The Depot On First

We had such a beautiful dinner experience from start to finish. The atmosphere set the tone immediately. It was dimly lit, quiet, and intimate with soft music playing in the background. It felt relaxed and cozy without being sleepy, the kind of place where you can actually enjoy conversation. The filet mignon with gnocchi in cream sauce was outstanding. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare, tender and full of flavor with a beautiful sear on the outside. The gnocchi were pillowy and rich, coated in a silky cream sauce that felt indulgent but not overwhelming. Every bite was balanced and comforting while still feeling elevated. The bison with farro in balsamic reduction was equally impressive. The bison was incredibly tender and lean with a deep, slightly sweet flavor that paired beautifully with the nutty farro. The balsamic reduction added just the right amount of richness and brightness without overpowering the dish. It felt hearty yet refined. We paired everything with a bottle of Martis wine, which was the perfect complement to the meal. It was smooth and full bodied with rich dark fruit notes and a soft finish that enhanced both the steak and the bison. It elevated the entire experience and tied all the flavors together beautifully. To finish, dessert was just as memorable. The brownie topped with vanilla ice cream was warm and fudgy with the perfect contrast of cold creamy sweetness. The strawberry cheesecake with whipped cream and a chocolate dipped strawberry was light, smooth, and beautifully presented. Everything was delicious, thoughtfully plated, and clearly made with care. The entire evening felt special and effortless. We will absolutely be back.

The Depot on First is one of those places where you really can have it all. The ambiance is inviting, the food is consistently high quality, the prices feel fair, and the space works beautifully for gatherings and events. It’s just a few minutes down the road from us in Old Town Knightdale, which makes it an easy favorite. Our team has several regular traditions here. Sunday AYCE brunch is something we genuinely look forward to, Taco and Tequila Tuesday is a staple, and Pasta Wednesdays have been a great option for staff dinners. One of our owners and our Manager of Marketing and Operations, Brandon, eats almost entirely meat-based and orders the ribeye every time. According to him, it’s some of the best steak you’ll find anywhere. They also have, hands down, one of the best bourbon selections around, probably this side of the county. It’s thoughtfully curated and clearly cared for. Chris and Carmen, the owners, are warm, welcoming, and deeply supportive of local businesses and community causes. Full disclosure, we’ve become friends over the last couple years, and Chris’s business advice, expertise, and generous introductions played a meaningful role in helping us get our business up and running. We’re incredibly grateful for that support. Every visit feels intentional and well cared for, and we truly look forward to coming back.

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing. My fiance and I went here for valentines day. We had a reservation for 7 and was sat by 7:05 with an apology for the wait. (I have been early for reservations and had to wait longer).Waiter was knowledgeable and made great recommendations. The atmosphere was great. Food to die for. We have already planned our next visit. Thank you for the hospitality.

Last night, we celebrated my best friend’s birthday and hosted our end of year Women’s Celebration. We had about 30 guests attend. I worked with Barbara the Event Specialist for about a month bringing this vision to life. She was incredible every step of the way. Making sure I understood their process, but also was very accommodating. For tonight’s party, we had a buffet of grilled chicken, sirloin, salmon with whipped garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, mixed vegetables and cilantro rice plus dessert. IT WAS OUTSTANDING! The icing on the cake was our server Monica! She waited on the entire party and everyone’s cup stayed full, plates were always replenished. She was very kind and joyful. Just the perfect touch to our gathering. We even invited her over for the holidays. It was just an overall great experience. We shall return indeed. Valentine’s Day perhaps lol.

It was our first time here tonight. It was date night for my wife and I. From the moment we walked in until the time we left, the service and atmosphere were awesome!! The hostess greeted us and shared some info of menu items and mentioned the mozzarella was made in house. She also explained most everything on the menu was NC farm to table. That rocked. She sat us and our experience with Monica was phenomenal. She had wonderful recommendations and a fun, pleasant style about her. My wife got the lobster and crab pasta dish which far exceeded our expectations. I got the elk and it was off the charts delicious and cooked perfectly. Everything about this meal was fantastic. Even the side Caesar salad was excellent. We would highly recommend The Depot to anyone, they have several different dining room options and a patio to choose from. We have found a new favorite that’s close to home and so so good. To all the staff there, we would like to say thank you so much for a truly wonderful evening and some really really good dishes. We will see yall again real soon!!!

This was our first time at Depot on First. Everything was amazing . Our server Parsh was great. He knew the inside and out of every dish and drink. He was very attentive and professional. The food was top notch and prices were not bad at all. Highly recommend for special occasions, date nights, and anytime you don’t feel like cooking.

