Pablo Escobar-inspired burger with line of white powder on top draws criticism in Australia

‘Stop romanticising a criminal!’

Pablo's Escoburgers (Facebook)

A pop-up restaurant in Melbourne, Australia has been criticised for selling a Pablo Ecobar-inspired burger, complete with a line of white powder and a rolled up dollar bill on top.

The eatery, called Pablo's Escoburgers, takes its name after the Colombian drug lord.

Escobar led the Medellín Cartel for 17 years, and his operation was involved in the killing of an estimated 3,500 people.

He was shot dead by police in 1993, after escaping from La Catedral prison in Colombia.

As such, many people have found the Australian pop-up's decision to base its menu on the narcoterrorist highly problematic.

The "Patron" burger, decorated with the mock cocaine powder, has been a particular source of contention.

"This is really offensive and disrespectful to all the families of the victims that suffered the atrocities committed by this monster," one person wrote on Instagram.

"He is not a hero, he was the biggest cancer in my country," someone else remarked.

"This is really offensive and no one should ever visit your 'restaurant'. IGNORANT."

Another Instagram user accused the pop-up of "romanticising a criminal" with its controversial menu and name.

Some people have defended Pablo's Escoburgers, stating that the restaurant's theme should be taken as a light-hearted joke.

"Snowflakes, petals and the easily offended. When did you lose your sense of humour?" one person wrote on Facebook.

On 27 January, Pablo's Escoburgers released a statement saying that they're not condoning Escobar's actions with the theme of the restaurant.

"We are very proud of our burgers but we do also understand that Pablo Escobar was a horrible man who destroyed the lives of thousands of Colombians," the statement reads.

"We do not condone, idolise or promote Pablo Emilio Escobar or his actions in anyway.

"We are however Australian and know how to have a laugh about a good play on words."

While the restaurant acknowledges the criticism it's received, the statement doesn't include an apology.

"Hard not to offend someone in 2019," it states.

"Take the high road people, put it to rest and learn to forgive and forget!"