One of the best breakfasts ever! Best Beignets with passionfruit sweet sauce & Flat White..Oh so good! Industrial modern Setting..right next to Auckland sky tower.. Quick & Great Service! No Fuss Menu :P Would return if in auckland to try their lunch options! read more

Very fresh seafood and super friendly service! Very good location! But need to wait to be seated! But it's worth the wait read more

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I can see why this place is super highly rated on Yelp, it's one of the better places that central Auckland has to offer. It's pricey though. I think a little too overpriced. The food however is reasonably good quality, so if you're willing to shell out a bit of extra cash and wait in the line, then this place is for you. For $150 NZD you'll get the following... What we ordered... - 500ml carafe of pinot noir: it was ok, a bit too fruity for my tastes, but it was the only red offered in the carafe section - oyster bloody mary shooters: heavenly, best tasting oyster ever. Very well chosen complementary ingredients. They clean it perfectly too, no grit found anywhere. - fish sliders: it's apparently their best selling item. It's quite tasty but you only get three for the price. It's very simply cooked so you can enjoy the supreme ingredients present in the dish. Would recommend. - lamb ribs: this is a Chinese inspired dish, it reminds me of the cumin seed ribs from Shanghai, needs more heat though. The salt and seasoning is good, it's missing a spicy element. Also, I felt they were a bit overdone and too mushy, presentation was missing a bit too. The portion was tiny for the price as well, just two ribs for the plate. - flank steak: comes with crispy fried onion strings and some lettuce leaves with ranch. The beef is good quality, but the dish overall doesn't come together as harmoniously as others. The ranch thrown over some lettuce leaves was not pretty and the ranch is very watery tasting, not enough flavor. The meat didn't rest enough and there was blood on the plate which looks unappealing. Everything tasted ok, but I expect more for the price. - roasted broccoli: this was my fav. The broccoli had nice char and texture, the yogurt sauce with nuts and dried fruit really elevated the dish. High notes of citrus, which I enjoyed greatly. I feel you should judge a restaurant by its veggies. It's easy to do meat well since it comes with all its own natural flavors. Cooking veggies is an art though because they easily overcook in just a matter of seconds and making them shine is difficult. read more

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TLDR: If you want some fresh oysters and clams for lunch around Auckland Central, look no further than Depot. As someone who had a fairly long layover (9 hours) in Auckland, a city that I had never been to before, you can bet I opened up Yelp to see where I could go. While about a 30 minute drive from the airport, heading over to Auckland Central is certainly a good way to explore the city and get some food. I went here on a Friday around noon and it seemed incredibly busy when we walked by outside, but to our surprise, there was a table readily available. Per the restaurant's website, they don't take reservations, but like they said, tables do turnover really quickly. I can't speak on much other than the oysters, clams, and beer, but I really believe that's enough reason to visit Depot. For the oyster and clams, you pay per piece, and when we went, there were two varieties of each available. We ended up going with a half dozen of each. Before those came out, we got complimentary pita bread to share. See here for full menu: http://www.eatatdepot.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Sample-Menu-New-Xmas.pdf? as of Dec '18/Jan '19. As far as the oysters and clams, they were absolutely delicious. They were also incredibly fresh - you could squeeze lemon on the clams and they would move still. You couldn't ask for anything better for lunch. Despite what seemed to be a fairly hectic lunch service, the wait staff did a great job and we didn't wait long for anything. Overall, a great place for lunch and one worth visiting again. read more

We stopped here for a meal but instead we just ordered a few small dishes to share as a snack since the menu wasn't too extensive and impressive. Friendly service while the food was decent. We tried the squid ink linguine with clams and the bone marrow. The bone marrow dish was buttery and tasty but the bread was really hard. It would of been better with the bread that came with the squid in pasta. The dishes were tasty, but I wouldn't say the place blew me out of the water. Some items were decently priced but the oysters I feel were over priced, $4.5 an oyster!! Since this place had such a high rating I had to stop by. But personally, I'd say you aren't missing out on much. read more

