Mumbai: 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 but sparked a 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 said.

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

But India's small Jewish community say they are outraged by the gimmick.

The small restaurant, its interior done out in the Nazi colours of red, white and black, also has a lounge for smoking the exotic 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 Fuehrer greets visitors at the door. The cross in the restaurant's name refers to the swastika that symbolised the Nazi regime.