Roti Bros

From a lockdown idea to a market stall, and now a brick-and-mortar store with a cult following.
Sarah Templeton
December 10, 2021

Overview

The humble pie is a classic Kiwi staple, but what about a pie that's not quite so humble? Well, that becomes a cult sensation.

Auckland friends and Roti Bros founders Ollie Morrison and Logan Stevens have just opened their new brick-and-mortar offering in Commercial Bay, only 13 months since launching as a stall at the Britomart market.

The new-look Roti Bros is still at its core a pie stall, but it doesn't offer the grab-and-go BP pies so many of us know (and love, of course). Instead, think slow-cooked, gourmet flavours all encased flaky, rich roti paratha pastry.

The pair say the winning combo was borne out of hunger during the country's first lockdown in 2020. They had made a butter chicken the night before, and were looking for something to encase it in. Instead of pastry, the pair used frozen roti paratha found in the freezer, which worked "too well".

"After countless nights of experimentation and taste tests with shockingly honest mates, Roti Bros was official," the pair said in a statement. They soon popped up at both Britomart market and Parnell's now-defunct La Cigale market, and this week in a full circle moment, opened a shockingly orange hole-in-the-wall outlet in Commercial Bay.

The flavours OG fans will know from the market are all on offer: Butter Chicken, Thai Beef and Vege Panang. In celebration of opening, some limited edition flavours are all also on offer, including Chicken Madras and Duck Red Curry.

The fit out is chic and warm, the service is smiley, and an opening day offer of free pies and DJ-tunes saw lines snake down Commercial Bay's Little Queen Street lane.

And for those not in the city, you don't have to miss out. Packs of frozen Roti Bros pies are available for online purchase a — there's even a special 'how to heat' section on the website.

Roti Bros can be found Level 1, Shop 4/7 Little Queen St, Commercial Bay. They're open every day from 11am — 6pm.

Top image: Varun Singhal, Logan Stevens and Olli Morrison

Information

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