First Watch brings redefined daytime dining to Lewes

The award-winning made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch spot, First Watch, has opened a new location in Lewes.

The restaurant brings a chef-inspired menu and rotating seasonal offerings to a 4,700-square-foot space that seats more than 130 people and features a covered patio and an interior bar.

“We had a line around the door,” said First Watch Director of Operations Steve Gilbert about the restaurant’s first day Dec. 8. “We appreciate all the support we are getting from the community. And what’s really good about Lewes is that the community is very close-knit, and that’s kind of what First Watch is about. Our culture is all about keeping our team together and making sure they are in a really good environment and providing that sense of family.”

First Watch offers made-to-order breakfast and brunch that utilizes fresh ingredients, featuring an elevated approach to traditional daytime dining. In addition to familiar favorites like omelets and The Traditional, First Watch’s diverse menu also includes innovative dishes such as avocado toast, farmhouse hash, lemon ricotta pancakes and its signature Million Dollar Bacon, as well as sandwiches and salads, including the Superfood Kale Salad. The restaurant will also offer a revolving seasonal menu starting in 2026. 

This location has hired about 30 people while operating on just one shift per day. First Watch follows the no-night-shifts-ever approach that enables its team members to enjoy their evenings and build a better quality of life. 

“Family is very important to us,” said Gilbert. “Allowing our team to be home, whether they have children, whether they are taking care of someone, whatever the case may be, it is really important to us to make sure that everybody has a really great quality of life.”

First Watch supports community-focused initiatives by donating a portion of the proceeds from every kids meal purchased to organizations and causes that make a positive impact in local communities. To date, the company has raised more than $1.7 million through this program. 

“We support the V Foundation,” said Gilbert. “So every children’s meal that we sell, we give a portion of the proceeds to the V Foundation.”

First Watch is located at 34571 Postal Lane, Lewes. The restaurant will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for dine-in, pickup and delivery. Customers can also join a digital waitlist and place orders online at www.firstwatch.com.

“We are now part of the community,” said Gilbert. “We will support the community in any way that we can. We will do anything we can to partner with the community to make it a better environment for everybody.”