Big Mike’s Healthy Choices- Breakfast - Lunch - Brunch

Excellent customer service at this black owned spot. Super chill laid back like a healthy diner vibe. Loved the fuschia juice before having the omelette, potato and waffle. The waffle did not hit too good for me maybe because it is made without gluten. I enjoyed the omelette and the potatoes were good too.

Amazing! I'm not joking. The breakfast Sandwich is served on a waffle, which is great. The coffee is served in a French press and was fantastic. You would never guess that everything here is gluten free. Then, to top it all off, the owner, Mike, came out to say hi. I dare you to ask about his testimony. You will not be disappointed and it just might change your life. 😁

This place is absolutely fantastic. The owner, Big Mike, is incredibly warm and welcoming — you can feel that this is his personal passion project to offer healthy, delicious alternatives for everyone. There’s plenty of free parking, excellent service, and an impressive variety of vegan options. We tried the vegan omelette — honestly, one of the best omelettes I’ve ever had — and the waffle with vegan cream, which was also outstanding. But the biggest discovery? Their hot sauce. It’s so good that we ended up buying two extra bottles to take home! It’s rare to see vegan restaurants like this thriving, so please support Big Mike and this amazing spot. You won’t be disappointed.

Right next door to the Renaissance Hotel .. we were able to walk there … what a treat !! My omelet and waffle were delicious!! I add potatoes as my side and loved them! They even have real maple syrup.. both of my kids cleaned their plates ! We will definitely be back : )

Great, first experience coming to this restaurant, highly recommend this place for anyone in the Ft Lauderdale area looking for a healthy but tasty option. The food is all made with natural ingredients, and the owner is working inside the store personally in introducing himself. What an amazing overall experience. Good Desserts too!!

Big Mike’s is a must! We had the most delicious breakfast and the French press coffee was perfect for an early morning. They had a ton of vegan and healthy options. The pancakes were soft and tasty and I loved the avocado smash on a vegan waffle! The service was incredible and Big Mike came by to say hello and chat. I can’t wait to come back. Thank you Big Mike!

We came on the day they had to close early because of technical difficulties. I was able to order a chocolate doughnut and cinnamon cake. I took one bite and thought “Is this really gluten free?” It is that good! We hope to come back and eat in at some point.

A wonderful gluten free restaurant. The food was absolutely fresh and delicious. The gluten-free donut was phenomenal. This cute little café is nestled back in the corner of a plaza making it a very quiet and wonderful experience. It has a nice street side sidewalk patio within side table dining. Without a doubt we will be back.

2/9/24 8:30am Staying over night before heading out in a cruise. Or hotel (Hilton Marina) had a breakfast buffet , 30 bucks PLUS an automatic 18% tip. Basically saying, we don't care what level of service you get, you're paying your server 18%. IMHO this is a BAD business practice !! I choose not to participate in establishments that choose this business model !! Walked down the street to 1st Fresh. Here we found Great Food at a very fair price. You get to choose a tip. In this case our waiter was very good and I tipped 25%. Yes, there are some people who don't tip well, but most folks realize how hard the weight staff works, and thus choose to compensate them accordingly. (even if management doesn't ) Bottom line, This was a Great place to eat with Good Food quality and attentive service.

Unassumingly incredible spot for fresh juices, smoothies, baked muffins, breakfast, you name it! Parking: plenty of parking in the lot Service: exceptional - everyone was very kind, food was pretty quick Food: great! Great prices, high quality food, very tasty, healthy

An all gluten free establishment where most items are also, or can be made, vegan. The service was impeccable, friendly, helpful and funny. Service everywhere has been lacking these past few years, so when you get service this good you sing it from the rooftops. We visited on Mother's Day and several staff had called out but as customers we couldn't tell. The staff was busting their tails and were very efficient. We got the Guac Toast and Key West Tofu and both were well seasoned and delicious. It was amazing to have such great gluten free and vegan options available. Our server was multitasking and still managed to provide an amazing level of service. It's a cute place right near many boat places and attached to a hotel. I would definitely visit again.

