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Had late brunch & it totally hit the spot. The snapper sliders , potatoes skins & the roasted veal tongue were all delicious. Menu is wonderfully different, Service was quick and very friendly. Conveniently located by the Sky Tower. Atmosphere was lively and busy, full of locals. Will be back again.
One of the best meals that I had in Auckland! So good in fact that I went a second time!!! They don't take reservations but both times it was not difficult to get in. They do close early, 9pm, so show up earlier if you are American and like to eat out late. Great atmosphere and the staff are very friendly. Loved my experiences here. Food was amazing.
Popular for good reason. Service and food are stellar. We just flew in and they were so kind - storing our two huge suitcases at the host stand for HOURS, Excellent indulgent innovative food. Natalie in particular stood out as our server. Super warm and gracious throughout the meal. Get the oysters. Check out the tap beers. Their complimentary hummus and flatbread. - stellar. The octopus and potatoes - yum-o, a mish mash of fresh herbs, textures and a rich perfectly acidic aioli.
The first time we were in Auckland, we enjoyed our food here. I decided I had to go back. We sat outside, which was ok since we were directly under a heat lamp. We were given complimentary pita bread with hummus to start. The pita is grilled, but overly so- burnt. We ordered the kingfish sashimi. I thought it was clever using wasabi peas as a topping. It added spiciness and crunchiness. The fish itself didn't have much flavor. Next, we had the charred eggplant. It was more blackened than charred. The pinenut tahini and 'Good Joe' coffee syrup on the eggplant made the dish standout. I also liked the crispy shallots on top. Lastly, we ordered the grilled kahawai which comes with garam masala crispy potatoes. The ginger coconut sauce came in a separate container for you to pour over the dish. Once again, the sauce made the dish. The sauce on the fish made me think Thai, but the potatoes made me think Indian. I think this is a place everyone needs to check out if they're in Auckland. I enjoyed my meal, but a few things could've been better.
Wy wife and I were on vacation in Auckland and for our last meal after visiting Hobbiton, we walked around the corner to Depot. We sat at the bar and they had a pretty weak tap beer selection, no IPAs at all, it would have been a five star if the draft selection was better. Our bartender was great until he had to start training someone in, then we were forgotten. I ordered the sliced lamb tongue and the snapper sliders. They both came out fast and were both amazing. The tongue was nice and vinegary and the fish sandwiches were good sized for sliders and the aioli was perfectly blended with the sea creatures. They place filled up as we ate, a little overpriced, but I liked it. They give you some wonderful hummus and pita for free when you sit down.
This was a great place and a great last dinner to end my 3 week holiday. My husband and I sat by the kitchen and watched the magic of prepping and playing food. Chef OJ was a beast, she was so good to watch she was amazing. My we got the bone marrow, potato skins and skirt steak. It was so good. Definitely a place to visit for lunch or dinner!
New Zealand cuisine with a slight fusion, delicious food and great location. This place is nearly full by 5p and after we got seated and ordered it was fully packed. Its popularity is not a surprise. Food is great and price very reasonable, good service with a modern rustic ambience. We wanted the lamb but it was out of season, so we got the skirt steak instead, plus the pork hock, charred eggplant with pinenut tahini and a couple appetizers. The steak was medium rare, very tender. Everything was just delicious. They also serve warm pita with hummus instead of bread. Friendly efficient staff. Can't beat the location b/c it's right across from Sky City Hotel and Sky Tower. Highly recommended.
Went here as it was right next to Sky Tower & all the food was great! They sat us promptly, restaurant was fairly busy around lunch time. The skirt steak was very tender, well seasoned, and the fried onions made it perfect!! The fish sandwiches were moist and had such a unique/great sauce. Would definitely go back again.
We stop by here every time we visit Auckland. The Depot never disappoints! We grabbed a quick bite here as we also wanted to leave room to try other foods. A must for us are the fish sliders and the bone marrow. Their fish sliders are so good. I think they changed out their white fish to snapper but the overall taste is still so good. 1 order includes 3 sliders. Buns are buttered, fish is cooked to perfection, not dried. Lemon aioli added another dimension. Bone marrow was good. Included 3 pieces and topped with sliced baguette and salad. Good vibes here as it was a packed house. We were seated at the kitchen bar and watched the staff cook. They all really seem to enjoy their job. Good vibes in the kitchen too! We walked here so I am not sure about parking as it's literally right next to the needle.
