There's no coffee in this Coffeeshop

Strangely enough, there is no coffee on the menu despite the sign that reads “Genny’s Coffeeshop." Not that you’d be able to see the sign, unless you somehow manage to spot it behind the water tank. The coffee shop is right across the construction on the corner of Makati avenue and Kalayaan, the one that doesn’t seem to be making any progress past the foundation.

It’s best to bring your favorite enemy, the person who always disagrees with you but loves you anyway. Genny’s isn’t actually a date place, but the wealth of fodder for arguments is too good a bond-strengthening opportunity to pass up. If you don’t have a significant other, any insignificant other will do. When going to unfamiliar places, having company is good for a number of things, including safety, conversation, and of course, splitting the bill. What to order The menu is literally plain as paper, and it looks like something your mom might stick on your refrigerator door. It lacks the visual appeal that most restaurants use to make your mouth water – no artfully taken photographs of dishes, no frilly names. The menu isn’t even organized according from appetizers to desserts – it’s organized by day, and it’s printed weekly. It looks like the product of a thoroughly planned budget. Every day, you can be sure of at least one vegetable dish, one soup dish, one chicken dish, one pork dish, one beef dish, and one seafood dish. There is also always something for merienda, and dessert seems to be standard all year round: Leche Flan (P15) or Suman with Latik (P20). Obviously, this is not a place to satisfy your sweet tooth’s craving for variety, or adventure. The thing about Genny’s is the food is usually gone by lunchtime, as they make deliveries to the nearby offices. This is what happened when I went there, which was around four in the afternoon on a Monday. Had I arrived in the morning, I could have chosen from ½ Fried Chicken with Rice and Salad or Pancit (P70), Nilagang Pork Spareribs with Rice (P60), Chicken Mechado With Rice (P55), Sinigang na Ulo at Buntot ng Tanigue sa Miso With Rice (P55), Pritong Isda (P55), Sliced Pork in Bell Pepper with Rice (P55), Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice (P60), Beef Estofado With Rice (P60). Garlic Chinese Pechay with Rice (P30), or Pancit Bihon (30 pesos), or Ensaladang Singkamas, Carrots, Pipino, at Labanos (P20). However, all that was left was Beef Estofado. And of course, there was beer. I asked for the Beef Estofado and a beer. The waiter is a young boy with an unsure look on his face and gel in his short spiky hair. He looks as if he is at home and a stranger has just intruded into his television time. Which is not to say that he looked bothered, just confused. It may have had something to do with my asking about vegetable dishes. As a vegetarian, I am used to this. But what do I do with the Beef Estofado? Well, it looked like it could be delicious. What to do But how would I know? Fortunately, I was with my alcoholiday buddy, whom I shall simply refer to as AB to protect him from becoming immortalized as an alcoholic. He hates Makati, so to get him to agree to make the tedious trip into the mean concrete business district, I bribed him with free food and beer. Of course, this turned out to be necessary since I couldn’t eat the Beef Estofado and I needed a carnivore’s opinion for an article I was writing about Genny’s. I did eat the banana though, and although I’m not a pineapple pizza person, I thought it was alright as far as fruit in savory dishes go. According to AB, the Beef Estofado is yummy, but only if it’s less than fifty pesos. He consumed the food in less than five minutes. AB is not a big eater, so when he eats without prodding, I’m sure it’s good. What to look at Having settled the food issue, we proceeded to argue about the ambiance. I love it, while AB short of hated it. He argued that the collection of liquor should’ve been fixed nicely instead of relegated to a random shelf in an obscure corner. I told him not everyone has an altar for alcohol. He argued that the space wasn’t properly utilized. I argued that the tables being round were good feng shui (supposedly it makes conversation flow easily) and the place was cozy, not cramped. Before he could remind me that I’m not Chinese, a small saucer of complimentary peanuts arrived at our table, and we were happy. Beer is served ice-cold most of the time, but in case it’s not, they give you ice in a bowl with a spoon instead of prongs. The ice is fresh from the plastic – the kind they put soft drinks in. I know, because I almost swallowed a bit of the plastic. This would normally turn me off, but for some reason, Genny’s had charmed me. The kitchen, wash area, and the two television sets are in full view of customers. By the door, there are newspapers for customers to borrow, and a tray of condiments arranged military style. The bottles are not sticky, and just for that I’m pretty sure I won’t get sick from the food here. What I like about Genny’s is they really make you feel at home. The checked tablecloths come in either red, yellow, or blue, and they try to match the grills which are painted in the same colors. I say try to because the shades are a bit off, and the result is a kind of dissonance. The place is decorated with memorabilia like framed newspaper articles, radio station stickers (RJ 100, which is a few buildings away), and ashtrays from all over (the one on our table was from River Rock Casino, Alexander Valley). The capiz yellow lamps overhead make everyone look better. And then there’s the staff. There is a pleasant-looking woman in an apron, and the waiter, who, after I ordered the Beef Estofado and settled for peanuts as my vegetarian dish, relaxed. He would clear the table and change our ashtray regularly. I suspect he has OCD. I make a trip to the washroom, which has running water, toilet paper, and soap. It is no Philippe Starck creation, but it’s clean. As we leave, the pleasant-faced woman calls after us to come back soon. Pleasant makeover That was two years ago. On my return visit recently, I got the feeling something about the place had changed. It took me about ten seconds to realize that the place had had a makeover. The walls were no longer can’t-be-bothered-with-paint grey, and the whole place seemed warmer, in a good way. The paint they chose was a nice peach shade, and it gave the place a sunny ambiance, even if it was seven in the evening when I went there. The owner was present, bustling about the tables. The waiters were equally attentive, if not downright fussy. Seriously, where have you seen a table with an ashtray for each smoker? Which brings us to the first thing about Genny’s. If you’re looking for airconditioning, this is not the place to go. If you enjoy dining in the cool evening air, and don’t mind smoke coming at you from all directions, then go right ahead and give Genny’s a try. While my friends were eating beef tapa, which the waiter recommended we try, we saw Daria Ramirez. Who is Daria Ramirez? That is an excellent question, and the answer is if you don’t have to ask, you really should go to Genny’s. It’s charming in an old-fashioned way, with its collection item posters and its sixties fashion house, and Sunday radio music. I’d be lying if I said the tapa was excellent, because all I tried was the atchara, and was not unpleasantly surprised. Instead of the typical atchara which is somewhat crunchy, theirs was fluffy and the texture was close to baby food. The tapa looked appetizing. In fact, as they were coking it, the smell wafted over to our table, and for a moment, we actually closed our eyes and inhaled. “Amoy pa lang masarap na," said my friend, who incidentally, is named Jenny. “Pwede ka nang poster girl ng Genny’s," we joked. “Amoy pa lang, busog ka na," said my other friend who will remain anonymous as his name does nothing for this story. “Just add rice, solb na." And other similar jokes ensued. Pardon us for our serious lack of funny, but you have to understand. We were hungry. So it was fortunate for us that the tapa arrived shortly. That’s another thing about Genny’s: the service is quick, it’s like fastfood, without all the grease. The tapa, I observed, was not black like tapa sometimes is. Instead, it was a nice glazed brown, and I was told it was chewy, and yes, true to its smell, delicious. Of course, I had to see the washroom. It was nice to see that it had been included in the makeover operation. Just like the first time I was there, it was stocked with soap and tissue paper, and there was running water, and it was clean. The only difference was a bunch of decorative plants, and a new light bulb. We left the place to a chorus of Thank you, come back anytime! I hope they meant it, because we really will be back. - YA, GMANews.TV Genny’s is located at 4768 Mariano St. in Makati City, Tel. 8979899