Wow, I can't believe I haven't been here sooner. This place is INCREDIBLE. Tucked away off of 17th street, it is the perfect spot to hit up while downtown or heading to the beach. The interior isn't huge, but we were able to sit right away. Plenty of parking in the lot. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The best part though was the unique, absolutely delicious food. Vegan, vegetarians, gf friends- you need to come here. So many options you won't know what to do with yourself.

As you can see by my photos, I've been here countless times. I work close by at Bahia Mar and this is always a good go-to for lunch. It's always a spot that I like to recommend to friends and family as well. My wife is vegan and when we met, she'd never been here before but now we come all the time. The food is consistently good and is always a great choice. Pretty much everything I've tried is a win, so it's hard to choose my favorite dish. The servers are usually friendly and the storefront is clean. Sometimes it gets quite busy due to the limited hours, but if there's ever a wait, it's worth it.

Cute spot for breakfast. The eggs benedict was very good. They have french press coffee but no espresso. Service was great. And the food came out quickly. You can sit indoors or outdoors. Would love to come back and try more dishes.

Welp won't be going back here again. Rude af for absolutely no fucking reason after paying for our food and having some loud obnoxious music on. Always in the right place Jim. Thank God I found out how obnoxiously rude your business is so I can tell others about how you treat or your staff treats paying customers. Ownership of your own bullshit goes a lonnnnnng way but with a name like Jim, I highly doubt it.

My husband wanted to visit this spot while we were visiting the area. Upon entering, I didn't find our server to be friendly. The menu was not very appealing, and the only thing I was willing to try was a smoothie that my spouse coaxed me into trying... it looked okay upon presentation, but was EXTREMELY sour and bitter. I understand that they do not add sugar or anything to their natural Ingredients, but it was utterly disgusting. I proceeded to go back to the car and let him enjoy his breakfast while I waited for him there. I was very disappointed and hungry upon leaving this place. Live and learn though....

This unassuming little cafe is tucked away near a small hotel. The health-focused menu is extensive with delicious breakfast and lunch items. I so appreciate easily being able to eat gluten free, and am impressed how delicious the food us. I had the fiesta omelet with potatoes on the side (OMG sooooo good!). The buttermilk waffle is amazing. Hubby summarized his Tropical acai bowl as "Delightful!" Will absolutely return, 10/10 recommend

Waited forever then they gave our order to another table, waited for ever again and after 2bites found big piece of paper in my omelet. Total nightmare, asked to speak to the manager ( total karen move i know) and took like 15 minutes to show up. After all this they didnt comp the bill.

This is a really nice, casual spot for a healthy meal with delicious flavors. The interior is cute and has a wall of inspirational quotes. We had breakfast and really enjoyed. Coffee is legit and served in a press. I loved the sweet potato hash served as a side with my eggs. If you are looking for regular bacon, this is not your place. Turkey bacon only and happens to be very good. Good stop.

The pancakes and waffles were awful. The worst gluten free breakfast I've ever had, and I've been gluten free for years. The cinnamon infused pancakes had no cinnamon and had uncooked batter on the inside. Not edible. My sister said the waffle tasted sour and I agreed, it didn't taste right. The OJ was not freshly squeezed, but typical Store bought OJ. The yogurt was good though. For 50 dollars, it was not worth it.

Good food, great services. We are what we ate and appreciated that everything was made fresh with minimal sugar. You can taste the "cleaness" in the food. Good-sized portions for the price. Had the Western omelette, orange cranberry muffin and fresh orange juice mix.