Depot - Tasty, but the bread was really hard. Would of been better with the bread that came with the squid in pasta. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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This eatery was recommended by my beautiful daughter in law. She saw a show on food network raving about this Auckland gem. While here on business, I gave it a try and it did NOT disappoint. The oysters were so fresh and yummy. I had 12! Katy at the bar was welcoming and delightful. She suggested the fish sliders and chard broccoli. I had both and it was heaven!!!! Thinking I'll drop in again tomorrow read more

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This place is really cute and very busy. The food...now, I love salt, but this place was ridiculous. We couldn't even eat the food because of how salty it was. The salad with the steak was good. This place has major potential to have its food off the chain, if they just taste it before sending it out. Or get a new person that can taste salt. read more

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This place is fantastic. Excellent chilled seafood platters, and a great decor make this spot one not to miss, the Federal diner next door also looks legit, one of the top five spots in the city, grab a table outside on a warm night. Full bar, solid wine list read more

Definitely a must if you are in the city center of Auckland. It is always busy and happening. I recommend getting a seat at the back of the restaurant looking over the chefs as they prepare your meal. The large NZ meat board was dynamite! I would definitely recommend the Corn on the cob, as well as the Burrata with tomatoes. Everything tasted great with complex flavors. They have a great wine selection, as well! read more

Depot - Shared a large NZ meatboard with a friend! Definitely worth trying! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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Great food and service. Music is chill with a warm atmosphere highly recommend. Coffee hit the spot. Had lamb ribs and Hapuna sliders adjusted the number of sliders to suit us, so easy going. Nice casual vibe. read more

Honestly, I've been here a few times and it's usually pretty good. However tonight, the service was real shit and the food wasn't much better. Very salty and/or burnt. Very dissatisfying for a local who loves to bring clientele here for dinner meetings. Especially their high standard girlfriend. Step it up, Depot!!! read more

Very cute place! Im a vegetarian and saw that Yelp designated this place as veg friendly which seemed counter to the menu but I decided to go for it. Yes, there is next to nothing on the menu for me but when I mentioned it to the server he gave me three options of how they could modify the offerings. Winning! I went with some eggplant sliders and asparagus. My husband (carnivore) did the skirt steak and loved it. My only complaint about this place is it got REALLY loud as it filled up. read more

This place is great! Super cool vibe and love the modern interior - we sat at the back bar overlooking the kitchen and got to watch how everything was prepared. Will go again on next trip to Auckland! read more

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Tried oysters here for the first time (Rockefeller though, I was still a bit apprehensive) on a Saturday afternoon after the brunch crowd departed. It's great to sit outside, but the servers take FOREVER to take your order, and even longer to bring out your food - my friend and I only had oysters Rockefeller, drinks, and a sharing platter which was tiny (although I suppose that's the point). Would def come back though! read more

Went here for lunch while visiting Auckland. We sat outside and the atmosphere was very lively. For two people we ordered a couple of oysters, grilled octopus and chorizo, grilled peaches and prosciutto, and the potato skins. They also brought a complimentary dish to everyone of flat bread with a carrot spread. The grilled peaches and prosciutto was my favorite dish. I probably wouldn't order the potato skins again - they were pretty plain in my opinion. The meal was a bit pricey but not more than expected for lunch and a couple of beers. read more

first stop after landing in auckland those oysters and tuatua clams doe ridiculously fresh and tasty we ordered the charcuterie which i thought was pretty good but some of the items like the fried duck tongue or rabbit rillette (spelling?) were a little too 'different' for my taste if i could go back again, i'd just get 5 dozen oysters and 5 dozen tuatuas and be in heaven read more

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If you haven't had the fish sliders your missing the single greatest dish ever made !! I wake up dreaming of these.

Excellant food and service! We had an hour long wait on a Saturday night which wasnt too bad. Staff tried their best to get us seated as fast as they could. Ordered the Bone marrow, Turbot sliders, tacos, lamb chops, potato skins and the Kingfish belly followed by the macademia cookie skillet for dessert. Everything was delicious and worth the wait. Highly recommend this place. read more

This place has consistent great food, service and a lively laid back atmosphere. One of Auckland's best. If you like Oysters this place has the best in Auckland and if any place in the world. read more

