Love this place.
Haven't been there in almost a decade, but after reading the recent reviews, it sounds like it's still the same.
It used to be our meeting place. We'd start at "Denny's" (which is the old name for Gene's) we'd have a few $5 Yuengling pitches, then we'd go bar hopping. Most of the time we'd end up back where we started.
Ah, so many memories of staggering out into the cold and walking through South Oakland.
If you've never Ben there, you must make a pilgrimage.