Reviews & Ratings for Andromeda

09/10/08

Very positive experience.

by downtowner33

Just had a tattoo done in their newly opened shop in Brooklyn and I have to say it was a very positive experience. This store is a little smaller than the one on Saint Marks, but the artist were very professional and helpful, just like at the other shop. This location (Noble St & Manhattan Ave) is actually more convenient for me, as I live in Williamsburg and it's in the walking distance from my house.

• Pros: Professional service, good location.
• Cons: I don't think there are any.

09/04/08

Great place to get a tattoo

by matimi

The previous reviewer said Andromeda was tiny, but in fact the place is pretty big. The waiting area is kind of small, but not the tattoo rooms. Plus - it's the tattoo which will stay on your skin forever, so who cares how big the place is;)

I had 3 tattoos done there and absolutely love all of them. The artists are very helpful and talented. I told them what I had in mind and they designed exactly what I wanted.

I've heard they've opened another shop in Greenpoint, but haven't been in that one yet.

• Pros: Talented, knowledgeable artists, cool atmosphere
• Cons: They're pretty busy, so sometimes you have to wait few days for an appointment

07/12/08

This place really deserves NO stars.

by BB616

I don't know about you, but no matter what I am shopping for, I expect to be treated respectfully as a customer. I went into Andromeda for the first time with a friend, to check out their flash books. I have tattoos and so does she, so we were looking to add to them. Within about 2 minutes of being in their closet-sized shop, we were told to "get out" while perusing their hap-hazardly put together clip art examples they consider flash. I have seen reviews on here that say "Yeah, they're rude, but this is New York". Yeah? Well f that. I have nothing good to say about being treated unprofessionally, no matter where it is or what goods are being sold. As for the facts: the place is TINY, disorganized and not worth the effort of walking up the stairs to the entrance.

• Pros: Absolutely none.
• Cons: Fake people trying to be "cool", rude staff, small, unprofessional, pretentious and the list goes on.

03/22/08

Great Tattoos, not so hot piercings

by Redh34d

I've known about Andromeda since I was in high school but never got tattooed until this year. 2 of my 4 sisters, my mom and my brother have all had tattoos done there by Joe Pollak. All of the guys know their stuff about tattooing. The shop may seem a little dingy, but the work is worth the wait and the price is always fair. Definitely recommend getting a tattoo there if you know what you want and you want it done well.

I went to the sister store across the way when I got my industrial done, about 6 years ago. It was a great experience. The woman who did it knew what she was doing and managed to make me relax enough that I didn't even notice she had pierced my ear. I went back this year and had a guy pierce my ear and it was awful. I was getting a mid-cartilage piercing and wanted a half circle for it. He pierced me twice and lost contact both times - it wasn't until the third try using a labret stud instead that he managed to get the earring in and by that point I was in shock and had nearly lost consciousness. If you try the piercing side, ask for Natasha. She knows what she's doing.

• Pros: Great tattoo quality and prices
• Cons: piercings was messy and painful

12/28/07

NEVER go to Andromeda

by midgetchacha

I went to Andromeda for my piercings that was suppose to be from my rook to my daith. I have a lot of piercings and I know my information really well. I know all the parts of the ear and the after care and how the piercings are performed. The women, who pierced me, mis-marked where I wanted it done..till I pointed it out. Then she remarked it and it looked like where I wanted it. Then she used peroxide on the piercings, which you NEVER do. I almost passed out from all the pain and lack of the red liquid (wont let me say it). I looked in the mirror, it was not what I wanted but looked cool. I went home later that day and my brother pointed out that the bottom part of the barbell was pierced into the skin behind my ear. I got upset cause I SAID EAR not the skin! Later that night I was sitting there and I felt a warm liquid running down my neck, I went to wipe it and it was the red liquid. I had to go to another tattoo place to have them remove it. It was a waste of money. I would never go back there again! She claims she has been piercing for 15 years but yet doesn't know her piercing terms, uses peroxide, didn't pierce where I asked, and missed my ear and when into the skin behind my ear lobe. That was the worst piercing experience I ever had. I would recommend never to go there. It was a horrible piercing place. The service was horrendous and the women was very clueless.

• Pros: there are none
• Cons: the peircer was very very horrible with her profession

10/22/07

Cassiopeia on west 8th street,

by nikhed

Never get anything done at Cassiopeia on west 8th street, I know of many people who have gotten infections there. The staff is the rudest Ive ever experienced.

