The reason is simple. There are so few Bel Poori houses around. And Bel Poori always strikes me as a healthy snack-type meal.

You don't go to restaurants like this to dine. You go to eat. If you want to eat healthily Bel Poori ticks the boxes. It's made up of puffed rice, a little potato, plenty of coriander, raw onion, a little chili, tamarind and, I think, date juice, and what seem like crispbread made from chickpea flour.

Alternatively you can eat potato, chickpeas and toasted breads.

This is not a culinary voyage but for a different taste and a cheap meal (£5 usually does a couple of snacks dishes) it's worth bearing the staff and their rude ways - actually I find when you talk to them the rudeness seems more of a facade.

The vegetarian dosas (pancakes) are also a treat. Generally made of lentil flour and containing lentils, they do take some digesting.