The Depot — Restaurant in Sydney

For a place with as inspiring views as Bondi Beach, it's surprising how mundane the majority of cafe menus are. After circling the beach looking for anywhere that offered something more than avo on toast, we were about to head home to have 'eggs your way' at home without the 3% bank service fee.

We took one last gamble on the Depot and it delivered. Well enough to prompt a review of what we had for other's who are struggling with the pedestrian nature of many eateries.

We had the caveman eggs and the pancake as well as some coffees and the spicy hot chocolate.

I understand that inflation means the expectation is to be paying 30 dollars for a breakfast meal before drinks but it's rare to see a place that delivers such generous portions. It really did feel like 30 dollars of value and more as the flavours in them are not the sort of thing you're going to spend all day making at home and all day they might take.

The caveman eggs was a very large pile ragu that was a near perfect bolognese, complete with a beautifully aromatic mirepoix base but with the breakfasty benefit of chorizo. For my taste it was a bit sweet and lacking until I discovered the goats cheese and suddenly all the flavours unlocked to what I'd describe as an experience similar to esteemed cooking show 'Shingeki no soma' (food wars). It was supposed to come with a parmesan crisp and pesto but mine did not. This however would have been lovely but superfluous. Best of all perhaps, and maybe one of my biggest peeves about most dishes on bread, is that you're served a piled high slice of crisp and hard sourdough and then given a butter knife, presumably to entertain the staff as they watch you play air hockey with your plated Sydney house deposit. However this bread was so fresh, so soft on the inside and came apart like me coming apart as I ate it. 10/10. I finished the entire thing in spite of the fact I'd bailed on my swim this morning.

Next is the Pancake which I would describe more as the a cute Austrian 'kaiserschmarrn' because this thing was huge and thick. When I say the generous portions make you feel like the 25-30 dollar asking price is worth it, it's because there is what has to be between 1 and 2 single serve tubs of coyo pouring out from between the fold which would set you or I back almost 8 dollars already. The Pancake itself is around 1.5x the thickness of my pinky finger and is elastic and textures more similarly to an asian pan baked goody due to its rice flour and tapioca starch. I wasn't sure but it even smelled like there was pandan in there somewhere. This was a delight and probably around the size of a medium sized skillet with a berry compote on top. The only thing that could have been improved was the addition of the crumble it has in the description which was missing though to be honest, I think it could have done just as well with simply adding more of the sugar dusted almond slivers on top to add some texture to the otherwise homogenous (but excellent) bite feedback.

Interestingly, I think the coffee was sub par. Maybe a bit burned but I'm not sure. The spicy hot chocolate could have been more chocolatey and I would have appreciated a stronger cacao flavour but when it's raining outside the cayenne was so good.

I really did feel the need to write all that up because I'm so tired of rubbish and I dislike the feeling of being dissatisfied with a meal of which we only have so many on this earth before we lose our teeth so when someone is doing something good, it needs to be told.

Bon appetite and I'm looking forward to coming back to try the other things and the brisket!

P.s.the online QR code menu is hosted by 'hungryhungry' who charge a 3% merchant fee just FYI.

Also thank you to the staff for being...

It was a rainy day lunch one weekday, we ordered Motadella toastie and avocado toast. The toastie was warm with soft focaccia and plenty of motadella ham and cheese. Presented ok with random lettuce and the serving size was reasonable. A bit greasy though, with the sauce. Avo on the toast looked pretty with flowers, well balanced and flavoursome with feta cheese. The cooked tomato strips were not the best though, should have been peeled or better with semi dried tomatoes. Earl gray tea was disappointing because water was not hot enough but only lukewarm and did not have enough tea leaves to enjoy the aroma. I even steeped it longer but the flavour wasn’t there. Matcha latte was weak as well. The service was interesting… I hate the QR code system and prefer to order to the staff if possible. But I found the menu on the paper and the app was different, and I don’t know why.. Although staff tried their best, and there were enough staff, sitting and ordering took a while, probably because they expect the order comes from the app, not looking at the guests. The atmosphere is good. Bread and pastry on the display is attractive and nice. There are plenty of seats as well. But the squeaky and unstable floor in the main hall distracts a lot, whenever anyone walking past. I’ll definitely avoid that...

Big Recommendation - Best Pancakes

Location - great location, it's close to Bondi Beach, has a bus stop right at the door step and is all over in a quiet area of Bondi. The views are great. Facilities - charming and a beautiful atmosphere in there, you have sun coming through the large windows, the toilets are located around the corner but very clean. Service - this is a very busy place, keep that in mind. You will probably have to wait for a table and your food for a bit. The staff itself is very friendly and serves you as quick as possible, you will have a water and a menu quickly on your table. Food - amazing. No matter what you order, it is great. I personally love their pancakes (they are even gluten free!) and can't find a better one anywhere else. I have been coming to this place for nearly 3 years now and I was never disappointed.

Summed up: It takes me nearly 2 hours with public transport but it is worth it. I take family and friends there and...