Yo Auckland, don't hate me for this review! I've had this place bookmarked before my flight to Auckland was officially booked. That's how excited I was about this place! Service was phenomenal but the food really was just A-OK... What we ordered: snapper sliders, oysters, tuatua clams, and the NZ meat board. I was looking forward to the snapper sliders after reading all of the rave reviews. I took my first bite and all I could taste was mayo and the bread was sooo buttery! I had to scrape off some mayo because the amount they put on was disgusting. Might as well call them mayo sliders with a hint of snapper. If you like oysters, don't skip ordering the oysters, fresh and delicious. Go with the Te Matuku from Waiheke! I could have lived without the tuatua clams, very strange aftertaste. The meat board was unique...`Waikanae' pork salami, 'Depot' popcorn duck tongues & wild rabbit rillettes w/ 'Otello's' beef bresaola & pork lomo, served w/ cherry relish & 'Olaf's' fig & fennel crostini. Nice to snack on and I thought the duck tongues were good, but needed just a little more seasoning. I don't mind spending money on good food, but I felt that this place was a bit overpriced. Maybe I need to give Depot another chance and check out other items on the menu. I just wish the food matched the amazing service. read more

Depot - Pitcher of delicious cider - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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It's going to be more difficult than usual to put into words the brilliant dining experience I just had thanks to the service, atmosphere, and food at Depot, but I'll try nonetheless. If you don't feel like reading know this - Depot is widely regarded as one of if not the best restaurant in Auckland, and that's for good reason. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? So in I strolled to Depot around 2030 on a Monday evening over the holidays. Noting that nearly every table both inside and out was occupied with a line of people to boot, I somewhat reluctantly made my way to the hostess counter full anticipating to be told that the queue would last at least an hour or so. "We can seat you right away, good timing!" the hostess said with a grin, and my evening was off to a brilliant start. The service and atmosphere at Depot are absolutely divine, with a classy yet somehow still casual indoor outdoor combination that can cater to tourists, locals, and business people alike. I was seated at a communal table of sorts, and while my experience may have been a different one had we been repulsed by one another, we hit it off brilliantly, and our conversation had us sitting there until well after our meals were finished. Brilliant. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? While my US Dollar goes quite a ways further here in Auckland than it would have say two years ago, I was still fully expecting the prices at Depot to border on the unreasonable, but boy was I wrong. Torn between the fish sliders and the squid ink linguine, I solicited the advice of my waitress, who not only gave me some rock solid advice with the linguine, but told me that she would serve a single slider at a third of the cost just so that I would know what they tasted like. Are you kidding me? Wonderful, and a degree of service that I'm not sure I've ever before experienced. My large order of the squid ink linguine pasta came to NZ$28.00 and the slider NZ$3.33, both of which were fair considering the sizable portion of pasta. The rest of the menu was priced accordingly and there was free bread and hummus to boot! Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? The concept of a fish slider was relatively unknown to me, but goodness me was this an excellent starter. The soft and fluffy bun came together brilliantly with the flavorful fish and mayo, and I honestly wished I'd ordered the full order of three! The squid ink linguine was equally excellent, and while I don't have a picture, there must have been twelve or more clams here in a dish that's notorious for skimping on the clams. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the peripherals added to the whole thing with just a little bit of kick and some truly delicious toasted bread. Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Depot was my best dining experience in Auckland, and my meal with new friends was one of the best I've had. When you have one of those experiences that makes you fall right back in love with life and people as a whole, there's no way it can't be a place you'd gladly return to daily. Star Granted. read more

Depot is easily the most popular restaurant in Auckland right now, and rightfully so. It's always full no matter what time you go. You can't book but you can put your name down in person, wander around/have a drink outside, and the staff will give you a ring once your table is ready. Wait-times are often at least an hour for dinner. Don't let this scare you away, it is all worth it, trust me. My favourites on the menu are: Freshly shucked oysters and tuatuas, super fresh and amazing with the mignonette sauce. Fish sliders! You need two of these each at least. They are $17 for 3 or you can get them for $5.50 each. Cloudy bay clams linguine. The linguine is well made. The texture is just right and the sauce, ah the sauce is heaven. It's sweet and a little tangy, none of that heavy pasta sauce action. The dish comes with bread for you to soak up all the juices. Skirt Steak. At $25 this is a great deal! The steak is medium rare, and comes with some delicious fried onions and iceberg lettuce. Depot mustard is top notch. You can even buy a jar to take home. Beef brisket tortillas. These are packed with flavour and incredibly juicy. They come as $15 for 3 or $5 each. For dessert I always hop over to The Fed next door to get my banoffee fix. I've heard the sugar pie is equally amazing but have yet to try. This restaurant truly reflects the kiwi culture - rustic decor, fresh seafood, casual, lively, and with an excellent drinks selection to go with the food. There are no white table cloths and no gasps when you drop a fork or when you get the bill. Service is super-efficient, your ice cold tumbler rarely goes empty for more than a few minutes. It's always a good time at the Depot. read more