First time dining here. The location is wonderful and there are so many dining rooms to explore. I can’t wait to go back. Staff are as wonderful and attentive. Overall food was very good but they can improve on a few things. Very minor and I hope it helps them improve. Calamari could have been cooked a bit more. The sauce however was very good and hand crafted. My short ribs came with a delicious sauce called dragons milk. Veggies were perfect. The meat was a bit dry and honestly was hard to eat. I sopped up all the sauce I could. I would give it another go. Maybe just the cut I got? Salmon dish was wonderful. Overall my experience was good enough that it warrants another trip. Can’t wait until the weather is warm to sit on their beautiful back patio. We will be back.

We loved everything about this place. The atmosphere was so cozy and beautiful. It was very busy, so I recommend making a reservation. Our server was excellent (can't recall his name but he told us he's worked there since day 1). The food was incredible. Everything was fresh and high quality. This will be my first of many trips to this restaurant.

First time at The Depot on First. We came to checkout their brunch buffet. Don't be deceived by my bad pictures cause every bite was so good! The buffet itself was well curated. Shout out to the grits, the prime rib from the carving station, the french toast and the biscuits! The restaurant is tucked in a quaint part of Knightdale, rustic and feels like home. The staff were incredibly accommodating as well!

Wow! What a great place, nestled in a historic home on a side street in Knightdale. The restaurant offers seating in various rooms of the "house", with a few outside, in the back. A spacious bar occupies the left side. We were surprised to find the dining room nearly empty on this Friday night at 6:30. Hopefully this was just an off night; I'd hate to think that people aren't flocking here for dinner. Our server, Monica, was fantastic. Friendly, funny, helpful. She made some great suggestions and orchestrated the meal perfectly. Everything was delivered as-ordered. Time from order to service about 15 minutes. Started with Crostini Rustica. A melange of artichoke hearts, sun dried tomato, roasted red pepper, arugula is blended with cheese, balsamic, herbs and spices. Served with focaccia. Better than bruschetta - this was the best part of the meal! For entrees tried Lobster & Crab Cannelloni & Brasstown Filet. Cannelloni perfectly cooked - not too soft, not too hard. Stuffed with lobster and crab - the filling is seasoned just right, topped with dollops of mozzarella. Tomato cream is slightly sweet. Served with focaccia for dipping. Good! The 6 oz filet was prepared perfectly medium rare, as ordered. Fork tender, no need for a knife. Lightly seasoned - the beef is the feature not the spices! Not your Outback cut of steak, this is high quality and delicious. We saved a little room for Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake with Raspberry Sorbet for dessert. In reality we should have STARTED with this! Rich, moist and creamy poundcake balanced perfectly between tart lemon and sweet blueberry. With a scoopy of raspberry sorbet. Yah, it was DELISH! Even though I'm tempted to keep this one a secret so I can always get a table, I must encourage everyone to give them a try. A cool setting, friendly and efficient service, tasty food

D Tier. For the eyes, not the stomach. We did not hear anything positive about this restaurant before visiting, but decided to give it a try for date night anyway. The restaurant is visually appealing. It's well kept, brand new, and you can tell that they care about the appearance. Unfortunately, that's the best part. The service was less than what I felt the expectation was by the ambiance. The food was similarly underwhelming. Parking was very easy, they have their own private parking lot behind the restaurant.

The Depot is constantly evolving its culinary identity in a very good way! Whether it be by the expert mixology expertise of Zech, who never forgets a face and always remembers a drink, or Chef Kevin who is focused on making each entrée not just a meal, but an unforgettable sensory experience, they have made some very good changes while maintaining a focus on experience. The new menu is absolutely refreshing, and offers MANY entrees that truly fit the season. One of the best entrees in my opinion is the Dragon's Milk Stew, an absolutely phenomenal reinvention of the classic "Beef Stew". The melt-in-your-mouth texture of the braised beef short rib combined with the rich flavor of the reduction, pleasantly offset by the naturally sweet roasted heirloom carrots makes this entree a real experience. As always the Depot continues offfering an unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Cheers!

The hub and I had a wonderful dinner here to celebrate my birthday. The waitress brought me a rose when she came to the table, and the kitchen made me a special gluten-free dessert. They made the evening special. All of the menu items were delicious, and the cocktails were exceptional. We will be back!

