Hummus Bros - Holborn

It's always refreshing to find something completely different, even if slightly repetitive. The fact is you can have almost anything at Hummus Bros - provided you have it with hummus. That, of course, is an exaggeration, but the blend of chickpeas puréed with sesame paste and lemon juice can become compulsive. Starting from a chance encounter in 2003, two years later the first Hummus Bros opened on Wardour Street, with a strong following, and then a second outlet followed, on Southampton Row, Holborn, which is not surprising when you consider their value for money lunch meal.

But it's more than just that. Think hummus with a seasoned chickpea or chunky beef topping, with side dishes of mixed or grilled vegetable salad, tabouleh or smoked barbecued aubergine. Puddings come in the form of double chocolate brownie or perhaps malabi, a delicious milk-based dessert with date honey. And if by any chance you have become addicted there are always tubs of hummus and the various toppings to take home.