This is a fantastic spot...really happy I happened upon it....really nice young friendly staff...casual atmosphere ...noticed my wine wasn't served traditionally ..and I loved that ..food was delish and I recommend the hot sauce on the table ... Loved my waitress and hope to visit again soon ! read more

We thought a place this close to the Sky Tower was going to be touristy and disappointingly average for food, but it was fantastic when we went on Sunday evening. Interesting, tasty food (lamb cutlets, turbot sliders, courgettes, sweetcorn, mussel grill) and cocktails, and great waitressing. We're going back for another round this evening! read more

Upon arrival to Aukland, Depot was the first stop on my restaurant list and boy did it not disappoint. I ordered the chicken with couscous, which came with a delicious yoghurt sauce that complemented the savory chicken perfectly. Although this entree sounds simple, the chicken exceeded my expectations as it was juicy and tender, and bursting with flavor. To say the least, the chicken on its own did not need any sauces or excess of additives to make it amazing, which says a lot about the quality of the ingredients. Although this restaurant was a bit cramped and small, the food here was so incredible that I really enjoyed my experience here regardless. My friend ordered the squid ink linguini, which was also an excellent choice as well if you're into seafood. They also have a great variety of wines to choose from as well. Depot is a popular spot but there is seating at the bar, which worked fine for 2, but would probably be a wait time for larger groups during peak hours. Overall, this place is a must-try spot in Aukland and one of my favorites that I visited while on my vacation in NZ. read more

Absolutely love it here, the service can be a bit slow but that's only because it is so busy at all times. A great great place. Oysters! Clams! Yum! read more

Depot - Clams! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Depot may be my absolute favourite place to eat in all of Auckland. I have had the pleasure of eating here twice so far, as well as sampling their food at both the Federal Street food market and Taste of Auckland. All I can really say is WOW! You must, must go here. The atmosphere is busy and buzzing, and if you have the opportunity to sit at the bar to eat and watch the bar tenders and chef's do their thing then I would suggest it. We got to spend a great deal of time chatting with the guy behind the bar, who was able to talk in depth about the food, suggest things to try we may never have picked off the menu ourselves, and was able to suggest fantastic drink pairings as well. It added so much to the experience that was already a fantastic one. Helped he was attractive and a little flirty too (haha). As for the food. Wow, just wow. It is hard to even describe how delicious and amazing everything was. Stand out for me was the rabbit (I'd never had it before and it was phenomenal), as well as the fish sliders, and surprisingly some of the vegetable side dishes, were stand outs as well. However, like other reviewers have stated, they don't take reservations and it gets VERY busy. Be prepared for a 30-45 minute wait, but they will take down your name and cell phone number so you can go grab something to drink in the many fine choices of bars around about, and they will text or call when your table is ready. read more

One of my favourite restaurants in Auckland. The service is impeccable and the staff have a lovely friendly casual yet professional manner. I would definitely order the oysters- even if you are not a fan of Oysters. They are freshly shucked and served on ice with a side of delicious shallot vinaigrette. My favourites are Orongo bay oysters but unfortunately are not on the menu at the moment, but keep an eye out as they are that good! All the food here is superb but a not to be missed is the fish sliders, these have been known to change between snapper and turbot. The bread of the slider is fresh and served with the fish is a pickled lemon mayonnaise and watercress. You cannot beat these! A good range of wine including wine on tap . They also have a good selection of New Zealand craft beer. You may have to wait a while but it is worth the wait and it is a nice buzzy environment to hang around in. read more

Still as good as auckland gets Fish tortillas are the bomb. Regretted not going for the pork hog but the steak/cabbage/onion combo defies belief. The service, atmosphere and vibe is everything you could hope for. read more

What a delicious gem! The hubby a I sat on the kitchen bar and we got to watch all the savory dishes being created with great efficiency and pride by the Chef and his staff. That kitchen is run very well and it's so clean! The chefs obviously love what they do -- fresh local ingredients and amazing options. We had local raw oysters, fried green tomatoes and the fish sliders. Everything was perfect! The wait staff is impressive -- attentive and friendly. I'm happy we stopped here for dinner. read more