We ventured out to a comedy club then on to Depot about 10pm on a Thursday night. Depot is located in Federal Street, a lively cobbled style shared street next to Sky City, and many other eateries. The area is vibrant and busy. The vibe was good. When we got to Depot whole place was basically full inside and out. Luckily we nabbed the only available table outside to accommodate all 12 of us. I don't believe they take bookings so plan for this if you want to eat here. We were served with water and bottles of wine fast. That's always good. Next we had a steady stream of food delights ordered by one of the group, all of which were very good/excellent. Fish sliders, spicy fish tacos, bread and dips, a fig/pancetta/blue cheese sandwich, lamb chops that fell apart - in a good way. I'm still thinking about that taco with its spicy green sauce. The perfect food to have later at night after many drinks. :) The service was excellent and the barman very knowledgeable about his cocktails. We had a variety of margaritas, manhattans, old fashioned. All great. A little on the small side and $16 each from memory but still acceptable. All in all, a very pleasant experience and one that I'd like to enjoy again. read more

Believe the hype, Depot is THE place for tapas in downtown Auckland. I've been there three times, each experience tops the last. The ups: -Depot is nestled right near the heart of SkyCity on trendy Federal Street, easy to find and very cozy. -The decor is rustic, charming and simple, sort of like Al Brown's restaurant version of 'glamorous camping'. -Ingredients are fresh, dish presentation and flavour combos are simple and tasty. My favourite bites came from a roasted pear and blue cheese salad with rocket lettuce and crispy pork belly. Depot's menu is a flight risk, however, and is changing all the time. But trust me, pretty much anything will be good. The downs: -Doesn't take bookings, and is very popular. Alas, waiting for a table isn't unusual. In such cases my party and I just order a drink and sit outside, or have the host staff take down a number and we go for a drink elsewhere. -The coziness of the venue has a tipping point, after which it can feel a little crowded. But chances are you'll be too engrossed in the amazing food on the table. I'd eat here every week if I could afford it, just lovely. read more

Depot is the type of place that, on your way out, you're already formulating a laundry list of reasons of why you need to return, as soon as humanly possible. ...It's also the type of place that makes you reevaluate all your previous reviews - did such-and-such TRULY deserve 5 stars? .. cause, well, this melt-in-your-mouth braised beef check over a bed of pickled salad is, like, totalllllly rocking my world right now. In short, the food is top-notch. Local, fresh, creative. For lovers of the raw bar, Depot's possibly heaven. Get.some.Mahurangis, immediately. And don't forget a beverage! They've got a pretty stellar stocklist including a wide selection of microbrews from all corners of NZ ... and, well, they're damn good. The service here is legit too - probably the most attentive/knowledgable I've seen in NZ thus far. As previous reviewers have mentioned, this place always seems to have a wait. Anddd doesn't accept reservations. So either be prepared for a delay or go for a weekday lunch (which seem to be a bit more manageable). ...I may or may not already be counting down the days til my next visit ;) read more

Lovely atmosphere. The cloudy bay clams with the squid ink pasta was very fresh and unique. Homemade think salumi and tomatoes were included as well as some meat or bacon bits. The skirt steak was perfectly cooked and the onion rings we're deep fried and thin. Onion rings we're excellent too. read more

