Photo by: AFP

"A sandwich can kill you," reads a slogan on the wall of Buns and Guns, where the decor evokes a barracks decorated with a veritable cache of weaponry -- in plastic -- and photos of Israel's main battle tank, the Markava. Even the ceiling and shutters have the look of military trellis-work.

An "offensive" menu, which includes "chicken camouflage", "Dragunov (sniper rifle) steak" and roast "M16", is offered to clients who need little explanation of the military terms. "The servings are huge and that could kill you, good though they are," says Youssef Ibrahim, the 27-year-old owner of the restaurant.
"I wanted to offer a new concept of a restaurant, and the tense situation in Lebanon was partly what inspired me."

The only reference to Hezbollah, which claimed victory in a devastating 34-day war against Israel two summers ago, is an "RPG" (rocket-propelled-grenade) chicken, offered in "Resistant Bread". "It is resistant -- against hunger, as there is so much of it," commented one customer.

Dressed in military fatigues and wearing a helmet, chef Amer cuts and fries pieces of chicken, as drops of sweat pour from his brow. "It's really hot near the oven -- worse than being in a trench," he says.