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We had dinner here last night and it was awesome. Our waiter Zach, largely took care of ordering for us. We started with some raw (I think Kingfish?) it was excellent. And then had several other dishes including a taco like item. Wine was good, service was great and my wife and I had a wonderful time. read more

In 2017 I tried to dine here based off the Yelp reviews but it was too busy so I had to go next door to Masu. Now that I'm back in Auckland, I made it a point to come here and I am so glad that I did! The Yelp reviews are not lying, this place is pretty good. I sat at the bar and the bar staff were so friendly and interactive, I felt like I was back in the USA! The cocktails are delicious, they even made me a dirty martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives even though they'd never heard of this drink in New Zealand! I didn't try the oysters but sat near the guy that was shucking them all night, they seem to be popular. Thankfully they can do half orders so I got 2 of the fish sliders & 3 of the lamb ribs which are what they're known for. The sliders were dynamite!!!! I absolutely loved them and wish I'd ordered the full portion! The ribs are not good at all. They are tender but that's it. To be fair, I'm from Texas so I know good ribs. These had zero seasoning even though they were coated in seasoning. To me they were just tender bland meat. I don't understand the hype. I tried the cookie dessert in a skillet which is so American but to be fair, I've spent a month in Australia where the desserts are awful so I was in need of a good yummy dessert and this was perfection! I would go back to Depot and would definitely recommend to others. Check it out! read more

We contemplated for a while about where our last meal in New Zealand should be. We finally decided to eat here because of the awesome reviews and also because it was right next to our hotel. The restaurant appeared to be packed, but we were quickly seated right in front of the kitchen. Our server was nice enough to give us her suggestions. So, we decided on getting oysters, fish sliders, and this cauliflower cheese dish. The oysters were so fresh and so good. The fish sliders (not too sure what fish it was) were very moist and seasoned well. The best thing from here, however, has to be hands down their CAULIFLOWER cheese dish. read more

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I visited this restaurant while on a short trip to Auckland. My decision to eat at this restaurant was rewarded by the fantastic food served at this restaurant. I would highly recommend the lamb ribs, sampling every oyster on the menu and sampling the fish sliders. read more

If this restaurant actually deserves the Metro Supreme Restaurant of the Year 2012, then I'm John Key. But even John Key won't be able to deny that this restaurant's got it made - throngs of patrons and ruddy good food minus the frills. Turbot is called the Rolls Royce of fish, and here it is presented in a natty coupe of well-baked sliders: the high-quality fish is soft, moist and lightly roasted ,cut with lemon mayo and watercress.Deliciously fried Lamb Ribs carried a hint of musky note that was quickly overtaken by succulent meat and liberal currents of fat . Fergus' Bone marrow is a a fatty blast of fabulously full flavour and intense umami, its heart-attack-inducing richness smartly cut with toast, parsley and shallot rings. Service simply cannot cope with the high customer numbers but the staff are cheery and charming when they manage to land up in front of you. Hapuka Belly is a succulent expanse of white fish, but it does not merit its $32 price tag- it's paired with the admirably named eggplant kasundi which unfortunately trades savoury finesse for sweetness. Depot needs to attempt bolder seasoning instead of tame marketplace caution.The newly introduced "Greg's Southern Fried Skate Wings' is meltingly soft with crunchy coating , but sassy seasoning would have made it rival any of the superior Chicken Karaage in the city. Pork hock here has crunchy crackling atop fatty cuts of pork- the meat's savoury heft blends comfortingly with unctuous horseradish mash and the crisp brightness of green apple matchsticks. Sit next to the kitchen to get a feel of one of the country's busiest bistros. Chef Al Brown who's the nation's most high-profile chef and a TV personality gave me a big surprise when I spotted him, one Friday evening, clearing plates from the tables and taking it inside the kitchen - his corporate drive notwithstanding, he clearly takes the Kiwi DIY ideal to humble heights. 2.5/5 =Above average. Photos http://www.upnworld.com/restaurant/view/id/44/title/Depot read more