I have seen this restaurant multiple times & said that I was going to visit one day and finally had a chance to do so. When I arrived I found street parking in front of the business. The restaurant is an old historic Sears catalog home that has a large bar and is spacious with multiple areas to dine in. I was greeted when I walked in & seated right away. My server, Emma, was very personable & attentive. She told me about the specials & some of the popular dishes. She also recommended pairings from the menu. The food was really good and the portions were definitely large enough to share. I loved the garlic cheesy scalloped potatoes! My pork chop was tender. This was my first time here & I will definitely be back to try other items & their brunch that Emma recommended.

This was such a great date night experience. The ambiance was so moody and cozy. My husband and I visited on a rainy week night and the staff showed us so much attention it was awesome. Our waitress was the marvelous Monica and she took really good care of us and lovely conversation. My food was the filet mignon with the steak sweet fries and Caesar salad. The steak was so tender and delicious that I am counting down the days for our next date night.

Pouring rain date night success!!! We stopped into this location on a very rainy Wednesday evening a night that we finally secured a babysitter, but we had to stay pretty close to home. This establishment is truly a fine dining restaurant and one that is in eastern Wake county that saved us about 30 minutes from driving to other fine dining establishments in North Hills . we live in Rocky Mount and frequent the triangle on most of our date nights simply because the restaurants in the triangle that are fine dining simply get it. Rocky Mount has a couple of restaurants that would qualify as fine dining however, the food hasn't quite yet met our definition of high end unfortunately. So to be able to save some drive time and get to experience a quality meal in an amazing atmosphere was really important. We arrived with about one hour until closing and had almost the entire restaurant to ourselves thanks to the storm that was brewing outside. We are not sure if we walked into the correct door or not, but we entered right at the bar area and did not find a host until after my wife left the restroom and it was on a completely other side of the restaurant when the host finally walked up, greeted us and quickly. Let us know that the kitchen would be taking their last order in about 20 minutes. We were seated in a dining area that was adjacent to the garage door that opens up to the rear patio, which is huge and beautiful from what we can tell in the daytime unfortunately it was nighttime and pouring rain so we could not see how it looked at night time from from the interior of the restaurant, however The interior of the dining room was very clean very detailed and a lot of the paintings paid homage to the train and depot vibe of the space. Menu and food The very first time that we saw this restaurant, the menu was quite different than the one that we see now so much that we actually wanted to visit this time versus the first iteration. The current menu seems to cater a wide variety of eaters, which is great and what we wanted and because of that, we had a lot of choices. I went with a starter for the prime rib, sliders and the french fries this was a great starter whether you were starving hungry or just want something to share and try everything. I would've liked to have more french fries but that's just me, the plate still was amazing and the sliders were great. I wanted to try the prime rib mac & cheese however I didn't wanna have prime ribs, sliders, and prime rib mac & cheese so I just asked for a side of mac & cheese. The Mac & cheese was phenomenal. My main meal course was the Lobster and Crab Cannelloni , it's like a lobster and cheese pasta. It was pretty good tomato sauce that was made with tasted really fresh and you can tell that they take their time with the dish. the lobster the crab that were inside of the dish were Very good and cooked perfectly. There aren't many places in the triangle that would warrant my myself and my wife to say oh this steak is one of the best we've ever had however, the 6 ounce or 8 ounce filet mignon is what my wife had and she gave me a bite. It was tender and flavorful, and it is definitely up there. Top three for steaks we've had in the triangle so great job Depot in Knightdale and we can't wait to come back when it's less rain and see you soon. *ps the SWEET TEA WAS BUSSIN!!!!!

Wow just wow! The food was amazing and the ambiance was great. I just recently moved here from Naples Florida where we are used to high end cuisine. This restaurant compares with some of the best I have been to. We are already planning our next meal! 100% a must try. When you come in do yourself a favor and try the duck carbonara you won't be disappointed.

The restaurant is in a beautifully renovated and expanded home. Service was good, there is an effort being made to train their new team in the art of fine dining. Our food was prepared well with fresh ingredients. The owner spent time at our table to ensure all was well and gave us the origin story of the establishment. Overall, for a new restaurant, we had a very nice experience. My only hesitation to giving a five star rating is the price point of the meals are a bit high, especially for a new restaurant striving to become a fine dining experience.

I ordered the buffalo chicken tortellini and it was amazing!!!! The sauce was creamy and everything was delicious. Knocked one star for slow service and another for the automatic 20% gratuity added onto our check for "large party"... we were not told it would be added onto our check. Also, we had 3 people.. so that was weird.

