B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Type 4405
Distraction; Troubleshooting
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Airport
Arriving into Gate; with engine 2 shut down; aircraft was moving toward the gate normally under minimal power on engine 1 when; just a couple feet from the spot; the nose gear rolled down into a depression (felt almost like a hole) and the aircraft immediately stopped. Tried taxiing out of it under increased thrust from #1; but using a safe amount of thrust; we were unable to move. First Officer asked if I wanted to restart #2; which I said yes to (we were already late and I knew this was the quicker option than having the ramp crew connect the tug to tow us in). I gave the ramper the visual signal that we were restarting #2; which he acknowledged. With number 2 restarted; it still took both engines at approx. 40% N1 to move; at which time the nose wheel practically jumped out of the depression. Fortunately; I was prepared for it and was immediately on the brakes after exiting and was able to stop normally on the parking spot. I immediately contacted [airport] Ops and informed them what happened and they did send someone out to look at 'the hole'. After exiting the plane; the jet bridge operator/gate agent told the First Officer that this was a normal occurrence on that gate and many aircraft just have the ramp tow them in.
737 Captain reported the nose gear rolled into a depression approaching the assigned gate and came to an immediate stop.