Depot - Turbot slider - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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Been here three or four times now. And loved it each time. Depot and the Federal Deli are such unique restaurants in Auckland. And a refreshing change. Impeccable service, a delicious menu and always a very lively atmosphere. The service is comparable to the service received at restaurants in the States (just been there so can say that!). Some excellent choices for beers too. Great spot, will be back for more. read more

Arrived on a Monday night and didn't have to wait for a table for two. Started with some complimentary grilled pita bread and hummus, nice little snack. We started with the cumin batteries warahou, which were essentially fish tacos with a cabbage slaw. The serve was large and a really nice way to start the meal. Continued with a the braised beef cheek ($17), on the smaller side but the celeriac that great. On the recommendation of the waiter we ordered the Brussel sprouts, which were divine. Definitely order them of they are on the menu, they have such a short season. The pork hock was on the heavier side but still tasty, very crispy skin but nothing that I haven't had before. Well executed with very friendly and knowledgable staff. We drank the same wine (2 bottles! Oops!) the Rocky Point Pinot Noir. Easy to drink and reasonably priced, although it didn't leave a lasting impression. A table Pinot at best, slightly overpriced ($64). Dinner for two with a two bottles of wine and a cheese was $264 read more

Their dishes are absolutely great. Their lamb ribs are the best dish bar none - tender, melt in your mouth goodness read more

I stopped here hoping to try the mutton Yorkshire puddings, cause frankly I have no idea where I'd even start to look to find something like it back in the good ole US of A. Alas, they were not on the menu and I was left staring daydreaming at a picture of what could have been a wonderful match made in heaven. Once I was consoled enough to make a second choice, I went with the bone marrow and Lyndon's courgette flowers. Woah. I mean, for second choices. If all second choices were this good! I should really try my luck with gambling or something. Oh, there's a casino in the same Skycity complex? You don't say... read more

Seriously great little restaurant. Food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) was fantastic. Service was good. The bar is just for diners, so meeting for a cocktail and appetizer leaves you out on the heated patio. read more

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Been here a handful of time. Always pumping here. Very nice down to earth kiwi chic. Friendly staff but there's no booking here. So turn up early. We were told there was a 45 mins wait. Left our phone number and had a drink somewhere else. But within like 20 mins they called us back in for a group of 8. So I was happy with that. Everything in the menu is great. The staff will help you out if you haven't eaten there before. read more

As expected, depot was superb. We went for the second time on Valentine's Day and had to wait 90 minutes for a table (they don't take bookings), but it was well wort it. The charcuterie was delicious and we split the courgette flowers and pork hock, which were both superb. We even saved room for the pavlova. Depot continues to not disappoint. read more

Finally got the chance to try this place out. After hearing so many positive things from friends - I was excited! First up was the beer menu - which I was very surprised with, wide range of craft beers - something that can also be hard to find in many restaurants. We started with the smoked brisket tortillas which were great! Heaps of favour! My partner had the muscles - and was also a very impressed. For the main we shared the pork hock with some potato skins as a side - these are a must try! Great atmosphere - lucky for us it was only 3/4 full on a Sunday afternoon, but as others have said they can fill up quickly during the evening . Looking forward to going back soon read more

Truly world-class tapas with excellent service ...a winning combination. The pork hock with celeriac was outstanding, crispy skin and tender inside almost falling off the bone. The potato skins crispy and flavorful. The skirt steak perfectly cooked with delicious thin onion strips and the squid ink linguini with clams and chorizo delicious. read more

Depot - Pork hock with celeriac - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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I was visiting nz on my honeymoon and came across this place outside my hotel. We start outside since there was a 45 min wait inside. We started with bottles beers as there is limited beers on tap. We had oysters which were delicious. Then we moved onto brisket tortillas which were basically amazing tacos. Onto the mutton with curry which was good too. Next, potatoes skins were delicious but we were getting full. Last but not least, the chicken had amazing flavor. We couldn't finish it all and took some to go. Great service. The waitresses cover for each other so your never left without service. The food, amazing! Strongly recommended. read more