Please make a note of this, and pass the word.

Andromeda has the same owners but I havnt been there..

• Pros: Its close to better tattoo parlors.
• Cons: Infection, rude staff.

05/16/07

best tattoo experience

by laceyjane

Joe is the guy to see if you want to get a tattoo at Andromeda. He'll kid around, give you sh** about anything and everything, but when it boils down to it, he's extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I've gotten 2 tattoos from him and am going to get a third soon. He really works with you to make sure you're getting what you want out of the design, I followed his follow-up care instructions to a tee and never had any issues with healing - healing time was less than 1 week! He's very skilled, does everything possible to make you comfortable.

The studio has a typical St. Marks Place attitude, but underneath that they're friendly guys who really know what they're doing. I haven't heard as good things about their sister store, the piercing place across the hall, but for tattoos, Andromeda is where you want to go.

• Pros: friendly staff, comfortable & clean atmosphere
• Cons: have to put up with St. Mark's attitude

04/17/07

Worst piercing experience ever

by seraphin

There was one tattoo artist at this place who I liked and was helpful. The rest of the experience there was so awful I'd never go back. I had the worst piercing experiences I've ever had or heard of there. The piercer marked and pierced the nipple piercings I got incorrectly. One was horizontal and the other was supposed to be but the piercing was slanted sideways and the depth was inconsistent. After healing I went in and had all of my jewelry changed for gold pieces. I paid a fortune for them and after wearing them for a few weeks - find out they were gold plated. I was told they were solid when I bought them. The gold came off and all of the piercings got infected and were absolutely disgusting. I went back to have them swapped out and the guy who'd originally done the piercings wouldn't do it. He said he hadn't put in the gold pieces and was tired of cleaning up after his coworkers sloppy work and Id have to come back some other day when his coworker was in so he could clean up his own bad work.

I had been going to Andromeda for tattoo work and had two other piercings done there and this was how they treated repeat customers. The piercer was so awful that I never went back there for tattoo work either. Since then I went to Venus Modern Body Arts, they fixed my piercings and I have never had anything but great experiences there.

• Pros: The tattoo artists are nice.
• Cons: Sloppy piercing, Rude, Irresponsible, Poor quality jewelry

02/20/07

so so service

by flying54

I have been to the parlor many times, each time I was there the piercer was friendly and professional, while the people behind the counter were snobby and rude, I will not give my business to a place that snubs there customers. I felt judged for not looking like a pin cushion which was apparent in how long it took to get noticed standing at the counter. A friend of mine had problems with a piercing and a piece of jewelry, when we went to remedy the situation the sales person replied with a smug comment and disregarded the complaint ignoring us until we left. I do not fault all that work there but the atmosphere is unsavory, this business is unworthy of my dollar.

• Pros: piecer
• Cons: sales people

12/15/06

Safe, comfortable and skilled tattoo artists

by ravnwing

Andromada is a great place to go to be tattooed and the staff is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and sure to put you at ease. They quote fair prices for their work, will help design original peices for their customers and most importantly, don't play games. This is a serious place and while they may banter and joke, the staff never failed to treat me with anything but respect and consideration.

Joe Pollack is the artist who did my second tattoo and he is extremely friendly, talkative and knows his stuff. I was lucky that when I walked in to see about setting up an appointment that he had a cancelation and was able to fit me right in. He took my well-being very much in mind, making sure that I'd eaten already. While my stencil was being prepared, he even went out and picked me up an iced coffee so I could have something cool to sip on while he worked. The whole time, he kept up a steady stream of conversation, and kept me distracted enough that he was able to finish the entire tattoo on my ankle without taking a break (nearly two hours). His was efficent and did an excellent job on my tattoo. I left a very happy customer.

When I decided to have some additional work done on the tattoo, I made an appointment with Joe. When he had to change my appointment due to a scheduling issue on his end, he called me himself. Other places might not have bothered to call, and you would not find out that your artist wasn't there until you showed up for your appointment.

This is not the flashiest tattoo place in the world, but it is clean, safe, and professonally run. I would have no qualms about recommending it to my friends (and have done so) and returning there myself when I'm ready for my next peice.

• Pros: Skilled artists, considerate staff, fair prices
• Cons: Serious customers only! Not for wimps or people devoid of humor and who cannot follow instructions.