Genes Café

The only redeeming factor is the view from barney’s rooftop. The coffee is mediocre and grossly overpriced. 7.50 for a latte plus 1.25 to sub for soy milk?! The barista also messed up with our check and when I questioned it had a major attitude about it. She charged us 7.50 for a baguette when we actually had a bagel… When I pointed this out she quickly had the right ticket in her drawer for the 4.50 bagel instead… Seemed fishy to me.

People there are damnly unfriendly. I repeated many times for my order but the black women don’t hear me. She even didn’t know that they have caramel latte.:) that’s ridiculous!!! I was not happy with my coffee then I told her I need it remade. I said I would pay for the new one as well. She then was somehow irritated. She did everything with huge noise to express her anger. I was angrier than her okay? I just don’t understand why this kind of Btch can work there. At least this café is from Barneys and the drinks are much more expensive.
I had such bad experience there.

I needed to update my review as I went there yesterday. my coworker and I both ordered a chinese chicken salad and both of us had stomach aches later. This is the very first time I ordered the chinese chicken salad. I called the manager and she says the chicken is cooked daily. I don’t know what was up with the chicken, but maybe their food storage practices aren’t really much on point as they should be. Maybe it got mixed up with the salad, who knows…
I spoke to the manager and she really had no idea of what to say or do. I think someone should be accountable/​knowledgeable about how the food is stored, etc. She had no clue. So i took away 3 stars because no one wants to wake up with an upset stomach from any café… and at a high end store too… mehhhh.
So my advice is get anything that isn’t immediately perishable ;)

As a self proclaimed tuna fish sandwich connoisseur, I’ve had plenty and Genes is definitely in my top 3! Just the right amount of tuna — mayo — and greens, there is enough tuna without been too fishy. The onion bun is also delicious and compliments the tuna fish without being too overwhelming. It is a bit on the pricer side but it also comes with waffle potato chips and quality over quantity, right?
I’ve also had the chicken Cesar salad (which my bf swears by), avocado toast, and nachos. All equally delicious but I usually stick to my usual.
The actually «café» has an ultra modern design– there is only one large communal table with touch screens where you can shop the barneys website and order from their menu. It’s an interesting concept however I find the touch screen to be temperamental to my touch and have trouble using it at times. There is a nice small patio where you can enjoy lunch in the spring & summer and it always seems to be packed.
The service is excellent! There seems to be only one guy there, Carlos, who is super friendly, nice, and seems to be the only server. I would recommend this café to anyone shopping on the ues or midtown east.

I’m not exactly sure this place is a «secret» but as far as I’m concerned it’s the best kept secret in Barney’s. I’ve been to Fred’s, which is fabulous, but this tiny casual café is more my speed on a day-​to-​day basis. I sat on the balcony where there are about 6 stools facing the west with glimpses of the park. If you’re sitting out there you have to order at the counter and then they’ll bring everything out to you (promptly). A glass of wine and a vegan sandwich came to about $ 30 which seemed perfectly reasonable for the service, quality and view. There were quite a few vegetarian /​vegan options and though I didn’t indulge in their coffee the aroma of the latte next to me was fantastic.

Get the Jewish Boy From Queens Sandwich. It was delicious.
I guess you literally have to press a button every time to call the server over. They don’t just check on you to see if you want your water refilled or something. The sandwich was really good though. Not exactly $ 21 good but maybe $ 17 good. But i guess that’s where you pay for the name/​location. Great spot. Everyone liked their food for the most part.

This is a nice little restaurant at Barney’s 8^th floor in the back that I didn’t know existed. We usually go to Fred’s on the ninth floor but as always they were packed and we decided to cancel our 230 reservation and go down to the eighth floor and Genes. We sat outside on their narrow terrace with the counter and had lunch. Nice views but the chairs were very uncomfortable. The BLT sandwich was excellent and the yellow pea soup was also good, although kind of thick. I would go back.

The tuna sandwich is BOMB. This ain’t no canned tuna with mayo slopped on! The tuna pieces are flaky and large. The bread and veggies fresh and the home made potato chips are addicting!
The soups are also pretty good, all vegetarian though. The personal pan pizza is another one of my favs. The price tag may be a bit steep, but you’re paying for quality and the experience of eating on «the river» aka computer screens!