Of the Auckland restaurants we tried on our visit, Depot stood out from the pack. They don't take reservations but they will take your number and call you when a table opens up so you can wander around downtown. But don't stray too far - while we had been warned it may be a 40 minute wait, a table opened up in 20. Depot really stood apart from the pack because of the excellent, friendly, and personable service and the consistent quality of the food. We shared several dishes all featuring local ingredients. The New Zealand meat board came with wild rabbit rillettes, pig's head croquettes, salami, beef bresaola, smoked paprika lomo, a delicious cherry relish, and fig & fennel crostini. The small was a good size sampler to start for 2-3 people. The wood toasted bone marrow with parsley and shallot salad was rich and succulent. The squid ink linguine with 'Cloudy Bay' clams, hand-cut pasta, chorizo, a sauvignon blanc sauce, and ficelle was filling and delicious. The charred broccoli with labneh, medjool dates, and almonds had a sweetness I don't usually associate with broccoli but it was nice to get some greens in there. All of this was accompanied by a bottle of Duncan Forsyth's Central Otsego Rosé. And it was topped off by a passion fruit panna cotta with rhubarb topping, which was so much yum! Would highly recommend Depot to everybody and anybody. read more

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Go. Early! We sauntered up at 5:15 on a rainy Saturday and were able to get a (covered) outdoor seat. By the time we left at 7 pm there was a 2 hour wait. But - maybe worth it? Everything we had was A+. The wines on tap were all amazing; especially the Sauvignon blanc. The oysters were creamy and briny; the mignonette was good but they are delicious without it. I'd say skip the grilled oysters which were tasty, but why mess with a good thing?enjoy them raw. The turbot sliders were super tasty and comforting and the lamb ribs were spicy and sweet. Dessert was fine, but definitely not the star of the show. It's all about the wine, the seafood, and the atmosphere. Great people watching! read more

DELICIOUS! I rocked up with an old friend at the prime dining time of 7pm and half expected to be laughed out the door give the number of people milling around the front. But no, the staff were all over it, told us it would be about 20 minutes and gave us a wine list so we could have a glass out the front while we waited. It was quicker than 20 minutes before we were drooling over the menu choices. We shared a meat platter, potato skins, and brussel sprouts all were better than each other if that's even possible. Staff were chatty, knowledgeable and welcoming. I could live on the potato skins and brussel sprout dish for a lifetime. read more

Food is terrific, prices are average for the area (food is expensive in NZ!). Service is amazing and drinks/bartenders are top notch. I recommend the potato skins if you are hungry and on a budget. Wife ordered the bluff oyster and said they're the best she's ever had! Tacos were great too but not the best I've had. Still, well worth a visit. read more

This restaurant was the highlight of our dining experiences in Auckland. When we arrived, it was packed, but we took a few chairs outside and were quickly seated in a more comfortable outdoor area. The service was quick and the food, mostly served tapas style, was really imaginative and delicious. My favorite item was the "ugly heirloom" tomatoes...they may not have been pretty, but wow..what a tasty couple of bites! read more

Dropped in for dinner with a friend and was lucky to get seated at the bar overlooking the kitchen. A great spot as you get to see culinary artistry at work. We started out with a glass of Bollinger and a dozen oysters. I have to say they were the best batch of oysters I have had in NZ which tells me they are carefully managing their supply chain for the oysters which is really critical when it comes to oysters. I don't generally order oysters in NZ unless I'm getting them straight from seafood wholesalers as the quality / freshness can be hit and miss with other restaurants. Definitely not the case here at Depot! We then went on to have the bone marrow, courgette flowers (amazing) and the Kingfish belly. All were amazing and the service was great. To top off, we had the Sugar Pie which was like a cross between American-style pumpkin pie and a creme brulee...it was fantastic. The atmosphere is friendly and casual with a nice buzz. Add to that a good wine list and a selection of cocktails and I can see why everyone has been raving about this place. I can't wait to go back. read more

Whenever I visit Auckland I have to stop in at Depot. By far one of the best restaurants I've ever had the pleasure to dine. Always, have their fresh oysters, period. The Kingfish belly is out of this world delicious. One of the best things I've ever eaten in my life. Lamb riblets are also a must. You quickly get over the guilt of eating such a cute little creature because it is so succulent. I practically want to eat every meal here when I'm in Auckland, which says a lot because Auckland has many, many great eateries. Don't forget to get a tasty local craft beer as well. Overall, one of the coolest dining experiences I've ever had. We even bought the cook book which is beautifully done. It first introduces you to the people that make this restaurant such a wonderful and unique place. Can't wait to go back. Aloha. read more

