Depo

SADLY DEPOT HAS CLOSED ITS DOORS PERMANENTLY

When it comes to restaurants and bars in Brisbane, Depo is one of those gorgeous and unique tucked away places that you happen across once in a blue moon and when found, you grapple with the urge to keep it all to yourself.

Facing off with the West End State School playground, Depo – a bar, restaurant and cafe rolled into one – inhabits a sleek black warehouse style building with a garden patio out front and a decorative stuffed antelope guarding the bifold doors.

Inside is a virtual Aladdin's cave bordering on museum of Euro vintage and modernist chic, strewn with stunning two-sided purple dining couches, Chesterfields, radiograms, hanging plants, ancient Turkish rugs, a side cabinet of vintage apothecary bottles, candles, Dutch clogs, a giant hand hewn timber community table and a bar with a stunning James Bond style gold backdrop.

The work of industrial and interior designer guru Alexander Loterztain who is both business partner and part owner with head chef Erik van Genderen (who brings the Euro touch from the Netherlands and also owns West End bike accessory shop Gear). Alex's works have included Limes Hotel and Alfred & Constance so patrons of these establishments will get the drift of what to expect.

Décor aside, the food here is a deceptively simple yet scrumptious affair, with a separate morning and evening menu, both of which are updated daily according to the superior quality fresh produce that is sourced each day and arrives straight from the farm via Food Connect. The day we visited choices included Super Food Porridge, farmer's Breakfast or crepes with salted butter, caramel sauce and poached pear and lunch included salmon fillet with a type of Waldorf salad and lasagne, porcini and puttanesca.

Pastries and sweet stuff comes from Chouquette or is baked on site and the coffee is a seasonal single origin courtesy of local Cup Specialty Coffee.

From the bar (Depo is licensed from midday daily) expect to find a small cocktail list which again follows the seasons (dark spirits mixed with figs or pomegranate for winter, white with berries for summer), a rotating beer such as Kronenberg on tap, as well as Vale Ale and a small selection of European beers, apple and pear ciders. The extensive wine list derives heavily from Europe and features some obscure varietals. Spirit wise, this is your local rum house, accessorized by tequila and house vodka and gin.