The Eggs Benedict and the Dani smoothie I had here while I was visiting were excellent! One of the best eggs benedict I've ever had, everything was cooked perfectly and hollandaise sauce was to die for! The lemony hints/taste complimented it so well but wasn't over powering. Everything was very balanced. I don't generally like sweet potatoes because they are mushy, but theirs were crispy and good. The only downside was how busy it was and the order in which the items ordered arrived. But I will 100% go back next time I'm in the area. Coincidentally, I held the door for one of the owners who was helping her servers as I imagine since it was a sunday, it was their busiest time being located not far from the cruise terminals during peak season. I like to see owners helping their staff, and involved in the business. We need more healthy, delicious restaurants with such amazing and friendly staff! I love it! -Justin

We were attending a volley ball tournament across the street and needed something other than horrible convention center food. Found this location. Staff was incredibly friendly and gracious. Food was amazing. For lunch did an acia' bowl and it was very good. Came back for breakfast next day and it was a perfect size. And coffee fans.... they give you your own French press!! If you're in the area and looking for a healthy option you need to go.

We found this place last summer and it's been our first stop once we got in town this summer! Love the food and the service! It's wonderful to not have to worry about the ingredients being possible issues. They're absolutely fantastic!

Food is delightfully fresh, light and tasty! I had the Spinach Chicken Burger - good size, not to big, filling but not to much. Its flavorful with the cranberry chutney, mushrooms and caramelized onions. For a side, I had the house salad - loved it! As for a drink, i opted for "Green" juice, a blend of Kale, Parsley, Cucumber and Lemon- i may add pineapple next time i come back, i feel it needed a touch of sweetness. Service - great. Ambiance: the place is small so it was slightly packed at noon thus noisy with all the conversations going at once. It was challenging to talk or hear the other person. Other than that, thought it was brightly lit space and clean environment.

Great brunch and was really close to the cruise port in Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant was clean and had a feature wall riddled with inspiration. What a great way to start your day.

While staying at the Hilton, Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel , I decided to walk the half mile it was necessary to get to this little breakfast/brunch café. Since my stay, I have eaten there twice and can't say enough about the food and service! Everything is fresh and delicious and beautifully prepared. I am going back on Saturday to try something else on their menu. I strongly recommend Eggs Benedict.

We each ordered a smoothie and split a breakfast sandwich. Sandwich came out first and was very good. Smoothie took FOREVER to come out. When it did arrive it was very good

Great spot for a healthy breakfast or lunch - smoothies, sandwiches, and salads are all made fresh and are outstanding. The staff could not be friendlier or more accommodating, and the individual French press coffee carafes are a nice touch. Definitely recommended if you're in the area.

Food is amazing. So is the service . It's like a hidden jewel tack behind the hotel. Need better signs. We were almost going to turn around. But glad we didn't. Loved it

Hidden Gem Alert! We were in town for a seminar and during our lunch break decide to walk here from the convention center. Definitely glad we made it here. Chicken burger was juicy and the chutney served on it was to die for. Cauliflower was the soup de jour and something g new and light I'd never tried. The chicken Caesar was so good my colleague had to save the rest for the next day!! The chicken salad on waffles didn't even stand a chance against my team member. I think it took him all of 4 minutes to clear his plate. Ambiance was OK and had some outside seating. Needless to say, we'd come here again and again.

LOVE THIS PLACE!! All the food is gluten free and delicious!!! The staff is all ages and they look healthy and beautiful. They were all incredible, attentive and kind. I'm visiting Florida and drove across town to come back here. I'm coming back tomorrow too. I wish I could give 10 stars. This place gets much. Love from a GF girl.

Came here on a Sunday for brunch and it was all so yummy and fresh! They really nailed it with the name haha. We came with our non-vegan friends and we all had a great experience. One of them ordered a vegan dish, like us. Everyone was super satisfied with their meal and the staff where was super nice and friendly - always a plus, makes the experience that much better. I can't remember what everyone had, but I know we got the turtle for dessert and wow! Incredible. I definitely recommend and want to come back when I'm in Fort Lauderdale.

Warning, they downsized their portions! To be fair, the quality of the food was good. Also the fact that they carried real maple syrup was a plus. However, when the server brought the western omelette, the portion was half the size. After finishing I asked the waitress about it, she denied it. Then I showed her a picture of a yelp recent entry. she then lied to me explaining i was seeing it from the wrong angle. So either she's blind : / or she's playing me for a fool but that was dissatisfying, I don't take well to dishonesty, so I will not be returning. Also the "filtered" water tasted like tap that hadn't been changed. When it comes to a restaurant, I think many will agree service is everything, to lie to your customers. Unacceptable.

