Gene Coffee Bar — Restaurant in Vancouver

I've been here a couple times in the past few months, both times the staff give off cold stares and snappy questions, and treat people who look like they make less than 20k a year like they're parasitic! I usually give the benefit of the doubt, maybe someone was having a tough day. But I noticed two white men come in, separately, and the staff behind the counter were incredibly sweet and polite. Higher pitches, smiling eyes, and overall noticeably better treatment. I also recieved a burnt croissant as if it was supposed to go into my stomach, and not the trash before the next one was warmed up. When I asked the staff if this was the croissant that I had ordered toasted, (genuinely confused as to what happened to the poor burnt pastry) she just gave me a “yes”, brief and as if I was being difficult for wasting her time further by asking about my croissant. I later had to throw the croissant out after salvaging the inside as this was the first solid food I’d previously hoped to ingest. As I went to throw it out I told the staff it was burnt, but that it was okay as I didn’t want to bother her further, but also wanting to say something after paying for a burnt croissant. She promtly replied “Could you please put the dish here? Thanks” and walked away. I stayed in the cafe for a little while more to finish some schoolwork and observed the customers who would come in and if they were going to receive the same treatment as me. There happened to be one other person in line, it was not a busy day in the week but a lazy Sunday. As a barista/server myself, I've never handed someone a burnt croissant and expected them to enjoy it. The only thing that I could gather after thinking about this over and over is that maybe, it was because when I came in I had bought a couple coffees for some folks outside the cafe, and when one of them came in to retrieve it, they were welcomed with long pauses and bewildered expressions. Maybe I just happened to represent something resentful for the staff. Ultimately, the reason is unknown.

I don’t doubt that the management and staff are in agreement over a differential, and rather cold/inhumane treatment towards people who may be displaced, so this is just to provide some reassurance to anyone who may have seen similar treatment, that they are not just assuming the worst, and that yes, the staff do have polar opposite treatment based on your race, gender, income. The reply by the owner below, is largely irrelevant and has wasted 2 minutes of my lifetime that I will never get back. Just like the burnt croissant I was forced to nibble on (around the un-burnt parts mind you) with a side of...

I went to this cafe almost every week over a year. Most of the staff were friendly, except one lady with glasses. On Dec 10th around 5:50pm, I went to this cafe again and ordered a decaf latte as usual. But the lady with glasses did not greet me at all, not to mention a smile. I felt I was not welcomed.

I ordered the decaf latte and she made it for me. Usually they put the drink in a to-go cup without a lid. But this time she was about to put a lid on. I told her I didn’t need the lid, then she said “ just letting you know we are closing at 6pm”. Then I realised it was only 9 minutes left before they closed. However they usually close at 7pm every day. If I knew they closed earlier than normal, I might not even walk in, as I would prefer to stay. So I asked if it’s just today they close earlier or not. Then lady replied “yes just today”, apparently IMPATIENT, without looking at me, which pissed me off. So I said “ you should have let me know earlier “. I was a regular customer and I usually stayed in this cafe for around 30-60 minutes. I was sure she knew this as she was a regular staff too. But she replied “ there is a sign on the door”. When I walked out, I checked the sign on the door. It was so SMALL and outside was already so DARK. How can she expect every customer to see the tiny sign??????

Last but not least, the decaf latte she made tasted awful compared to...

• yeah that actually makes it worse cuz your girl had the spelt one beside the gluten free one she sold me. Just saying.

Either way. I prefer a normal cookie as I am semi gluten intolerant and I don’t want to eat at GF cuz I don’t want to avoid gluten to the point I’m fully intolerant.

Your shop is cute but I think it needs livening up a little.

Don't get me wrong. All went well on the visit but this place just very lacking in selection overall. I felt the menu was a little too small.

The location is a tad out of nowhere the whole area not a single and then bam there's this tiny coffee shop

But the 4 choices of cookies and no original chocolate chip cookie is just way weird, and while gluten free is great , not everyone wants gluten free or actually can eat gluten free. The ingredients used to make GF actually doesn't agree with some people. They had a few wraps and sandwiches and that's it. Didn't see any of them on display like typical places.

You can see the place is set up for one person to run the shop solo so I guess that's why the menu is a tad small.

If there was music didn't notice it and it wasn't a cozy vibe. Slim long set up and a few tables chairs line both sides of the shop.

Cookie was $4 and nothing epic about it. BREKA cookies are a lot...