AMAZING! Everything is simply amazing! I have to say this is THE best restaurant in Auckland!! Every was DELICIOUS! The food came out very fast and the service was good! The environment is so welcoming and inviting! The food is so flavorful and unlike anything I've ever tried before! All around a wonderful dining experience!
This place is connected to The Grand Sky City. I arrived late on a Mon night at 8:30, but they were able to squeeze me in before the Kitchen closed at 9. I was surprised to hear such an early closing time, but as i was to learn during my week here in Auckland, that is normal for most places. Also surprised because the place was fully packed. Anyway...I saw crispy pork hock on the menu, so order that. Wow, it was perfect. Nicely crisp skin and melt in your mouth meat. It came with some delicious mashed parsnips, and a tasty pickeled zucchini slaw. I definitely recommendbthis place.
The service was good, the food was delicious and the portions were suit for sharing with friends and family. Aperol Spritz was a bit average. Be careful not to sit outside near where the plates (didn't check clearly, seems like garbage bin down there) are placed, there will be a lot of little fruit fly like bugs flying around and really get on my nerves
Really great quality food. Loved it. The ambiance was excellent and perfect location right by the sky tower. The hostess was a little sharp, inflexible, and frankly rude. As she insisted for us to sit at the kitchen bar, even when a couple of other tables were available. We managed our way to where we wanted to sit by working with another staff member. But really the rest was simply a great experience.
6 years ago
Best meal I've had at New Zealand restaurant, so far at least. Definitely would recommend. The food, service and atmosphere were all excellent. The dishes we tried were well thought out and had a good mix of flavors and textures. Nothing super "fancy", just down to earth food I'm starting to realize that kiwis really like mayo, which was on multiple items. Or was that just my ordering? My only reservation is that the food, while good, was honesty not... that memorable? I dunno it was all on point. The overall experience is what I remember and it was amazing. read more
4 years ago
Great small plates. Sat in the back at the bar overlooking the chefs working. Busy place but the staff were friendly and the food worth coming back for. Highly recommend read more
3 years ago
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3 years ago
No joke the best food we had in NZ. Bone marrow is a must. Sliders are a must. Pumpkin hummus was delicious. Potato skins to die for. Fast service. Servers were so amazing- ALEX oh my gosh she is seriously the BEST!!! read more
This is one of the most reviewed restaurants in Auckland for a reason. Wifey and I were here originally to get a taste of the famous Bluff oysters since none was available in Christchurch's restaurants. Bluff oysters were supposed to be the star, but somehow they tasted flat and not-so-fresh. We were disappointingly unimpressed. Sure, it wasn't the peak season yet, but it should have tasted better. What turned this dining experience around were the grilled Kahawai (fish) and Ferguson bone marrow. Fish was great and the bone marrow was just out of this world. Many precious Yelpers commented on how good it was, and it even exceeded my expectations. 2 weeks after consuming the bone marrow, the taste and experience still haunt me! I would have given 5 stars to this whole review if we hadn't ordered those oysters. Definitely would visit again if we come to Auckland again. read more
Food is delicious! 5 stars definitely Service wasn't that great 3 stars If the service was better this restaurant will be super packed. But I will definitely come back for their food, seafood in New Zealand is no joke. So fresh! This place is good for a individual to come for lunch/dinner because you can seat outside a bar like area. read more
Where do I even begin? The food, people, and atmosphere here were all amazing. Food: my boyfriend took the first bite of the hapuka sliders and I promise his face lit up and he said "these are the best sliders I've ever had in my life" (he specifically requested that I quoted him for this review). I must admit, the hapuka sliders were dangerously addicting. It comes in an order of three and we contemplated placing another order but decided to save our bellies for the other things on the menu. To start off they also give you complimentary hummus and bread. Hummus was very good. We also had half a dozen of the te kouma oysters which we thoroughly enjoyed. Creamy, juicy, and briny. The bone marrow was rich, buttery heaven. We also had the potato skins to nibble on. They were good but probably the least favorite of all the things we had today. They were just a tad bit salty. Overall our favorite thing on the menu is the hapuka sliders and I would think that's a popular opinion seeing as to how 85% of diners there were also ordering the sliders. Atmosphere: good amount of seating both indoors and outdoors and also