My first time to the Raleigh area for business: our team wanted a nice meal after a long several days of concentrated work (and a crucial presentation the following morning). The Depot on First Chophouse delivered. We were warmly greeted, and the magnificent and spacious interior was beautifully decorated for Christmas. Our server was top notch (I'm sorry to have forgotten her name), and the Thursday 20% whiskey discount convinced us to enjoy a preprandial. Her recommendations were thorough, so we began with the pork belly (perfect appetizer size to share for the five of us without simply having too much food). Housemade Caesar salads followed, which, too, were delicious, well seasoned, and perfectly balanced. When dining with others I appreciate a variety of dishes at the table, but the Dragons Milk Short Rib tempted all but one of us. A true masterpiece: the beef was perfectly seasoned, tender but not mushy; the accompanying potatoes, onion, and mushroom completed the dish. My only complaint? needed crusty bread to sop up the delicious jus that bathed this perfect entree. The seafood cannelloni ordered by our other companion looked amazing, and also met with rave reviews. We finished with the cheesecake to share (another great recommendation) and the chocolate crème brulee. I cannot say enough about the ambiance, the waitstaff, kitchen excellence, and magnificent experience. I know where to return when I visit Knightdale again.

we were expecting a better meal since they say they are a refined restaurant in Knightdale. I don't rate myself as a sophisticated patron, so perhaps I was expecting something that a "refined" restaurant doesn't offer - such as some type of bread or crackers and cheese spread while you're waiting for your food (especially if the kitchen was on pause due to the health inspector was in the kitchen doing his thing) and bread with your pasta? The steaks that were served were not the quality that were expected either, which was a disappointment. would we go back? With the prices of food these days, I don't know, perhaps. I sincerely hope that they can improve on these points and become the "refined" restaurant that they are striving for.

This was our first time visiting Depot on First. We stopped for drinks after dinner about an hour before they closed. So a light crowd, The service was great, with attentive and courteous staff. Unfortunately, our experience was overshadowed by the owners' inappropriate conversation at the stools right next to me. They casually referred to their neighbors in derogatory terms like "the gay ones" and "the Asians." This created an uncomfortable atmosphere that tainted what could have been an otherwise pleasant evening. Despite the good service, the owners' behavior left me disappointed and uneasy. If this is the type of language they like to casual use with each other and their friend I'd suggest they wait until customers have left before using peoples' sexuality and race as descriptors.

I was debating on a 4-star rating but I just couldn't justify it I was very excited to try it with my husband for date night; a nice restaurant around the corner, so excited! We went during the week so it was pretty empty. We were seated in the dining room, the inside decor is nice. I got the Caesar salad and trout topped with crab and a baked potato. The Caesar was fine, but my problem was with the trout. It was very bland, no flavor at all, not even salt. The crab was the best part and that's just because it's crab and provided some kind of flavor on its own. The baked potato was just as bland. One of the questions I pose to myself when I rate restaurants is: can I make this myself at home, better? When I choose to spend money and go to a restaurant, I want to eat something that i can't duplicate, especially in this economy, and this place just unfortunately, did not meet that criteria. I'm very sad it didn't, I had high hopes, but there are other restaurants I'd rather take an extra 15 min to drive to and spend my money.

The cocktails are amazing if your long for bottom self this ok isn't the spot. You pay for what you get!!!! The bar tender is well educated on flavors and liquors in my opinion. Food has been pretty good. I recommend the pork belly

My sister booked a reservation at The Depot for Sunday Brunch for my Mother's birthday. The service was excellent! The price for brunch was very reasonable ($35) for an all you can eat buffet. The shrimp & grits were everything (some of the best I've had)! There was a mix of traditional breakfast favorites to lunch and dinner items, including salad. Everything was fresh and delicious. If I had to nitpick it would probably the beef. I would have preferred a carving station instead of on the buffet inside a serving pan (not actually sure what it's called). However, it was still delicious. The biscuits were nice and flaky. I told my sister I can't wait to go back whenever I visit her again. Unfortunately, brunch is only served the first and third Sunday of each month. If you're looking for a special place to eat dinner or brunch, please give them a try. It's truly a hidden gem!

