Depot on Magnolia — Restaurant in Ocala

My wife and I are practically regulars at Depot on Magnolia. We've been there twice, and let me tell you, both times were like flavor explosions in our mouths. But this last experience? Forget fireworks, it was a five-course symphony of customer service!

One night, my wife and I were on a nostalgia trip, reminiscing about this crazy dish we had years ago. It's called cheeseburger soup. Now, picture this: a hearty broth swirling with juicy ground beef, happy little vegetables, and enough melty cheese to make a cheesesteak jealous. It's a rare gem, this soup, only whispered about in hushed tones by a select few who've been lucky enough to experience it. But for those who have, let me tell you, it's like a warm hug for your taste buds.

The problem? Most restaurants wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot spatula. Why? Because making cheeseburger soup right takes time, love, and the patience of a saint. There's no room for shortcuts here, folks. This soup is a labor of love, or at least it should be.

So, on a quest to find this culinary unicorn, I started calling restaurants in Ocala. But no dice. No one had cheeseburger soup, most had never even heard of it. Some places even chuckled, like I was asking for deep-fried moon rocks. "We stick to our menu," they'd say, with all the enthusiasm of a wet sock. Feeling like a defeated knight on a cheeseburger soup crusade, I figured that was that.

Then, a beacon of hope! I called Depot on Magnolia and got connected with a fantastic woman named Shayla. I poured my heart out about my cheeseburger soup obsession, explaining this mythical dish in all its cheesy glory. It's basically Americana in a bowl, I tell you! But finding a restaurant that could do it justice seemed impossible. Shayla, bless her heart, listened with genuine interest, even though they didn't have it on the menu. She then dropped this bombshell: their chef loves a good challenge (what a legend!), and she'd be happy to run it by him. Now, I'll admit, I was skeptical. Promises get lost easier than socks in a dryer, right?

Well, color me surprised! I got a voicemail on July 23rd that had me grinning wider than a Cheshire cat who just found a cheese factory. Not only was the chef making my soup, but they were putting it on the menu for everyone to try starting July 25th! Now, I haven't tasted it yet, but customer service this good deserves a standing ovation (and maybe a food review or two).

Shayla, wherever you are at Depot on Magnolia, you're a legend! You listened to my cheeseburger soup saga with the rapt attention of a kid hearing about buried treasure. Here's to hoping the chef's creation is as magical as my quest to find it. I'll be there on July 25th, ready to sing your praises (and maybe challenge you to a cheeseburger soup showdown, though let's be real, you'll probably crush me)....

Depot on Magnolia has 5 star potential with a few minor changes. However, my experience was about 3.5 stars.

We were excited when we pulled up and saw that this was located in an old train station. Very cool. It looks neat from the outside. The decor inside is unique... and a lot. You will either love it or think it is way too much. It is extremely kitschy. \

The menu is full of delicious sounding foods and combinations. My brother had been talking about wanting a burger. We both ended up ordering "The Conductor" burger which comes with fries. I was thrilled that they had a gluten free bun so that I could eat it like a normal burger.

The food was good. My burger was overcooked for what I ordered, and many of my fries were overcooked. However, it had really good flavor. I also loved that the gluten free bun was grilled and tasted great. With a little more care in the kitchen, it could have been a 5 star burger. As is, I would order it again.

The biggest issue was the customer service (or lack thereof). It felt like we were inconveniencing our waiter. He did not greet us warmly. He gave me a dirty look when I ordered water. We asked the other waiter that had brought our food for BBQ sauce and were handed a practically empty bottle. We would have asked for more, except we never had the chance. We were not checked on a single time. Our drinks were empty as well.

When our waiter did come, he immediately grabbed my brother's plate and did not ask if he was done after it was in his hand. He was not done. They added watermelon to the plate (which he had been super excited for, and I had given him mine). He was digesting for a second before eating it. The waiter had grabbed the plate and touched the watermelon before asking him. He let it go because he did not feel like he could ask for more that was not touched. I felt bad for him. It was his birthday, so I told him I would take him for dessert elsewhere.

Maybe they were overwhelmed. When we arrived, there was only one other table there, but it was a large table. All the same, this was our first visit. It was also my brother's birthday. A smile and quick check in would have changed my perception of this restaurant. I hope that they get their act together and start valuing their customers, because the menu and...

We were looking for a new place for lunch we decided on the Depot ,very nice location , our server was Shayla ,she answered all of our questions with out any hesitation ,we started out with an appetizer the Truffle French fries and the sauce were amazing, then we ordered the mushroom and swish burger outstanding, the next thing was thair flat bread pizza witch was very good , definitely we will be returning very soon. We returned today, 3-16 for lunch, with our son, we ordered the lobster bread, and we asked the prices the waitress didn't know,will come back to that later, main lunch was, beer batter fish with fries and coleslaw, lobster wrap, Chicken salad rap combo with broccoli and cheese soup taste it more like pea soup Without the cheese , The first thing to come out was our lobster bread which only had about 2 small pieces of lobster per piece of bread it had any taste I believe it's Frozen very bland then came the main meal fish fry Was definitely fried very greasy massive amounts of batter not impressed, My son's lobster wrap again had no taste , My wife's chicken wrap she says what's good, but the soup not so good , the price for the lobster bread was $18. I did say something to the waitress and they did remove my fish fry but our bill was still over seventy dollars So with my fish right was included it would have been in the $90 dollar amount, any location that charges this much They need to step up their game and give people decent food. This was not acceptable. I could have gone out to a nice fancy restaurant and had a hell of a prime rib dinner for 2 , We have been to several locations lately, and the food has been atrocious. I don't. Know what's going on, but it's at the point where you're better off just to stay home and...