Editor’s Note: This visit took place prior to the LA County 11/23 mandate to shut down outdoor dining.
My wife, daughter and I recently invited a long-time friend out to lunch. Since our friend has mobility issues, I had to pick a place near to her house, solid food and with easy access from the parking lot. For some reason, Depot in Old Torrance came to mind.
Depot is celebrating its 29th anniversary in existence, clearly its toughest one due to the pandemic. A huge white tent was set up in the parking lot. Shrubbery and dwarf trees lined the perimeter of the tent and table and chairs were set up per social distancing guidelines.
Chef and Owner Michael Shafer sets the tone of Depot to be one for spending time conversing over food. The lunch menu is called “Afternoons” and the dinner menu is called “Evenings”. Items are tailored both for mood and for appetite size. Small plates include mostly soups, sides and shareable dishes, sandwiches, entree salads, and specialty entrees for eaters with large appetites.
Instead of a plain penne dish, Shafer elevates this offering with a cream sauce including toasted chilis and roasted corn. These ingredients add a smoky element as well as a little bit of heat to this otherwise pedestrian entree.
Likewise, their Turkey Bacon Club Sandwich with Avocado is made with house smoked turkey and applewood bacon. This adds a lot of flavor to a turkey sandwich. Their French Dip Sandwich was a bit of a surprise because it apparently doesn’t include “au jus”. Our server graciously came back with a complimentary beef dipping sauce. The roast beef is sliced razor thin and it includes blue cheese and horseradish.
The Bento Box was for me. I selected this because Depot is not an Asian restaurant and I wanted to see how they prepared an Asian Bento Box. Named the Debu Chan or “adorable fatso” translated from Japanese, it contained Seared Tuna, Fried Calamari, Thai Shrimp and Basa. The calamari is breaded and fried and served with chutney as the dipping sauce. The tuna was fresh and the Basa was also prepared well. I could not ask for more.
Unfortunately, LA County has since shut down outdoor dining operations county-wide. Please contact the restaurant to find out the latest operating details.
Depot, 1250 Cabrillo Ave, Torrance, CA 90501; 310.787.7501
depotrestaurant.com