As a resident of Knightdale, I was excited to see this restaurant being built. My wife and I enjoyed great food and service our first few visits, and it was my first choice when booking a Valentine's Dinner for my wife, my ten year old daughter, and me. I paid the $50 per person reservation fee, and looked forward to a great family night out. We arrived on time for our reservation, and proceeded to wait 30 minutes before being seated. No problem, I thought - people must be sitting a bit longer than anticipated following their meal. Besides, we were not the only ones as the entrance was crowded with people in the exact same situation, and the bar had to ask the hostess to stop sending people to wait there, as they too were at capacity. After being seated, we sat for 10 minutes before anyone approached us. Again, I said nothing, recognizing that the restaurant may have been a bit ambitious with the timing of their reservations. That much was clear by looking around the room at other couples who seemed to be sharing our experience. We placed our orders, and then proceeded to wait more than hour before our food was brought. Again, I said nothing, for the reasons set forth above. However, upon my first bite of the $80 wagyu, I was taken aback by how cold it was. (I say this as someone who only eats his steak rare). My wife and daughters' medium steaks was similarly cold to the touch. All were cold enough that I had food safety concerns. At this point my grace had been eroded, and I let the waitress know that we would not be eating the food and just wanted our check for my drinks and the food that we had eaten. I was told by the waitress that the owner said, despite all of the above, I would have to pay for the meal in its entirety, including the 20% large party surcharge they were including for the Valentine's Day dinner crowd. I have questions about the pusillanimous character of a business owner who would let the waitress be the one to deliver a message like this, and asked if I could at least speak to the owner if that was going to be the position he was taking. When I spoke with the owner there was zero empathy, remorse, or apology - the only statement he made was that "You ordered the food, you are going to have to pay for it." To be clear - this isn't a case where I raised a complaint only after eating the meal. I rarely leave reviews, and even more rarely leave negative reviews for small, local business. However, I was shocked by the lack of accountability shown by the owner. Rather than make a public showing of my discord, I agreed to pay the bill so that I could try to salvage a fun family night out. I hope he is in dire need of the $374.49 that he felt that he and his restaurant earned by seating us late, letting an understaffed waitstaff serve us, and serving us "fine dining" so cold that I did not feel comfortable eating. Needless to say I will not be going back to this establishment, or anything associated with the Knightdale "Hospitality" Group.

Another great visit to The Depot in First. We sat outside on the enormous patio and enjoyed the nice weather. Brooke provided great service and accommodation when offering vegan options for my wife. I had an Aperol spritz to start. Then devoured a Corn beef hash and a side of Biscuit and gravy! I love having an upscale dining venue so close to home. It was great catching up with Ben, the GM, who was going table to table insuring everyone was having an excellent experience.

Seasonal menu began 11/6/24 Chophouse themed, GREAT NEW APPROACHABLE PRICES!!! Selections of Steaks, seafood, Juicy thick beef Burgers (1) Wagyu) and pastas . We had the Trout, Ribeye, Carbonara and Volcano Burger. Wow!! What a change!!! Incredible tastes had our palate dancing with joy! The dessert of A torte of bourbon caramel CHEESECAKE!!! A glazed apple rose was placed on the top. It was the most memorable end of meal experience. And the greatest cup of coffee to finish. Sumatra Blend - Rich , dk choc and caramel notes. Holds up to cream sugar or substitute like a champion. !! After dinner Prosecco put us over the top!! Additional soon to come we are told as we entered : Hester Room : limited to a private separate quaint romantic dining room as u enter a soon to begin a Chef Inspired prix Fixe menu . Maximum 12 ppl tickets to be sold. The main rooms very tastefully decorated, and the staff made us feel like family. Speaking of family, A children's menu was added. Not the old haunt, a great change !! Oh, I hear there's an all you can eat brunch . 1st and 3rd Sundays 10-3 Regular Breakfast items BUT MORE! Steak, shrimps, Fried Rice, Mac and cheese southern fried chicken grilled chicken and more even fruit and pastries. 39. Kids 18. (4-10 yo) I made our reservations while there!!! Free under 4yo.

Where to start? Service: 5/5. The staff were very attentive, they walked around and helped each other out. Our waters never emptied, they were polite and made sure we had everything we needed. The manager checked in on us and asked how the food was as well. Some of the best service I've received in a while. Food: perfection/5. Oh lord, where to even start with the food? The chef is a food genius. Everything was balanced beautifully. The food cooked perfectly. Not a single thing I ate was disappointing, everything was perfectly seasoned and I couldn't get enough. The bruschetta was the best I've ever had, the steak tender, the salad balanced. I mean, I could go on but I don't want this to be too long winded. Atmosphere: 5/5. Clean, crisp, beautiful. The space is cozy and intimate without being bland and boring. It's perfectly balanced with being open and yet cozy. I seriously can't wait to go back and try some of the other items on their menu!