Very nice lil place with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Very friendly service, tasty food and great juices

Extreme eye contact avoidance: Ate brunch there Sunday feb 11, 2024. Food is excellent. Portions small to medium. However: upon entering we were directed to a table by pointing and once sat, were ignored for 20 min. No menus, no water, no setups. This is a small restaurant. The staff passed back and forth while avoiding eye contact and contact of any kind until I waived down one waiter by raising my voice. I explained that the waitress served the tables 12" to our right and left while completely avoiding communication or acknowledgement. It was so stark that the gentleman at the table beside us refused to leave until we received our dishes. Ultimately the male waiter over-compensated and took good care of us, but not before the initial irritation cast a cloud over the experience. Nonetheless, the food is so good that I still may give them a second chance!

Casual but delicious dining at Fresh First. It's tucked in the back right corner of the plaza, a bit hard to find. The staff is very friendly and there's a bar high stop area as well as table seating. The food comes out quickly. They have a nice variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers and vegan options. I got a sweet potato burger which actually comes on waffle buns with a nice soft patty made of sweet potato and lentils. It was really good with just lettuce and mustard and tomato inside. Great lunch spot!

Back in FLL and i just had to go back to my now favorite spot to eat. The peace of mind when finding a 100% gluten free restaurant is unparalleled. So many delicious looking options it's always hard to choose. I opted for the Tuna Melt and the most delicious Ginger Lemonade. The food again was fresh and delicious, service was friendly and welcoming. I would however recommend to ask the Coleslaw in a bowl as it made the bottom of the waffle a bit soggy. Brought back home a lil bit of Florida Heat in a bottle. The Hot sauce is sooo goood, I'll put that shit on everything.... Will definitely return once again next time i am in town and definitely recommend it

Great breakfast spot! Service is so friendly. Bed of all everything is gluten free!!!!!! Love that they use waffles for all the bread related items. My avo toast on a waffle with an egg was super delicious. I'll definitely go back the next time I'm in FLL.

I was trying to find a restaurant with a GF menu since our daughter's boyfriend has gluten sensitivities and this restaurant came up with great reviews. The staff were very friendly and greeted us as we walked in. There are tables inside and outside but we were the only customers dining at the restaurant. All the customers who came in were only there to pick up their orders. I ordered the buttermilk Belgian Waffles. The waffles had a different texture... soft, almost like mashed potatoes, but it was REALLY good! My daughter ordered the Açaí bowl which she thought was good. Her boyfriend ordered the Guac Toast which he liked except for the olives. My husband ordered the Eggs Benedict which he LOVED! The only type of coffee they have is French Pressed and we were afraid it would be really strong so we had asked our server for lots of cream and sugar. We were pleasantly surprised that it was actually very good coffee and we didn't need all the cream and sugar that we had asked for. It's been a week since we were here and my husband still talks about how good his breakfast was!

Love it. I'm neither vegetarian nor gluten-free, but the food is fresh and delicious, and the service is great.

This is a great place for breakfast or brunch if you are gluten-free and avoiding red meat. They have a bunch of breakfast classics made without wheat flour, and their only meat choice is turkey bacon. If that sounds good to you, or if you're hoping for a redemptive meal after having Chuck E. Cheese for dinner the previous night, then this is your place. They are located at the bottom of the Renaissance Hotel at the Ft. Lauderdale marina. There's plenty of parking in the private lot. When we arrived (around 9am on a Saturday), we were the only ones there, but the place started filling up as we were finishing up. I had coffee and the "Eggs Benedict" with a side of hashed sweet potato. I put it in quotes because they used turkey bacon, fresh spinach, and waffle bread, so it wasn't exactly traditional. It was still tasty, although I wish the spinach had been wilted for easier eating. The hollandaise was tasty, and the eggs were nicely poached. The coffee was quite good, and having the whole French press made it so I didn't have to wait for someone to refill my cup. There's a bottle of house made hot sauce at every table, and it complements the sweet potatoes well and has a nice amount of heat. My kids shared a breakfast sandwich with a side of sliced apple, a fruit bowl, a smoothie and a fresh-squeezed orange juice. The fruit bowl was a little disappointing as it was mostly watermelon and banana (although those were nicely sweet). Prices are higher than a typical breakfast place, but reasonable for being all gluten-free.

