The Depot: Just One Stop on Sentimental Journey

On Sunday, we will be taking our daughter, Kyra, to begin her freshman year at Amherst College.

When she was born in the winter of 1992 we lived in Newton Upper Falls, and it was a very hard, snowy winter. Kyra was a “big, special baby” (our parental euphemism for the fact that she had to be delivered by Caesarian section), and I had a difficult recovery after her delivery. When I was finally allowed out of the house a couple of weeks later the weather was not conducive to driving very far, but I was desperate to get out and to show off my beautiful little girl.

So I bundled her up and walked down to , just around the corner. I was thrilled to be able to eat something other than what I could put together with one hand while holding a healthy, howling infant. I also reveled in the “ooo’s” and “aah’s” lavished upon my baby by other patrons at The Depot, much as I delighted in the praise we continue to hear as she has grown into a lovely, self-possessed young lady.

Henry La, the current owner of The Depot, equally enjoys the much-deserved praise for his café.

He bought the little restaurant in November of 2002. Having owned a Chinese restaurant in Maine and Twin Donuts in Allston, La was ready to find a new community to embrace as both a businessman and a resident. He was also ready to have a more manageable schedule.

“I saw in the paper that it (the Depot) was on the market. I liked the idea of the shorter hours – just go in, work for the day and then go home,” explains La.  “Five days a week, no weekends or holidays – just right.”

La and his wife, Kim, do everything in the tiny shop. Henry does all of the baking, including making from scratch the coffee cake, muffins, cookies and many of the pastries. Kim does all of the cooking, and their regular customers will sing the praises of her soups and daily specials.

“A lot of the soups have a special Asian flare, a really nice special taste,” says customer Joe Stiriti. 

“He’s my brother – he’s been here longer than me!” interjects La, explaining why Stiriti is qualified to comment on the soups.

Another popular item on the menu is the Kahluha Chili, and La acknowledges that it is “not [his] creation, but it is a big hit.”

As culinary trends have changed, the Depot’s menu has evolved. Now the Las try to make things healthier, cutting down on sugar and fat when they can.

They also cater their menu to the seasons and to their customers’ desires.

“In the summer, we have colder foods and cold soups. In the winter, we’ll have warm foods, like chicken pot pie,” La states. “We have specific specials on specific days, so people know when to come in. But if someone wants, say, the cranberry chicken on a day we don’t have it, we can make it especially for that customer.”

Some of these customers will be young mothers like I was nearly 19 years ago, looking for a good homemade meal, a little time out of the house with their new bundles of love and a warm place to enjoy both. They, like I was, will be lucky to discover The Depot.