seating at the bar. Cute bar area. You can also watch the staff shuck oysters at an amazingly fast speed by the bar while you're waiting for your food. They have a purse holder at every table! Major plus. Service: outstanding. Staff were all so friendly, attentive, and helpful with recommendations. Food came out at a good pace. Our waitress Libby even came by with Depot's recipe book and let us take pictures of the hapuka sliders recipe after we told her how obsessed we are with them. (Shout out to our girl Libby). Wait times: they don't take reservations here so it's on a first come first serve basis but the line seemed to be moving fast. We came at prime time dinner around 7 and only had to wait about 20 minutes or so. Pricing was reasonable for the quality of food that you're getting. Overall, highly recommend this place. Next time we come to Auckland this would be the first place we'd come to eat. read more
7 years ago
Wow! Other Yelp reviews are not wrong. Came to this place on the advice from a random phone call while I was in Auckland. The friend who called me said "you've gotta got to Depot!" And here I am. I've been browsing reviews to work out what I want to eat and went with: - Lamb ribs: melt in your mouth, falling off the bone soft lamb. Kind of middle eastern style rub / flavour - Fish sliders: lovely light white fish, tangy mayo, baby leaves. I was dining alone so they agreed to do 2 instead of 3 sliders. Just nice so I could leave room for ........ - Squid ink pasta: hand made squid ink tagliatelle, thin sliced chorizo, mixed with juicy NZ mussels. A little bit of lemon juice mixed in with the creamy style sauce (and a char grilled half baguette for dipping) makes this dish complete ... and my favourite of the night if I had to pick only one! All in all, I'd definitely say that this is one of the nicest, and most unique, meals I've had the pleasure of enjoying over the last 12 months. But wait..... there's more! (As they say in ads for the best steak knives on the planet) I had a few glasses left out of the bottle of Margrain Pinot Noir I'd ordered, and realised that with no veges or salads, I wasn't being very healthy. So I decided to order the beetroot salad (see details in photo description). Also very, very good. Bordering on epic. :) read more
7 years ago
Wonderful food! The wait is over an hour, and they don't take reservations, which almost made us walk away but glad we decided to wait. Every dish was fresh and delicious, just order whatever you want on the menu, there's no bad dish! The environment is pretty casual. There are no chairs,just backless stools. They are super uncomfortable after a while. Price is reasonable. Parking is kinda tricky. It's right by the sky tower so very busy. After validated at the restaurant still paid $26 for parking. Not sure if that's normal.. Overall great ! read more
3 years ago
12 years ago
I just don't get the apparent enthusiasm for this restaurant. You have to wait 45 minutes for a table. Then you sit on hard, uncomfortable stools. Then you get mediocre service, and have to flag your server, or any server to attend to you. And then the food is just "average". So, what's the big attraction??? The three of us had Grilled mussels, $14, Bone Marrows (chef's specialty), $24, Skirt steak, $25, and a side of potato skins, $10. The mussels were very good, as it was plump and moist with flavor. The Bone Marrow was mucous with the consistency of liquidized fat. The skirt steak was a tough piece of meat, requiring a lot of chewing. This is like a gastropub in atmosphere, and I could only imagine that people come here to say they've been, and like to see and be seen. It's certainly not for the food. Considering the wait, service and prices, I'm being generous awarding three stars!! read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
WOW! Amazing food! Long wait...but worth it! We recommend the potatoes and ham hock! I was going to give it 4 stars, but the food was so good! The reason for the possible 4 stars is the A/C was blowing right on our food. If we hadn't eaten most of it so quickly, it all would have been cold. Other than that...FRIENDLY, fast service...and EXCELLENT FOOD! read more
4 years ago
Let me tell you, it was a real struggle to finally eat at Depot. I came on the 24th, thinking it would operate like normal hours. Seeing that it closes at midnight, I thought I'd still have about two and a half hours to enjoy my meal. When I arrived, they told me they were closing--and it was only 9 pm. Naturally, I was surprised because it wasn't a public holiday--yet. Seeing that everything else was closed except for halal food, it was very difficult finding food anywhere else. I finally came on my last night in Auckland--save the best for last, right? There was a waiting list and they were nice enough to call my number from overseas to notify me of an open table. Everything on the menu looked delicious--I didn't have a huge appetite but seeing this was a place I had my eyes on before I had even arrived, I did my best to save room in my belly. We started with the a few