Great breakfast w many vegan options! Tasty French press coffee .. outdoor eating space

Came across this place on Yelp & I wanted to give it try. When we first walked in we was greeted by Dani. Luv her customer service & knowledge on the menu. I like how this place is healthy & the food is fresh. I needed it since I been eating unhealthy while I been on vacation. I ordered All American, & pancake man that shit was amazing. Shoutout to the sister who cook her ass off, you killed it.. The next time I'm in town I'll definitely come back.

This wasn't my first time here. I got a coupon in the mail so I decided to give it a try again. I ended up getting the gluten free, vegan BLT. I also got an add on of sweet potatoes on the side. The sauce was a bit spicy . It wasn't bad but not my favorite either. There were add ons for several menu items.Not too bad though.

Wow so good we stopped on to finally try this place. I got a vegan burger with sauté mushrooms and cheese it comes with a side of coleslaw or sweet potato salad or you can get a small soup added for $2.50 so I did that. They have daily vegan soups Friday was a red pepper, white bean, and kale. Everything was just so beyond amazing! They also said the menu is all gluten free. I will definitely be going back very soon! Service was nice and friendly too!

My first time having lunch at Fresh First. I must say, it was Awesome!! The staff was so kind and welcoming. Special Thank You to Helida and David Alan for your amazing service. The food was delicious. They offer the Best Fort Launderdale's healthy all organic and gluten-free meals, fruit bowls and smoothies. I started with their organic chilli bowl, followed with scrabbled eggs and waffles. Finished with the tropical acai fruit bowl. So good! The people are cool, the restaurant is fun and chill and the food is amazing. I definitely recommend Fresh First!! Check it out.

I was really impressed with this place for a few reasons. First off, I was pretty shocked to learn it was a gluten free building. A couple of my friends have celiac and they would love to have a place like this nearby. Next, I noticed that all of the staff were extremely friendly and personable. They seemed to have relationships with their customers and genuinely care. Big points there. And then finally, the food and drinks themselves - delicious food (shocking that it's all gluten free) and I love their French pressed coffee. Highly recommend this spot!

Ahh-mazing! This place get PACKED for lunch, so arrive a little before or a bit after, and you might have a better chance of getting in quickly. For my gluten-free people, the entire menu at this place is gluten free (no cross contamination either)! Their lunch menu is varied and vegan-friendly, like bowls, burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads, not to mention smoothies and juices, and sides like mashed sweet potato salad - new fave! They also serve breakfast, but unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to try any of their breakfast items yet, although that's not to say I won't be trying it out sometime soon. Looks very yummy. I've only been there once because I don't live in Ft. Lauderdale, but if I go back, which is highly likely, I know exactly where I'll be eating! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I will try to remember photos next time!!!

This place is amazing, highly recommend getting the grilled chicken sandwich on a waffle (roasted pepper, spinach, and mozzarella) and the dazzling dani smoothie (strawberry, cinnamon, dates, oats, banana, almonds, and almond butter). Will be back soon to continue exploring the menu!

The service was great and the food was better! I love that this is an all gluten free restaurant and you have lots of choices. My western omelette was delicious as was the GF waffle! The French press coffee was unexpected and delicious! I highly recommend.

Great food & service; lots of variety for breakfast. The fruit and yogurt combo was absolutely delicious

wow - everything was delicious! from the iced green tea to the açaí bowl to the guac toast. i'm allergic to gluten, dairy, eggs, and peanuts, so this place was perfect for me. 100% GF and peanut free + plenty of vegan options. the guac toast was so amazing! the kalamata olives were so yummy on that + the vegan waffle it comes on was insanely good! if i lived in the area i'd be here way too often!

