Madrid one more time 8

You're no doubt familiar with a particular chain of sandwich shops which claims you can 'eat fresh' (they are after all the world's largest franchise). Watch out Subway, because there is competition in town and they are going to make you eat your words!

Specialising in bite-size baguettes called montaditos, on which they offer 100 different toppings, there is a fairly new restaurant chain in Spain which calls itself (are you ready for this?): 100 Montaditos. Best of all, on a Wednesday everything is €1, including a frosty stein of ice-cold lager!

First opened in 2000, they have taken Spain by storm with their fresh-baked bread and huge variety of toppings (not to mention the cheap beer). Such is their success, the company is aiming to open 4000 outlets in the USA over the next five years, with the first branches open already in Miami.

The bread is crispy (you can choose white or wholewheat) and there are indeed dozens of toppings to choose from, so many that the menu comes on an enormous sheet of paper. Next to each item on the menu is a line where you indicate how many sandwiches you would like (they are small, so you'll want three or four). Most sandwiches cost around €1.20, so it's a bargain any day of the week (with half-price beer on Sunday, when a stein sells for 50 cents).

Hand over the menu when ordering, give your name when paying and about 5 minutes later someone will announce over the tannoy that your sandwiches are ready. These come out on a wooden platter, with potato crisps piled around them, so it's surprisingly filling.

Our favourite was the tortilla, which in Spain is a potato omelette served cold. Other simple toppings include tuna, chorizo and several varieties of ham and cheese, although they offer more involved versions like roast chicken with smoked bacon and salsa. Spaniards aren't fans of butter or things like 'honey-mayonnaise' but the bite-size bread is so chewy you won't miss the grease.

The chain bills itself as a cerveceria or beer joint and sure enough the first thing you notice when going inside are the frosty taps at the bar. The dark wooden floors and painted tiles give a traditional feel, while each of the three branches we visited in Madrid had ample outdoor seating for soaking up the sun (there are four locations in the historic centre of Madrid, mapped here). Not that we had too much time to linger, as more freebies beckoned!