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Had an amazing meal here! I was very indecisive over the menu and asked for a recommendation. What I was recommended was just perfect! The Kingfish Sashimi was a great flavour combination with the oyster cream, apple and fennel. The Turbot Sliders were fab, the fish was melt in your mouth goodness. The staff are friendly and attentive. I was seated at the bar and whenever my water or wine was running low a helpful hand appeared to top them up. read more

Oysters and Clams were both amazing! The squid ink pasta was absolutely delicious and loaded with sweet yummy fat clams. The lamb ribs were fall off the bone tender and deliciously seasoned with cumin and Harissa. Potato skins covered with Manchego cheese are also a must order! Wash everything down with a refreshing Spanish Tempranillo rose and you have a perfect meal! Nice casual and fun atmosphere and service was wonderful. read more

Depot - Amazing raw oysters and clams - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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Finally got to come here for lunch! So packed already at 12pm- but lucky to get a table indoors. Both indoors and outdoor seating available. Loved the real tree wood tables and tall stools with nifty little hooks underneath to hang bags. Awesome atmosphere with both a casual and simultaneous industrial feel. Liked looking at their decor and received such great service. Got their Tio Point, Marlborough oysters from the raw bar, which came out first. Shucked to order and served on a shallow bowl of ice with a bit of lemon to squeeze over and small pot of chardonnay vinegar & shallots. Very clean and crisp- excellent choice. We wanted to have more! From the small share plates: Got the turbot sliders (3) which had the softest white mini burger buns. Excellent soft fish inside with lemon mayo and watercress. Easily could have had the whole plate of sliders on my own and friends agreed the same. Also tried the lamb ribs. Came in a small stack with skoradali dip and cumin paprika oil- just fell off the bone and was really flavoursome. Both of these were delicious. On the side, the potato skins were a really great choice. Came in an old school metal dish with strips of' 'Kingsmeade' manchego cheese and porcini salt. Was quite surprised by the size of them- almost whole potatoes cut into halves. Very crispy and crunchy- just how I like it. Also had their charred kumara which came in a delightfully sweet mix of pickled lemon, parsley, maple and Al's smoked butter (which melted gorgeously into the sauce). All of our dishes were delicious and Al Brown, you're a winner. Thank you! Definitely recommend this one- easily read more

Duck! Confit duck. And the warehou tortillas would make 'em blush anywhere from Baja to Monterrey. Bit of a Grand Canyon between the starters and the main share plate (alls i'm sayin') took the night down a notch, ditto the rotating service by four different staff. The Rawhiti ginger beer from Waimate North is worth a visit all on it's own though. read more

Oh my god, oh my god, OH MY GOD! Occasionally you go out for a meal, and you're so blown away by the food, wine, service and vibe, it ends up being one of the best meals you're had in a long time. Depot was that experience for me. On a chilly Thursday night, five of us went out for a work dinner. We had the best waiter ever. EVER. You know when you meet someone who's passionate about food, wine and making people feel at home? He was that person. We put our trust in his hands and he did not disappoint with the food and wine choices. Over the space of a few hours, we feasted on meat platters, pulled pork, potato skins with parmesan, grilled corn cobs, zucchini flowers, pickles and for dessert sweet pumpkin pie. Every single dish was fabulous - and that never happens! New Zealand also has the best pinot noirs in the world and I may have had half a bottle from the Otago region which also added to the merriment *ahem* The atmosphere is also pumping - it can get a little loud but that just adds to the vibe and the experience. Highly recommend you get your butt to Depot when you're next in Auckland. I definately will be! read more

The staff was not friendly and when we asked if we could order something to go , the girl at the entrance said the only way we could eat was if we waited for 1 hour to be seated Not recommended if you are hungry and especially dealing with people who does not like their job read more

If saying that the Oysters Rockefeller were out of this world is not enough..... I bought the damn cook book!! Having upwards of 100 cookbooks, I have to have been impressed to buy the book! Great atmosphere, good and efficient staff. Really nice place to chill out. Buy the Oysters Rockefeller, whatever you do! (Try to not buy all the cook books) read more