Awesome! Stopped here for coffee and snacks. Staff friendly and helpful. Food and coffee excellent. Would recommend. read more

This is a cool place to dine with your friends or to enjoy decent food by yourself. If you don't have a big group, I'd suggest you to sit at the kitchen bar. You may enjoy the symphony of the cooking when you are eating. The conductor to the kitchen is a guy called Blake, I think. All food there are prepared with fresh ingredient and all dishes are well managed to have good quality. They are many special dishes you may try there. For me? I'd like the freshly wood oven baked port leg, duck, and bone marrow. If you are a gourmet eater and you have never been there, you should give yourself a treat there, at least once. read more

I've had several business lunches at the depot and have always had a great experience. First class food with a small and large plates to share which is a great way to do lunch, but does see you end up spending a bit. Good wines to match. The thing I love most tho is the vibe, the New York feel of the fit out, the attention to detail right down to the glasses and cutlery, the great service and the small details like the sardine tins etc. Very classy eating experience... unfortunately with no reservations I havent had the patience to have dinner there yet. A must do for the Auckland eating experience... read more

Our first night in Auckland, at a new fusion place in Ponsonby, we ended up sitting next to some locals who quickly realized that we were out of our element. We asked where we should go to get some typical, homey "Kiwi Food," and their emphatic answer was The Depot. After a quick review check, we knew that we had to go, and we're so glad we did! PROS: * The food. All of it. I can't think of a single improvement to any dish that we ordered, and that's a true rarity. Of particular note are the Tubot Sliders (if only there were more of them...) and the squid ink pasta with clams (no issue with a lack of clams in this dish). Everything came out in great time, was perfectly prepared, and expertly explained by our server. And we were sitting at the bar. * Service is excellent. We weren't sure what to expect when we were seated at the bar, but our server was extremely knowledgeable about the food, drinks, and city of Auckland in general. His food and drink recommendations were top notch, as were his suggestions of cocktail bars near the apartment that we stayed in. * The menu is really impressive, and there's a lot on it. Everything is shareable, which is great for a place like this, but you could order more traditionally and be fine. Oysters and clams are awesome, and all of the meat is perfectly done, as you would expect from a notable Kiwi establishment. There are lots of drink options as well, and the bar certainly knows what it's doing. The same goes for coffee. We had a wonderful experience here, and we loved every minute of it. There were only a few low points, but they were extremely minor by comparison: CONS: * New Zealand craft beer is really coming on, and there was a lot of it in bottles behind the bar, but there was only 1 on tap. The Champagne Pilsner that they did have was excellent and made me appreciate the style for the first time, but it would have been nice to have some options. The wine list, however, was quite extensive. * Since you can't make reservations, they try to get as many butts in seats as possible at any given time. Which is great, but you will likely feel cramped. This really does work with the overall atmosphere though. If we ever end up back in Auckland, The Depot may just be the first stop we make. There's some great food in the city, but none better than here. You're doing yourself a disservice if you miss it. SCORING: * Value: 5/5 * Taste: 5/5 * Menu: 5/5 * Service: 5/5 * OVERALL: 5/5 read more

Forget about everything else, just go oyster's!!! They are good and I really mean it, they are good... The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because of how crowded it gets, victim of its own success!!! read more

This place delivered! I showed up in the pouring rain and was told there was a 90 minute wait. With the reviews on Yelp, and the fact it was my last day in town, I bunkered down and waited. Not 5 minutes later, a waiter came up to me, and told me they got me a table...score! I had the oysters, brisket tacos, skirt steak and broccoli. Oysters - Wowsers, they were creamy and delicious! Brisket tacos - messy, greasy heaven Skirt steak - came with fried onion strings and mustard (which I don't eat). I was impressed. Tender, perfectly cooked Broccoli - They serve it burnt...it was awesome! Never had it like this Conclusion: Go and check this place out. Throw your name in early if you don't want to wait. read more