The restaurant is technologically cool but the food is mediocre at best. The tables are computer screens where you can order your food without speaking to the server but yet, you tip the same amount. It is an interesting concept. Afterwards, you can surf the store while you wait for your food. Fun if you are alone but rude if you are with a friend.
The black bean soup was inedible. It had ZERO taste. I sent it back. The ginger carrot soup had flavor but it tasted out of a can. Silky it wasn’t.
The grilled cheese with ham sandwich was yummy and a large portion but it was $ 18 which is a bit insane for grilled cheese.
My recommendation, investigate the restaurant but then go to Freds one floor up where the food is delicious. Take a look at the view from the terrace before you leave.

Since I’m originally from NYC, I love the opportunity to have a yummy lunch while I’m shopping without having to leave the store. On my last trip to the city, I spent one of my days wandering alone, only to end up having lunch here. Not only do you get to sit at the same table as everyone else, (it’s just one long table) but you order everything off a giant touch screen that’s under the glass table top! After you order, you can surf the web and shop while you wait.
The food might be a little over priced, but c’mon, you’re eating at Barney’s! I would expect nothing less, since the food is definitely delicious.
I will definitely be back.

This was very interesting. At some point in my life, I always imagined that something like this would happen in the distant future, but now that it is happening I felt weird. I imagined that diners will have electronic menus that pop out and all you have to do is make maneuvers in mid air to flip through. This is kind of similar except it’s in Barneys and the technology is not quite there yet. Genes COOP doesn’t have anything that is spectacular or interesting in terms of food, but it’s worth taking a look and their effort to make use of technology and media to boost SALES. You can order coffee, tea, drinks, and light food, while you flip through all the advertisements and shop Barneys online. It was kind of cool because I never saw anything like this before, but it got boring soon enough.
If you are coming here for food, don’t expect much. It is a rip off and everything is below average. But, if you are an avid shopper and you need a time out, I guess this is a good place to sit and check out the new technology. All in all, this is the «new way» to get consumers to spend more money and to subliminally awaken their shopping instincts while eating blah and overpriced food.

Went to Barneys for a shopping trip with friends one night, and ended up eating at the new genes@CO-OP café here. Unfortunately, Fred’s was booked for a private event that night.
Cool Things:
+The table is all touch-​screens that you order your food from, and you can also browse the Barneys website!
+They have a beer and wine!
Not so cool things:
+Food just wasn’t that great. A bit dry. I was expecting better from Barneys (hey, not all of us are models!)
+The touch-​screen table gets really warm, which is not a good thing if you order, say, a cold beer
+Feels a bit like a cafeteria
I’m not going to address price. If you’re shopping at Barneys, it shouldn’t be an issue.
All in all, I don’t think the café lives up to the expectations one has of it being a café at Barneys Madison Ave. However, it would be great for a glass of wine or two after an exhausting day of shopping!

I get it. Barneys, with its first floor of extremely high end designer filled purses, is intimidating to enter for the average New Yorker. But do whatever you need to feel confident and make your way up to the 8^th floor. There you will find what I think is such an extremely cool concept café worth visiting. Do it during the heavy sale periods in January and June/​July, when things come down to an affordable price on the upper floors. It’s just a cool concept that I think will catch on.
It’s not that the coffee is better. It’s pretty good, don’t get me wrong. It’s not that various desserts weren’t artfully crafted. They are. You won’t remember any of that. All you’ll remember is that you sat down at a table that is a super large Ipad and shopped or surfed after ordering on-​line. The single waiter that servers the entire establishment is super nice and professional.
Is it affordable like a café? No. Izzy drinks are $ 4.00 and coffee or tea will run you $ 3.50. A fruit plate (smallish) is $ 12.00. The bar snacks range from $ 8 – 12. If you’re on the cheap, just get the muster and pretzel. It’s a solid execution and under $ 10. We did a bit of splitting of many different items (all mentioned above). Delicious. But like I said, it’s really all about the fact your eating on an ipad.
Oh… it is a bit confusing, though it should be obvious to those younger than I. On the top right you’ll see something that says Key. That will give you the keyboard. if you place both fingers down and slide them down or up without lifting you’ll be able to scroll up or down.
This place is going on my hide and seek list because
1. it’s located on the 8^th floor, which is the «co-​op floor» men’s side,
2. Says «tuxedos and special alterations on the sign.
3. It’s not on the lady’s side of Barneys
4. It doesn’t have a name that sounds like a café, even though it says café on the sign.
Also, it’s going on my list for non-​alcoholic meet ups as its definitely a quiet place to sit and talk to friends or «others».
Definitely go and try it!
Oh… if you wear my size; can you please wait to try this place after sale season… there is still one more markdown before everything goes to the warehouse sale.
Enjoy!