Not Every Restaurant Theme Is A Great Idea

In the last several years, there has been a huge increase in the number of “themed restaurants.” There are some really good ones out there like Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, NASCAR Café, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, Honolulu Harry’s and even Jimmy Buffet’s Margaretville. There is a new restaurant in India however, that takes themed eateries in a whole new direction.

Hitler’s Cross (that’s right, Hitler’s Cross, yep, Hitler’s Cross, you read it right, a restaurant actually named Hitler’s Cross – and I am not making this stuff up) recently opened in Mumbai, India and here’s a shock, certain groups aren’t too happy. (Insert your Mel Gibson joke here)

I don’t do awards on this blog but if I did, the Hitler’s Cross restaurant would certainly earn the Insensitive Idiot Award (of the century). Reuters News Service quoted the owner as saying that he wanted to create something different to stand out from other local restaurants. Well, mission accomplished. It’s just a guess, but the idea for this restaurant could only be the result of a drunken stupor.

“Hmmm, let’s see, we’ll name our restaurant after Gandhi. It’ll be a monument to peace…and food.”

“No, no one will want to come see that; Gandhi went on a hunger strike, didn’t he?” “Let’s name it after one of history’s most reviled, inhumane, and evil men. We’ll put his pictures and memorabilia on the walls like those goody two shoes at Hard Rock!”

Believe it or not, the inside of the restaurant is done in a Nazi red, white, and black. Diners at Hitler’s Cross eat their meals amid a portrait of Hitler and Nazi swastikas. The name of the restaurant is another name for the swastika, which was adapted by the Nazis from a Hindu symbol, although that’s not an excuse. I personally still think it’s the most asinine idea I’ve ever heard of!

I’m trying to get my hands on a menu, but scuttlebutt has it that these are some of the restaurant’s most popular menu items:

Fuehrer Flapjacks
Fuehrer Franks (only during Oktoberfest)
Eva Braun Brownies
Aryan Omelet
World Domination Grand Slam Breakfast Cornucopia
The V2 Rocket (most popular alcoholic beverage)

In other themed restaurant news, local restaurateurs have announced their plan for an eatery on Rodeo Drive. This one will be themed after Jeffrey Dahmer. Dahmer’s Place will specialize in (you guessed it) Sushi.