First Watch reviews

3.7

63% would recommend to a friend

(1,898 total reviews)
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Chris Tomasso

69% approve of CEO

61% positive business outlook

First Watch has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 1,898 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).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
3.0
Dec 18, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great concept, morning hours only, good benefits, daily meal allowance for managers & 50% off discounts for employee meals.

Cons

Managers work in hourly roles during all there shifts in place of a cook or host so they are not able to fully manage the staff. Two week vacation time has to be used in one week intervals and only certain months of the year - which makes the other manager work alone multiple days in a row. Sick time for management is pretty much impossible so you better be okay working with a fever or a cold. Old school hand written ticketing system can be very unorganized and lead to mistakes on busy days.

2.0
Apr 22, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Hours are favorable for some people; not having to work nights. Decent quality food. Loyal customer base in some markets

Cons

Constant micro-managing from the middle management levels. "Nitpicking" the smallest details at the most in-opportune times and getting in the way of their own success. Middle and upper management will step over dollars continuously in order to pick up pennies. If you are a business minded, independent thinking manager, this is the last place you want to work.

1.0
Jan 10, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Having nights off. Good muffins.

Cons

Sold on so-called "focus on our people" culture. Nothing could be further from the truth. Training is a joke. No structure, no communication. Sign on if you like spending most of your day absorbing labor cost by prepping, cooking and cleaning the kitchen at the end of the day. Impatient with learning of cooking skills and expectations of progress were totally unrealistic. MIT candidates watch out. They want a COOK who has management experience not the other way around.

Viewing 7 - 9 of 1,898 Reviews

Glassdoor has 1,926 First Watch reviews submitted anonymously by First Watch employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if First Watch is right for you.