Many poor people have had to suffer while I try make a decision about food.

Being a vegan, I have got used to having just a couple, if any, choices on the menu.

My brain can feel pathetically paralysed when even a handful more are thrown in.

Deciding what sort of cuisine will have the most options is an even bigger task that leaves my partner and parents reaching for the nearest stiff drink.

So finding a restaurant that pans several nationalities was a happy encounter.

Mediterranean restaurant Marimonte on Viaduct Street appeared to be an irresolute’s Mecca in Huddersfield.

Marimonte restaurant, Viaduct Street, Huddersfield.

My boyfriend Will and I found a walk-in table on a Sunday night, fresh off the train from a 10-mile “stroll” on Marsden Moor.

Friendly staff greeted us like old friends, despite contending with a good many tables of diners.

They were good enough to not even bat an eyelid at our get-up: cagoules, walking boots and a pair of Lycra shorts.

We were seated in slick but comfy seats in the middle of the warmly-decorated room, soon forgetting about the autumn bite outside.

Good news came when we were told we had arrived in time for the early bird menu, a starter, main and a much-wanted glass of wine for £12.95.

For once, it did not just include the most budget and un-vegan friendly items but everything on the menu bar a dip mezze, a fish platter, steaks and meat sharers was a possibility. Great for us then.

In my experience, a menu offering up several cuisines seems to make some people bizarrely suspicious.

But there was nothing not to like for Will and I on a list with offerings from Italy, Greece, Spain, France and the Middle East.

Will drank his wine while I tried to whip my brain into choosing mode.

Soup, falafel, dips and tapas could all have easily been wolfed down for starters.

On the face of it, there are no specifically vegan main courses on the menu.

But most vegan diners hopefully know that cheese can be removed from most items where it is listed on top.

Asking is also a canny way to find out if your meal will be cooked fresh from scratch or is simply being reheated.

The waiter told us there would be no problem removing the cheese from the vegetable pasta dish, salads, stuffed aubergine, vegetarian gratin or even pisto manchego.

I plumped for the falafel in the end, deep-fried chickpea balls with spices, inadvertently cementing myself as the stereotypical vegan.

I was intrigued to sample the ubiquitous Middle Eastern dish, which pops up in several restaurants in Huddersfield alone.

A side salad and dollop of hummus had been served with it, different to the tahini sauce, made of ground sesame seeds, listed on the menu.

I was glad to have the alternative, which had a light but creamy texture.

I was surprised to find a green, herby looking filling to the falafel.

Falafel at Marimonte restaurant on Viaduct Street, Huddersfield

It had a more flavourful and fresh taste than most falafels I had eaten in the town.

So I was surprised when the waiter told me the “special” herb mix was actually sent up to them from London.

Will chose the frito misto, a mix of king prawns, calamari, courgette and fritters. He was a little surprised when it appeared in a fried form, due to me forgetting to tell him what the translation meant.

But he enjoyed every mouthful, which was free from too much grease, happy to have got his fill of seafood.

It did seem that our main courses arrived as soon as our plates had been cleared.

It was fortunate that we were two hungry hikers.

Will’s vegetarian gratin consisted of Mediterranean vegetables cooked in a tomato sauce with a herb crumb and cheese and served with bulgar wheat.

It was juicy and fragrant and did not remain on his plate for long.

I chose the stuffed aubergine minus feta cheese, a healthy but surprisingly filling dish.

The sauce was full of flavour but tasted too similar to Will’s. Great if you want just one of the dishes but perhaps it would be a bit too much of the same if sharing dinners.

With such a cheap bill, something to round off the night was a must.

Will stepped up to the challenge, ordering a dessert enigmatically named “salted caramel”.

The salted caramel dessert at Marimonte restaurant on Viaduct Street, Huddersfield

It turned out to be a caramel and vanilla layered cream and crumble, served in a glass.

It was not over-facing in size, which was lucky for Will who was worried if he would be able to tackle it.

Diverse, pleasant and wallet-friendly, Marimonte could be just the choice for those wanting to be transported to several countries at once – or those with picky diners among them.

Viaduct Street, Huddersfield

Phone: 01484 518877

Website: www.marimonte.co.uk

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 4.30pm to 10pm and Sunday from 4pm to 9pm

Children: Welcome

Disabled access: Yes, there is one small step at the entrance. A ramp can be provided if needed although it may be best to ring ahead in advance as it is not always available. Full disabled toilet access.

The bill: £32.40 including two starters, mains, glasses of wine, hot drinks and one dessert.

Would you go back? Yes, especially to sample the tapas, dips and liqueur coffees