Really terrific food-- very busy place. Had the skins, along with the Lamb and wagyu, and oysters- All were excellent read more

Amazing food - oysters and sashimi were so fresh - pork hock and duck to die for - we had a seat at the end and could watch the chefs at work - one of the best night out I have had in Auckland - highly recommend read more

Depot - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Superb ! We had a wonderful meal here, food just blew us away. The restaurant is in a prime spot opposite the sky tower and has a lovely casual friendly ambiance. The potato skins where delicious, lovely thick and crunchy - could have stopped and eaten those all night. Followed by the fish sliders, fresh and light and melt in your mouth deliciousness. Lam ribs and skirt steaks to follow - just melt in your mouth, in fact we ordered extra lamb ribs which were easily the star of our night. A great night with great food, we will be back - but be early or be prepared to wait as they do t take bookings. read more

What a great place! The atmosphere is great and casual.. We had the oysters they were very fresh and had a great flavor, we then had some snapper sliders that were incredible. The small plates were perfect to share and we felt full but not bloated when done. Would definitely recommend to family! read more

Depot - Honey with my honey - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Depot has a cool, relaxed, somewhat hipster atmosphere. There's a mid-sized indoor dining room, and a small-ish outdoor dining area, the latter with both covered and uncovered seating. The warm, friendly, helpful staff serves very good food from a small-ish menu with a decent variety of options. I thought the hapuka sliders were especially good. read more

Very relaxed place but at the same time extremely professional. The food was both delicious and interesting, and the service was the best I've had in a long time. We had each dish described before ordering and explained when it arrived. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it as an experience to others. read more

We just visited New Zealand on our honeymoon and I already knew I wanted to go to Depot (right next to our hotel) when I found it while planning our trip. We were not disappointed! Great food, great atmosphere, excellent service. I wish I weren't so bad with names so that I could give a shout out to our fabulous server! It is definitely worth coming here if you are in the Auckland CBD area. And don't skip out on the sugar pie! So good..... read more

An hour wait for a table felt like nothing and well worth it in the end. We were attentively waited too from the moment we walked in the door with the waitstaff helpful in recommending the best matches for food to wine and kept that bread rolling. We ordered the oysters and sea fresh clams from the fresh bar and were awarded with the best tasting fresh seafood this side of the bluff oyster season. A tough decision had to be made as I matched my own culinary skills against Al's (I live and breath his depot cook book) and found my home skills wanting. The lamb ribs fell off the bone and melted magically in the mouth and was surprisingly well supported by the subtle flavours of the buttery squid ink linguine and the rich hearty grilled cauliflower. Beautiful craggy range Pinot accompanied the meal and topped of one hell of a dining experience read more

I would give this place 6 stars if I could. We actually went back every day during our short stay. The menu rotates. The potato skins with truffle oil are a must. read more

Had a great late night dinner here after traveling from the states. The staff was awesome for recommending exactly what we should try and paired with drinks & wine. Food was fresh, tasted amazing, and a great value. read more

The best food is a single star Ingredient plus 2-3 supporting voices that is touched by humans 2-3 times max. It can only be pulled off if the star is of the highest quality. If not then get out the slow roast, pressure cooker or 5 hour low heat to beat those sinews into submission. Depot adheres to the first method. Simply fresh proteins touched by a human a few times. Add a bit of heat and a sauce or relish on the side and boom. Meal bliss in front of you. Add a young in tune wait staff and as long as you are in synch with the vibe the evening will flow. A bit of wine, another oyster, a quivering clam all backed by a hot kitchen pushing out the usual protein suspects. Lots of room chatter, pumping music, communal seating and the atmospherics are checked off the list. This is not fine dining. It is casual hip with straight up food to allow you to say those right loving phrases to your table-mate. Leave the up tight behind and have another oyster/wine. Life is simple when you let it flow at Depot. Nice buzz!!! read more

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