Friendly staff. Food was good. Bit over priced in my opinion but it was a nice evening meal. The house is beautiful and the guy that gave us a tour was very knowledgeable of the history of the house. I already knew quite a bit of it since I am from the area originally. Where we sat was quiet and relaxing. You can pick from the waters that you want . Bathrooms are neat with lotions and mouth wash

My girls and I had an amazing time here today. The food and ambiance are absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, I didn't get my money's worth. I wanted to eat alot, but, I couldn't eat that much. I love this establishment and definitely will be back.

I ate at the Depot food truck several times and it was always fantastic. Now that the full restaurant is finished, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a soft opening to see the food and drinks they will be having. I don't know if I can fully describe how amazing everything was. The actual restaurant is beautiful. The construction and interior design is very well done. The food was incredible. Some of the dishes were things that I don't even normally like, but the way they were prepared here, I actually loved them. The drinks were also very good. Knightdale needed a place for great cocktails. The service was on point. From the managers to the servers, they never missed a thing. I highly recommend the Depot on First. You won't be disappointed.

Hands down the best place I've been in the last 3 years. The crispy pork belly literally melted in my mouth and had the best flavor. I couldn't choose my favorite part of the seafood Mac n cheese. If you like duck you HAVE to try the duck, and I never had more delicious bruschetta in Italy. Even the garnishes were beautiful. They don't have kids' food or high chairs/ boosters but they were still wonderful with our toddler. We'll definitely be back, and often!

Tonight was first visit. We had reservations for dining room but they seated us in the bar area. They had live music planned for later but started before we left. Never was asked if music would be too loud. They opened the door to the outside without asking. At least host came later to ask if it was too cold but never if it was too loud. Food was solid but WAY overpriced. It was Angus Barn or Second Empire price for Il Bacio or 42nd Street Oyster Bar quality - good but not worth the price. Pork belly appetizer was tasty but not melt in your mouth. The apple slaw with it was on point. The Caesar salad came with dressing on the side and some excellent croutons but nothing special. Crab stuffing on a well cooked salmon was a bit dry. Sweet potato purée was delicious. Fruitti Del Mare was excellent broth with some bread to dip but the shrimp were over cooked. Clams, mussels and calamari were solid and couldn't tell if pasta (not much of it) was store bought or not - but no joke had same quality for half the price at Il Bacio. The place has some quality and maybe opinion might be better if seated in dining area but not what I expected for almost $100 per person meal with one glass of wine.

We went here on a whim for my birthday. It was so lovely and the food was amazing. The best surprise was the Moscato. The best I have ever had. I had to get two glasses. Service was great and the restaurant is beautiful. Definitely a spot I will go for my next special occasion.

Really hope they can keep this chef bc he is by far one of the best in the triangle/surrounding area. Everything was on point. Our host even walked us to the different seating areas so we could check the ambiance and choose which one fit our needs for the night. Apps and entrees were varied to suit wide range of tastes/diets. We had mushroom caps which were delicious, would def recommend, but sure anything else was just as good. Being from Texas (with a father that raises beef master cattle and a brother that grades meat for the USDA), I am very particular and picky when it comes to beef, and have been less than pleased w/ most of the steaks we've had since we moved to NC. (Yes, I've eaten at the angus barn, and don't quite understand the hype that comes with it.) That being said, I let my husband order steak while I ordered my go-to plate of short ribs that usually leaves me pleased. Husband's steak was cooked exactly to his rare specifications. Aging was spot on for the cut, and flavor was beyond my expectations. My short rib def left me more than happy as well, esp since it was nestled on a yummy bed of mac & cheese. My son had the salmon (direct From Scotland) and finally finished a whole plate of food! Everything was well worth the caloric intake. Desserts were wonderful. First time I've had a cold creme brûlée and liked it. They usually taste like they're laced with/ gelatin to cut back on prep time, but not this one...can tell the chef loves what he does and lets that flow into his food. Will def be back. Very happy we no longer have to venture into Raleigh for an excellent meal. Hope others will drive the extra miles to get here so this place can stay open. It's Gona end up being heavy competition for all other high end restaurants once people give it a try.

Came here for our anniversary. All staff were so friendly. Constantly checking on us. Asking if we wanted anything else drink or food wise. Recommended their favorite and restaurant favorite dishes and drinks. It is pricey but the food was amazing. Farm to table. We had the stuffed mushroom as a starter. Yum! I had the 16oz local ribeye. Cooked to perfection with sautéd mushrooms on top. My wife had the fish of the day and she loved it. The dessert was a chocolate crème brûlée. Delicious! I had there famous Old fashioned made with all local ingredients. One of the smoothest drinks I've had. Also had a rum drink and it was just as good. Forget the name. Definitely would go back as they change their menu based on seasons.