The food was great! Most of all the workers were amazing!! I left my wallet after hours and they were kind enough to hold it and wait for me to get there to pick it up. Super kind and would definitely come back again!

Fresh First is a delicious breakfast/lunch spot in Dania Beach that has lots of vegetarian and vegan options and substitutes - so you know I had to check it out. It is located inside of a strip mall with a big parking lot and the location is tucked away to the right. They had a sand which board sign that pointed the way luckily. The WAFFLES are sooooo good. They basically serve their waffle bead on all the plates. So you can get these great waffle sandwiches. I highly recommend, because the waffle is sturdy but soft. I had the key west tofu which was sooooo yummy - but it is on the smaller portion side. So, if you are hungry order another waffle or side. The limey flavor was really nice and unexpected - I will definitely try to do my own version at home one day. The spot gets very busy and a lot of people do takeout. It does get loud inside. If you don't like noise, order to go and eat it at a park or the beach or at home I guess. Go here! And tell me how much you loved it!

My wife and I drove up to Ft. Lauderdale this morning specifically to have brunch at Fresh First. My wife has Celiac Disease and I'm a Vegan so this seemed to be an ideal restaurant to try out. We arrived at 11:30am to a full restaurant with several more parties waiting to be seated. We put our names on the list and were told that it would be about a 25-30 minute wait. Fortunately, the hostess had overestimated and we were seated in only 15 minutes. We had had ample time to peruse the menu while waiting for a table, so when the waiter approached us we were already prepared to order. My wife ordered the chicken and waffle with an egg on top ($12.50) and I ordered the sweet potato burger served on "Vegan waffle bread" ($11.75). According to the menu, the entrees came with a choice of handcut slaw or a house salad for that price, or red & sweet potato salad for an upcharge of 50 cents, or a cup of soup for an upcharge of $2.50. We both decided on the cup of soup, which today was a tofu chili. After not too long of a wait, our meals were brought to us. Well, I should say our main courses were. More on that later. My sweet potato burger between two waffles was unique and looked a bit strange, but was quite delicious nonetheless. My wife liked her dish as well, but thought it a bit dry so she asked for an additional little cup of hollandaise. Now back to our side dishes. For whatever reason, we didn't receive our cups of chili until we had almost finished our entrées. I kept trying to get the attention of our waiter, but he was quite busy. When we finally received our side dishes, we both found the chili to be a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't that it tasted bad, it was just sort of bland. It's definitely not something I'd order again. Other than that, we enjoyed our meals. Truth be told, my rating should be closer to a 3.5, rather than a 4-star review, but the restaurant deserves the benefit of the doubt, especially since they go out of their way to being Vegan friendly and 100% gluten free.

Tried Fresh First this week for the first time, and it was wonderful! I had the chicken salad sandwich, with a side of seer potato salad. Both items were fabulous!! The pricing was very average for what you're getting. My only (very minor) complaint was that the server was very pushy for us to get one of the pressed juices..... I believe he asked us 4 times, in which we declined each time. I love recommendations, but it started to feel a bit like overkill. None the less, I'm very excited to come back here and try more of their menu!

I found this place years ago when I was looking for a gluten free spot. When my husband lived down south we used to hit them up for breakfast on weekends. It is not only healthy but SO FREAKING GOOD. I haven't had the opportunity to go back in a while, but I was in Fort Lauderdale the other day and had some time-killing to do (and was starving!) so I ordered takeout. It was nice outside so I just ended up eating. I ended up getting a bunch of things I never got before. The orange drink, chicken patty melt, and a brownie. I got the salad with the patty melt since I already had so much food, but there were lots of other choices for sides that looked tempting. As always, everything was delicious. The patty melt was on their homemade waffles which are amazing. And the brownie was melt-in-your-mouth good - you wouldn't know it's GF. The inside is small with lots of cool offerings (the last time I ate inside they had all kinds of cool CBD products, etc.) I am really glad to see they are still open and busy, and I would eat there much more often if I lived closer. A must-do if you're in Fort Lauderdale and in need of some healthy, delicious eats.