Currently, if you’re talking about sandwiches or filled rolls in Wellington, you’re probably talking about Humphrey’s Counter on Brandon Street. This new sandwich shop has quickly built a reputation for serving reasonably priced, made-to-order rolls packed with quality fillings and excellent Wellington-sourced bread.

Opening in the middle of winter might not seem like the ideal business move, but Humphrey’s Counter has arrived with a real bang. Since opening roughly two weeks ago, queues have been stretching out the door, and they’ve even sold out on several occasions. Their bread comes from two local suppliers: Arobake provides the white baguettes, while Shelly Bay Baker supplies the sourdough baguettes.

I’ve managed to visit twice since they opened, trying the Original Beef Drip, Smoky Chorizo Beans with cheese sauce, Tuna Mayo Crunch, and, of course, their Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Overall, I was really impressed. I’m not usually much of a tuna person, but the Tuna Mayo Crunch was still an excellent sandwich. The flavours worked well together, and adding sriracha gave it a nice tickle. If I had one criticism, it would be that I would have liked a bit more crunch from the celery and red onion, but that’s a minor point.

The Smoky Chorizo Beans with the added cheese sauce were another winner. The combination worked really well, though it was missing a little something to make it sing—perhaps a touch more seasoning or spice to lift the flavours.

My favourite, however, was the Original Beef Drip. It was easily the messiest sandwich of the three, but also the most rewarding. The beef was incredibly tender, beautifully seasoned, and packed with flavour.

Overall, Humphrey’s Counter is a fantastic addition to Wellington’s food scene. Every roll I tried was delicious (I preferred it with the sourdough baguette), and I love that you can add butter to your roll—a simple touch that makes a difference.

If I was being really critical, I think lightly crisping or toasting the rolls would take them to another level. I completely understand that this would slow service down, so it’s an easy compromise to appreciate. The only other change I’d make is swapping the sriracha for a good-quality chilli crisp. From my perspective, chilli crisp would complement the fillings much better, adding both texture and a deeper layer of flavour.

Finally, I have to mention the cookies.

Fuck me.

These are some of the best cookies I’ve had in a very long time, especially when they’re served warm. I have no idea what their recipe is, but they’ve absolutely nailed it. Honestly, I’d happily go back just to buy one of their cookies.

Website: Humphrey’s Counter

Address: 10 Brandon Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011