The food was okay, but culinarily it was underwhelming. The food had no color and No spice . The decor is lacking, very stale and gray. The service was good. I wouldn't go back, nor would I recommend it to a friend. It doesn't offer an experience.. not worth the price.

We had a wonderful dining experience at the Depot on First. Monica was our server and she did an awesome job in taking care of us. We dined on the patio of this renovated historic home. Monica even thought of our dog and brought her a water bowl. We look forward to coming back. Thank you Monica!

Food was good. Service was a little slow but everything was tasty. I love the atmosphere and decor there. The lobster rolls were good. All the food was very fresh and local other than the lobster which came from Maine.

Our first visit here in October was great so we were excited when on short notice we were able to get a reservation for Valentine's Day dinner. We set a reservation for 8pm in the Hester Room and paid the deposit. We arrived on time for our reservation and joined a crowd of probably 20 people waiting for a table. We stood at the hostess stand with a line growing behind us for more than 5 minutes before the poor hostess or owner acknowledged us. They then told us they were behind but our table would be ready in 30 minutes. Multiple parties told us they had been waiting 45 mins or more for their table and some had been bumped back from their original reservation time and still were waiting. (All of these parties were required to pay a deposit when making the reservation so if they left without making a big deal about it they would lose their deposit.) We waited at the bar for 55 mins and after checking on our table multiple times were finally seated in the main dining room surrounded by tables of people without food (the table beside us got their food 3 hours after their reservation time and the order was incorrect. That along with the the obvious signs that things were not going smoothly and the fact that we had driven nearly an hour to come eat at what we hoped was going to be a great dinner, was my sign that we needed to make other plans for dinner. I politely asked the waitress if I could speak to the owner, as we realized at this point we wouldn't be getting food until 10pm or later that we needed to be refunded and leave. We waited for the owner for 15 minutes before he came and was argumentative about our reservation/seating, offered no apologies aside from a gift card and refunding the deposit as he cut me off from telling him about the issues we had. Unfortunately as much as I enjoyed our previous experience this one was such an unpleasant one that I can't see myself going back.

The Depot on First has been on my radar for a while because it's so close to me. Currently, they operate out of a food truck on the lot where they're having a house renovated for the future stand alone restaurant! We tried the crispy Brussels, black bean burgers, garlic cheese curds, and the savory sweet potato tots (not pictured). The crispy Brussels were okay. The Brussels themselves where cooked to perfection but the dish was a little too salty for me. The black bean burgers were amazing. It came with house made BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a choice of cheese. The sauce was amazing! It was sweet and spicy with enough of a kick to make you want more. Both sides were perfect pairings to the burgers and enough to share between two people. Overall, I cannot wait to try the stand alone restaurant when it opens!

Had the best experience. Had been waiting for this pace to open and my expectations were met. Great service great environment. We will definitely be going back.

An excellent meal with excellent service. The duck was fabulous and the ribeye was amazing. The bar looked amazing and the restaurant decor was classy. Highly recommended and worth the visit. Look forward to a return visit soon.

We just enjoyed an excellent dinner at the Depot on First. The food was very good! I had the salmon with a crab mix on top surrounded by the most delicious sweet potato puree- my husband had the ribeye with mushroom risotto-very delicious and presented beautifully We had perfect service from Stephanie. We had known her from her previous position at another restaurant-She still is the BEST!!! Reservations required. A definite must!!

I have been waiting to visit this restaurant since it opened. I chose to wait until my wedding anniversary since it's a bit pricey for a regular night out. We went tonight and I wish I could say it was a 5 star experience but it was not. I had a reservation for 6:30, we arrived on time but there was nobody at the hostess stand and barely anybody in the restaurant. The inside is nicely decorated, warm and welcoming. We waited a few minutes for someone to come and seat us. My husband had flowers delivered there and they were on our table, a pleasant surprise! Monica, was our server and she was a true gem. She was friendly and engaging, we were very appreciative of her. Then came the menu. They have just switched to their fall menu which consisted of an 8 course tasting menu or 3 different 3 course meals. That's it! We opted for the tasting menu which for the most part was very good. Now for the negatives....I had seen on their Facebook that they had a lobster and crab bisque that I really wanted to try. After traveling to Maine this year, I developed a new found love for it. It came out in a large bowl and my husband and I shared it. There was plenty of lobster and crab which was great, but barely any bisque. I expected a whole lot more soup for 40.00. The rest of the food was good and the burnt apple cheesecake was amazing! However, the drink prices are ridiculous in my opinion. 25.00 for a Dirty Martini (with store bought blue cheese olives, not fresh) and 25.00 for a basic Old Fashioned. Come on!!!! There are plenty of cocktail bars in the area that make great Dirty Martinis (with fresh blue cheese olives) and Old Fashioned's for a fraction of the price. It was a special occasion so I had budgeted for an expensive meal, but to me this was excessive. Western NC has just been devastated by a major hurricane but not one indicator of a fundraiser here. I wouldn't mind paying these prices if I knew a portion of my meal was being donated to hurricane relief efforts. So instead of leaving happy after celebrating my anniversary and enjoying a good meal, I left completely disappointed and sad. I would've felt better just donating the money to relief efforts instead. Definitely not the experience I had hoped for. There are plenty of upscale restaurants in the area that aren't as pricey. Maybe if they offered additional menu choices and less expensive cocktails, I would consider going back but for now it's a no for me. Thank you, Monica! You were the best part of the evening.