things from the raw bar: Orongo Bay and Kiwa oysters, and Tuatua clams. All were fresh and so delicious, but my favorite has probably got to be the Kiwa oysters--they were remarkably creamy! The great thing about this restaurant is that the plates are tapas so you don't have to eat everything by yourself--unless you want to! The Lamb Ribs tasted like halal food-flavored, spicy meat and didn't do it for me, but the I loved the soft and tender texture of the meat--and the mashed potatoes it came with was not bad itself. The Squid Ink Linguine was decent; I don't think the squid ink does much for the pasta except add color, but I really enjoyed the generous amount of the Cloudy Bay Clams it came with--they were very fresh and crisp. At this point, we were quite full and didn't want to order another full plate of full, but were eager to try something small. Our waiter suggested the Turbot sliders and told us they could be ordered individually--rather than the set of 3 it comes with--for about $5 each or so. ...So we did, and they were small, finger bite-sized, but that was it for the night. The fish was soft and the sliders overall were so flavorful and creamy, it melts in your mouth! Awesome experience, especially being my first sit-down dinner meal (on my last night in NZ) since I've touched down in Auckland. Probably one of the busiest restaurants in the CBD and I totally get why this place has such high praises and raves! read more
11 years ago
Definitely a five star place. This temple of casual gastronomy knows how to throw down. The menu items are on one hand serious, ambitious food, but on the other hand show a humorous side as well. Oysters- fantastic, simply very fresh & briney with a little mignonette. Yorkshire pudding with mutton/ yummy! Potato skins with Gruyere & porchini salt, (smelled more like white truffle to me). "Fish Tortilla" Was actually a fish taco, but very good just the same- kidney bean puree amuse bouche was spot on. Dog point Sauvignon Blanc- probably the best I have ever tried. Really loved the warm, welcoming ambiance and menu, a great expression of New New Zealand cooking at its best. This is a don't miss, top five place when in Auckland. read more
3 years ago
The Depot has a fantastic bacon egg breakfast sandwich to die for. They also offer a great selection of drinks and the sliders are a must to try. Service here was prompt, but nothing to go crazy over. Oh and you should try the sugar pie, unbelievably delicious read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
I heard many good things about this restaurant. This was the trendy "it" restaurant in town that everyone just had to try. In the end, I didn't see what all the hooplah was about. To me, it was just okay. My husband and I ordered the squid ink linguine with clams in a white wine sauce, the kingfish sashimi, and the lamb ribs. When I went to Australia, I discovered my love for kingfish, but this sashimi was not as good as the one I had in Melbourne. It was okay. The fish was buttery good and the oyster cream had the texture of hummus, but there wasn't much flavor to it. I think if they cut bigger pieces of green apple, it would give the fish a extra bit of acidity that it needs. I was very excited for the squid ink pasta. It was my first time trying it. My overall opinion of this dish is that I like the pasta, I like the clams, and I LOVED the sauce, but I don't like the three together. The clams and pasta work perfectly together, but I felt like the pasta was thrown in there without much thought. The pasta seemed out of place and didn't fully absorb the flavors of the sauce as much as the clams did. Everything just didn't blend well together. The lamb ribs were marinated very well and the meat fell off the bone. I just didn't like the texture of the meat. It was more so than pork and other ribs I've tried. So much of it got stuck in my teeth and it was really annoying. Maybe it's just the way lamb meat is. I don't eat much lamb. The prices are high, the atmosphere is very casual and fun, but the food needs a little tweaking here and there. I probably should have tried the oysters. Maybe my opinion would be a little different. read more
4 years ago
Outstanding food and table service! Great place to eat fresh NZ oysters and diamond clams! Super fresh and excellent quality seafood. The potato skins were tasty and super crunchy! The cheese melted on top. Ox tongue was very delicate and melts in your mouth. The glaze was awesome. Iceberg wedge was crunchy and sweet. Really fresh produce. An excellent place for a meal! A must visit! read more
9 years ago
In A Nutshell: -Mates, when walking up to Depot it was sooo packed! -After waiting an hour, we were seated all the back looking into the kitchen. -Interesting to see how the food was prepared & the high-tension among staff involved. -The menu has many great choices & I think we covered most of the eye catching items (minus the pork hock, which seemed like a favorite). -I loved the bone marrow, sucked all the marrow/juice & ate the cartilage. -They were out of Kahawai fish, but subbed in New Zealand Kingfish belly which was EXCELLENT. -The NZ Meat Board was also delicious, especially the deep-fried pig's head croquettes. -The bottle of Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc was the perfect pairing for the NZ clams & oysters. Overall, I recommend probably not sitting in the back towards the kitchen, took away from the ambience & food a little bc of the tension involved. read more
