First Watch, the Bradenton-based breakfast restaurant chain with locations in Downtown Tampa and Clearwater, is preparing to open a new location in Brandon by the summer of 2013.

The new First Watch restaurant will boast 3,400 square feet in a freestanding building at the Lake Brandon Village shopping center, located at the intersection of Causeway Blvd. and Gornto Lake Rd.

An institution for breakfast, brunch, and lunch in the Tampa Bay area and beyond, First Watch has been serving up morning time favorites since opening their first location in Pacific Grove, California in 1983.

With 37 locations now in the state of Florida, First Watch has won numerous awards in its long existence including “Favorite Business Breakfast” in the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Readers’ Choice Awards and “Best Brunch Spot” from the iHeart Tampa Bay Awards.

Freshness is the name of the game when it comes to the food at First Watch, much of which is prepared from scratch early each morning.  Coffee-lovers will take delight in First Watch's signature Sunrise Select coffee, which always gets served in a fresh pot, never just a cup.

In addition, menu highlights at First Watch include all the traditional favorites like eggs, bacon, pancakes, from-scratch french toast as well as signature selections including Crepeggs, a signature egg/crepe hybrid served with served with fresh, seasoned potatoes and an English muffin; the Chickichanga with spicy all-natural white-meat chicken, chorizo sausage, eggs, and more; as well as the Bacado omelet with bacon, avocado and Monterey Jack cheese topped with sour cream and a side of housemade salsa.

We'll keep you posted as more news arises regarding the new First Watch restaurant in Brandon.