Let's address the elephant in the room: the prices are definitely higher than average for the local area. BUT (and it's very important to distinguish this) the prices are only around $5 overpriced per dish given the quality of the food. You 100% could make this a reasonably affordable dining experience by ordering a pasta dish ($30 to $35 a plate) and a side salad ($6). Just know that you are paying for quality of food and service. Prices aside, let's talk about the food: it was very good to great. - We started with espresso martinis, which were fantastic. - The appetizer (crispy pork belly) was delicious, and probably my favorite part of the meal. It was easily twice as big as expected and well worth the $19 price. This was comfortably split between two people. - The side Caesar salads were uneventful. Not to get too nitpicky, but a Caesar salad should come dressed; their Caesar salad was served with dressing on the side. And it was "crack your own black pepper" which I don't mind but some might. The saving grace to the salads was that they were a justifiable $6 each. So, I'm very neutral on the salads. - The risotto was excellent. Only real critique is that it was a bit on the salty side (maybe could use some lemon to offset the salt?) and the steak slices with the dish were from a thin cut of ribeye (but cooked correctly). They tried to spruce up the brown dish with a white edible flower, but it really needed some additional micro greens at least. - My wife had the crab encrusted salmon. It looked much more visually inviting and the one bite I had of it was excellent. - We each had one more cocktail, but they were just good. As for the service and atmosphere: - The service was top notch. Very attentive, but not intrusive. I noticed the wait staff start to walk over a few times to refill waters, saw that we were talking, then walked away and waited for an opening. - I really like what they have done with the place. There is a dining area that is separate physically, visually, and audibly from the bar area despite being one room away. The options for how you want to dine are varied and accessible. - They had a private parking lot that almost no one uses for some reason? It worked great for us. You don't have to do street parking. Final thoughts: I wish the best for the place, but given how dead it seemed on a Friday night (maybe 30% capacity) I have my concerns about longevity. The price tag is almost certainly scaring away guests. I think my wife put it best when she said if this place was in downtown Raleigh, you wouldn't be able to get a table without a reservation -- so consider this a Raleigh restaurant in Knightdale. I hope they will consider doing a cheaper lunch/brunch on their big patio (at least) to attract the park crowd. A $5 hotdog or a grilled cheese lunch would go a long way for getting people in the door. Maybe they should embrace those humble food truck roots by day and be fine dining at night? Either way, give the place a shot if you are at all having doubts.

Wonderful dinner in a charming atmosphere! our server, Alyssa, was friendly and attentive to every detail. We will definitely return!

My friends and I placed 4 separate orders for pick up this past Friday night. My husband ordered the fried chicken sandwich without slaw. It came with slaw. He easily scraped it off and said the chicken was excellent. He enjoyed the savory tots (which by the way are sweet potato tots- I should've read more thoroughly the menu). Overall husband was happy. I ordered a chicken avocado salad with vinegarette, and a side of savory tots. My salad was delicious, large and filling! It was full of fresh crisp vegetables. I was happy with the salad but didn't enjoy the tots. They weren't for me. Again I should've read better. They were too Rosemary flavored for me and personally I would've used shredded Parmesan then the dusting. Four out of five stars for us, will return.

We rode our bikes here on Sunday from north Raleigh. We were looking for an outdoor dining option that was bike friendly and this was the place. We had the chicken BLT and the crab cake sandwich. Both were excellent! The avocado on the BLT was perfectly ripe. We had sweet potato tots, which were great. They provide a few picnic tables if you wanna eat on site. Rode 25 miles after eating lunch and felt great. I highly recommend this clean and well-run food truck.