You don’t have to know much about India to know that its cuisine is highly regarded around the world. But, a new restaurant in Bombay is raising more than just a few eyebrows. Not because of what’s on the menu, but because of what’s on the restaurant’s walls.
Hitler’s Cross restaurant is not only home to pastries, sandwiches and salads, but to posters of the Nazi leader and swastikas. While the restaurant’s owner insists that the name of the eatery is only meant to attract attention, it has outraged Bombay’s Jewish community.
“It’s really made people very upset that a person responsible for the massacre of 6 million Jews can be glorified,” Elijah Jacob, one of the community’s leaders, told American journalists covering the restaurant’s opening.
A recent study shows that there are just 5,500 Jews in all of India and local leaders say in Bombay Holocaust awareness is limited, “Hitler is regarded as just another historical figure and swastikas are an ancient Hindu symbol, displayed all over to bring luck.”
The owner of the restaurant refuses to back down, saying he feels there is no reason why he should change the name. He’s going to battle with members of Israel’s consul general in Bombay who have asked the local government to force a name change. Those who oppose the restaurant’s name say: “Instead of Hitler’s name being an example of extreme evil, this is like giving legitimacy to Hitler. It’s not right to advertise his name in public.”
Meanwhile, diners told reporters they were quite happy eating in Hitler’s Cross.
“Hitler was a bad man, but what’s wrong with having food here?” said one customer. Another diner offered this perspective: “I think the name is quite interesting. Tomorrow if someone keeps a name like Saddam Mutton Shop or George Bush Footwear, there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”
So, what do you think? How much does a restaurant’s name matter to you? Would you eat at Hitler’s Cross?