture and the dedication of our 15,000+ team members nationwide. It’s our fourth consecutive year on the list, and we’re grateful to our employees who make First Watch a truly special place to work. See the full list in The Wall Street Journal: https://lnkd.in/ebaSU457

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First Watch

8mo

Viva Las Breakfast! First Watch Makes Nevada Debut with New Craig Road Location! We’ve officially opened our doors to our very first location in Nevada! From fresh flavors to brunch favorites, we’re bringing brighter mornings (and plenty of coffee☕️) to the vibrant City of North Las Vegas. We’re incredibly grateful for the warm welcome from the Las Vegas community and for everyone who joined us to celebrate our grand opening. ...Show more

Viva Las Breakfast! First Watch Makes Nevada Debut with New Craig Road Location! We’ve officially opened our doors to our very first location in Nevada! From fresh flavors to brunch favorites, we’re bringing brighter mornings (and plenty of coffee☕️) to the vibrant City of North Las Vegas. We’re incredibly grateful for the warm welcome from the Las Vegas community and for everyone who joined us to celebrate our grand opening.

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First Watch

1y

🐾 Happy National Pet Day! 🐾 At First Watch, we believe that a happy workplace is a productive workplace, and what better way to boost happiness than by bringing our furry friends to work? 🐶 In honor of National Pet Day, we celebrate the joy and companionship our pets bring into our lives. Our culture of bringing dogs to work not only brightens our days but also fosters a sense of community and well-being among our team members. Whether it's a wagging tail greeting us in the morning or a playful pup joining our meetings, our four-legged friends make our office a more vibrant and enjoyable place to be....Show more

🐾 Happy National Pet Day! 🐾 At First Watch, we believe that a happy workplace is a productive workplace, and what better way to boost happiness than by bringing our furry friends to work? 🐶 In honor of National Pet Day, we celebrate the joy and companionship our pets bring into our lives. Our culture of bringing dogs to work not only brightens our days but also fosters a sense of community and well-being among our team members. Whether it's a wagging tail greeting us in the morning or a playful pup joining our meetings, our four-legged friends make our office a more vibrant and enjoyable place to be.

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Photos

First Watch awards & accolades

Most Loved Workplace®, Newsweek Magazine, 2024
Most Loved Brands of 2023, Yelp, 2023
Most Loved Workplace, Newsweek, 2023
Most Loved Workplace, Newsweek Magazine, 2022

Glassdoor Awards

Best Places to Work

2026 (#24)

Connect with First Watch

Jobs at First Watch

Employee reviews at First Watch

First Watch has an employee rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 1,885 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The First Watch employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Restaurants & Food Service industry (3.4 stars).

Ratings by category

3.8

Diversity & inclusion

3.6

Work/Life balance

3.5

Culture & values

3.4

Career opportunities

3.2

Senior management

3.2

Compensation and benefits

Employee reviews

Operations managerCurrent employee

5.0

Best place to work ever!

First Watch

First Watch Snapshot

Life at First Watch