Depot is the original game-changer of Federal Street. Al Brown’s bustling eatery still packs out daily with its no-reservations, no-pretensions formula of damn good Kiwi kai. The vibe is loud and lively — an open kitchen shucking oysters at lightning pace, wine tumblers clinking, and the hum of happy diners from sidewalk tables to the bar counter. Rustic and real, Depot remains Auckland’s ultimate come-as-you-are food hub, where everyone’s a regular and seconds are expected.