http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14121008/?GT1=8404

MUMBAI, India - A new restaurant in India’s financial hub, named after Adolf Hitler and promoted with posters showing the German leader and Nazi swastikas, has infuriated the country’s small Jewish community.

Hitler’s Cross, which opened last week, serves up a wide range of continental fare and a big helping of controversy, thanks to a name the owners say they chose to stand out among hundreds of Mumbai eateries.

“We wanted to be different. This is one name that will stay in people’s minds,” owner Punit Shablok told Reuters.

“We are not promoting Hitler. But we want to tell people we are different in the way he was different.”

But India’s remaining Jews — most migrated to Israel and the West over the years — say they are outraged by the gimmick.

“This signifies a severe lack of awareness of the agony of millions of Jews caused by one man,” said Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation, the community’s umbrella organization.

“We are going to stop this deification of Hitler,” he said without elaborating.

The small restaurant, its interior done out in the Nazi colors of red, white and black, also has a lounge for smoking the Indian water pipe or “hookah.”

Posters line the road leading up to it, featuring a red swastika carved in the name of the eatery. One slogan reads: “From Small Bites to Mega Joys.”

A huge portrait of a stern-looking Füehrer greets visitors at the door. The cross in the restaurant’s name refers to the swastika that symbolized the Nazi regime.

“This place is not about wars or crimes, but where people come to relax and enjoy a meal,” said restaurant manager Fatima Kabani, adding that they were planning to turn the eatery’s name into a brand with more branches in Mumbai.

The swastika has its roots in ancient Indian Hindu tradition and remains a sacred symbol for Hindus. Nazi theorists appropriated it to bolster their central hypothesis of the Aryan origins of the German people.

Bad taste in Restaurant ideas. Maybe they thought it would succeed like "Springtime for Hitler" in the movie . . .

Are they failed art students with a high-camp fashion sense or megalomaniacs with one testicle (apiece)?

After serious consideration, I have decided not to post the following reply due the flagrant offensiveness and outright reprehensible content. It in no way reflects my religious or socio-political views:


Yes, but have you tried the Braised Lamb with Zyklon chutney? It's to die for.

It's a gas.

Today Mumbai, Tomorrow the World.

After talking with Sheepproffessor and Lambchop about their time in India, I'm convinced the entire country is certifiably insane. This just puts the nail in the coffin.

They worship cows there, keep elephants as pets, and rural areas still kill all newborn females for Chrissakes.

I applaud Han's tact and restraint in not posting that tatseless response. I have decided to follow his example, and refrain from making the comment that "this restaurant has the largest ovens known to be in use today".

So's this one but India's insanity may have more entertainment value and pose less of a danger to everyone else.

No way. We worship celebrities, have huge 4WD vehicles for city driving, and dress up little 6 year old girls to look like 28 year old hookers ala Jon Benet.

We're totally sane.

The owner of the restaurant should expand his franchise to Iran though, he'd make a shitload of Rupees.

Get with the times, Porkio.
It used to be 6-y.o. girls dressed as hookers.
Now we tart up the toddlers to look like 16-y.o. Reno Streetwalkers.

Sex-symbol status can now be achieved pre-potty-training.

Smuttty never liked potty-trained girls anyway.

Seems like he would like them trained, just not trained to go in the toilet.

Oh yeah, it's all fun & games 'til she craps the bed.

No xit.

Heard about that famous Jew baker?

Hitler...

Ugh.

You should pee on him for that.

Nevermind.

Nah, I hate it when an expression of disdain gets mistaken for foreplay. If I really wanted to get back at him, I could delete some of this porn or, even worse, rearrange the dishes and leave a couple of hairs in the shower.

Fucking with the dishes is brilliant!