The Food is Only a Small Part of the Experience

The old Soo Line passenger depot at the north end of Main Street in downtown Minot has had a storied history.
The Soo Line Depot was built in 1912 and it served the Soo Line passengers until 1963 when trains 13 & 14 from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Portal, North Dakota were discontinued.

Since then, the depot has existed in relative obscurity until 2019 when Minot native Rollie Ackerman purchased the building, and through a year-long renovation project, brought the depot back to pristine condition. For those who had the opportunity to see the renovated depot building, you have guessed that almost to a person they would think of how the depot would operate as a restaurant and bar, and now all of our wishes have come true, as The Depot & Baggage Claim Bar & Grill recently opened for business.

First, the depot structure remains pretty much the same as it was back in days when the Minneapolis St. Paul, Saul St. Marie railroad used the depot as the hub of their Minot passenger operation. The Canadian Pacific still operates along the rails that remain just north of The Depot, and it seems you can almost reach out and touch the trains as they travel either east or west. “Forget it” if you are attempting to order your lunch or supper when a train goes by; may as well wait for the engines, especially, to pass. It gives you time to experience the ambience of The Depot building.

The Ackerman family has done an excellent job of restoring the building. Face it a passing train and the ringing of the train whistle throughout the building is something you’ll relate to friends and family who query you about your dining experience.

So back to the menu. I ordered a Rueben and sweet potato fries, my wife ordered a Cuban and plain French fries, and both of our meals were delivered in a timely fashion, and both were excellent. Normally I may have ordered a stronger than soda beverage, but at the time of this writing The Depot and Baggage Claim is waiting for the city of Minot to approve a supper club style license that will allow them to serve alcoholic beverages.

The Depot and Baggage Claim Bar and Grill used to operate as 28 Tastes and Taps near the site of the new Trinity Medical Center on south 16th Street, and our server, Brigette, had made the transition from one location to the other. “We love it in downtown Minot” she told me when I asked about the new location, “it’s quite a different clientele down here (in downtown Minot).

A common question amongst those who are looking for advice on dining in downtown Minot is “was it expensive?” and to that I can say, “no, it really wasn’t.” I’d like to see The Depot expand their menu a bit, and perhaps offer a weekday lunch menu that would offer perhaps a ½ of a sandwich and a cup of soup, but I am sure that will come in time, as they experience their new location and customers.

We were finished with our dining experience in well under an hour, which is another way I judge the quality of a restaurant experience.

Looking for a unique dining experience? Head to downtown Minot, to the north end of Main Street, and there you will find The Depot and Baggage Claim Bar & Grill. And oh, by the way, ask for a seat by the window if one is available. The passing of a train is really a great experience.