2 years ago
9 years ago
Stop in at Depot for the raw bar! I was excited to eat more bluff oysters while visiting New Zealand, but the raw clams were even tastier and sweeter (and cheaper) than the oysters!! Also excited for Depot because: -Bloody Mary cocktails were SPICY -charcuterie platter had a lot of options, including pig's head croquettes to be dipped in a creamy tartar-like sauce (wish the cured meats could have been slightly softer though) -lamb ribs were so tender, seasoned and spiced for lots of flavor without gaminess Staff was also super personable, and prices were reasonable. Depot was one of my favorite eateries during my short stay in Auckland! read more
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
3 years ago
Wow! I was not expecting a restaurant right next to a conference center to be this good. The food is delicious, the service fast and attentive, the decor is very casual and the vibe energetic. The lamb rib appetizer and pork hock were especially good. read more
9 years ago
Stopped by here for lunch on a weekday before catching a flight back to NYC. Overall, the ambiance of the place was nice, but I was not blown away by the food as per the reviews. Oysters - I tried both kinds that they offered. Both were super fresh, and on point Bone marrow - this was disappointing, the bone marrow was overcooked and the flavor profile wasn't really developed. It's served with sourdough chips and this mixed salad with onion and capers on the side, but not really different from any other regular bone marrow I've had Potato skins - everyone was raving about these and I just had to order them. Definitely disappointing as well; they were under seasoned and didn't really have any truffle flavor. The Parmesan added a nice touch, but still wasn't that great. Keep your expectations low, guys! read more
7 years ago
4 years ago
Visiting Auckland from the states and looked for well rated restaurants for breakfast near our hotel. Melba is in a fun location off a pedestrian alleyway. I had the Immunity drink which was delicious as only a drink with loads of ginger and rum Eric can be. I had the French toast with fruit, lemon curd, and a cream cheese Ryle sauce that was to die for. My spouse had the 3 egg omelet with sourdough toast and butter. We will return. Perfectly courteous and helpful wait staff, delicious food, great location. read more
3 years ago
Eggplant is the bane of my existence and cooked fish makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Depot was somehow able to combine two of my most loathed foods and create something that I couldn't stop eating. The kingfish belly with eggplant chutney was delightfully spicy and served with a pile of toast that I used as vehicles to scoop huge mounds of fish into my gaping orifice. The flavors tasted Indian-inspired, sans the explosive runs that typically follow after I consume Indian spices. Genius! My mind was blown a second time during this meal when I tried the lamb ribs. Lamb is my favorite type of meat, and New Zealand lamb is extra delicious. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender with a textured crust and divine seasoning. I thought I had tasted good lamb in my lifetime, but this was off-the-charts scrumptious! I will dream of this dish for the rest of my life. read more
If you have ever watched one of Al Brown's t.v shows you would be aware of his contagious enthusiasm for great, local produce, so it is hardly suprising that his restaurant brilliantly showcases the best New Zealand has to offer. From freshly shucked Tuatua to Hapuka belly, no matter what you order at Depot you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be of a high quality, fresh and full of flavour. Something else I noticed on my most recent visit is that they mention the food producers on the menu. e.g 'Cathedral Cove' macadamia nuts or 'Green Park' Gouda. I think this is a brilliant way to give a shout out to your suppliers and I am suprised more restaurants haven't followed suit. In terms of what to order, quite honestly everything is delicious. If I had to choose, my current favourites (keep in mind the menu is tweaked regularly) would be the snapper sliders with pickled mayo and the skirt steak with tabacco onions and habanero mustard. Mmmmm. Oh and the potato skins - massive, thickly cut skins served with shaved gouda and porcini salt, you really can't go wrong! Depot is definitely one not to be missed but a quick word of warning, there is almost always wait. My recommendation: Come early and perch outside, the tables turn over relatively quickly and trust me, it is well worth the wait. read more
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