arked on the corner between Main Street and Kingsway, the wedge-shaped Gene Café has a lot of natural assets. Among them are a great location, massive windows, and enormous people-watching potential. More discerning passers-by may have been wondering why the half-finished interior was, well, half finished; with painter’s tape is still stuck to the wall and a bit of dust here and there, the quixotic spot is basically open for public consumption.

Instead of rushing the finished product and stocking the joint with Ikea ready-made, Gene is coming into its own in Main Street fashion (read, day by day), which is a relief because this little café is situated very close to my front door.

The stark white interior may be a turn-off for those seeking a cozy place to hunker down, but the quality is in the details, such as a massive scalene triangle table made from an amalgamation of old doors, and cool chrome finishing. “It needs some finessing, obviously, but it’s good - it’s coming along,” said Graham, a customer and former barista who gave Gene two thumbs up. “I really like the location, and I like the windows, but they need to add some colour, I think it’s going to be a great, tight little coffee shop when it’s done,” added Steve, who stopped in for a morning java.

My Casa del Café Americano was great – snappy and nutty with a fine body. It was made with just the right amount of water, but my experience at the cream and sugar station was less than savoury. The milk and cream receptacles are bound to be an issue, as their flimsy flip tops do little to pour in a steady manner. After I tipped about half the milk jug into my Americano, the handkerchief-clad barista, who had yet to smile or say hello, pointed out a tiny, hand-written posting stuck to the spoon bin and hidden behind the cream - “Cream and milk jugs pour out fast.”

Oh.