First Watch, Orlando’s favorite Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch restaurant, continued its expansion in Central Florida with the opening of a new restaurant in Mills Park. The new 3,470-square-foot restaurant, located at 1414 North Mills Ave., is now the eighth Orlando-area restaurant and 42nd restaurant in Florida.
The restaurant occupies space within a freestanding outparcel building and features a patio for outdoor dining. First Watch joins about 13 other retailers in the Fresh Market-anchored retail center located in the Mills 50 district.
First Watch, which opened its first restaurant in Orlando in 1993, has won numerous awards in the area, some for several consecutive years, including “Best Breakfast” in the Orlando Magazine Dining Awards, “Best Brunch Restaurant” and “Best Power Breakfast Restaurant” in the Orlando Business Journal Readers’ Choice Awards, and “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” in the Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards.
“Orlando residents have been anxiously awaiting the opening of our Mills Park restaurant and we are equally excited for this grand opening,” said Chris Tomasso, chief marketing officer for First Watch. “Orlando has proven to be a great market for us over the past 20 years. We look forward to being a part of the vibrant Mills 50 district, and bringing our unique daytime offerings to the residents and merchants of this eclectic neighborhood.”
The new Mills Park restaurant features an interior design concept known as “Connect.” It connects traditional First Watch design elements with contemporary executions by maximizing natural light provided during the restaurant’s daytime hours, and incorporating color tones intended to convey the warm and inviting personality of the First Watch brand. The design also accentuates an open-kitchen concept, which reinforces First Watch’s honest approach to fresh food preparation.
“Mills 50 District is known for its creativity and culture,” said Joanne Grant, executive director of Mills 50. “Over the years, we have evolved into a diverse, urban destination that is popular for its affordable and eclectic concentration of unique dining options. We are excited to welcome First Watch and their culinary innovation to our community.”
A recipient of more than 200 “Best Of” accolades in markets across the country, the restaurant features traditional favorites including pancakes, omelets, salads and sandwiches, as well as signature specialties such as the Chickichanga, Healthy Turkey Omelet and Fresh Fruit Crepes. All menu items are freshly prepared to order and the restaurant does not use deep fryers or heat lamps.
In addition to serving unique and fresh entrées, First Watch offers its exclusive Sunrise Select® Premium Blend Coffee. The special blend is made from slow-roasted, hand-selected, high-grown Panamanian, Colombian and Mexican coffee beans.
First Watch serves its entire menu seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The restaurant also offers guests complimentary newspapers and free Wi-Fi Internet access.
For First Watch franchise information, visit
http://www.firstwatch.com/franchise-overview.htm.
First Watch specializes in award-winning, made-to-order Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch. A recipient of more than 200 “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch offers traditional favorites, such as omelets, pancakes, sandwiches and salads, and unique specialty items like the fan-favorite Chickichanga and Fresh Fruit Crepes. Named a 2013 “Next 20” emerging brand by Nation’s Restaurant News, First Watch is currently the largest daytime-only restaurant concept in the U.S. with more than 110 restaurants in 15 states and additional units under development as part of the Bradenton, Fla.-based company’s aggressive growth strategy. For more information, visit www.firstwatch.com.
