Recently, a new restaurant opened up in my neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen in New York City. Named simply "Hummus Kitchen," it specializes (not surprisingly) in hummus and other Mediterranean food. Hummus Kitchen is one of a recent explosion of similar restaurants in New York City, including Hummus Place, Maoz Vegetarian, and others. And vegetarians have greeted them with open arms.

I'll use Hummus Kitchen as a great example of why Mediterranean food is perfect for vegetarians. Sure, it's easy to get a salad or a veggie side at a non-veggie-focused restaurant, but sometimes we all crave hearty, filling, flavorful food. And that's where savory, delicious dishes like hummus, falafel, and baba ghanouj come in. Because they're based on healthy beans, veggies like eggplant, and olive oil, these foods are filling without being heavy. They warm the stomach, heart, and soul of the good-food-seeking vegetarian.

And as demonstrated ably by Hummus Kitchen, Mediterranean food is often quite cheap. It's easy to make a full meal out of hummus and pita (the knock-out specialty of Hummus Kitchen), but even if one orders extravagantly and samples all the menu has to offer, a Mediterranean feast can often be had for under ten or fifteen dollars. My meal at Hummus Kitchen was spectacular, and I left feeling full and happy, without the all-too-common restaurant-goer's buyer's remorse. If you've yet to discover the joys of hummus, keep your local Mediterranean restaurant in mind for your next meal; and if you make it to NYC, give Hummus Kitchen a try for yourself!