I've been going here for a few months now. Needed a manicure before a client meeting one day and even tho I usually do one like once a month or once every two months I didn't have the time to fix chipped nail polish so I ran over here during my lunch hour.
Service here is impeccable. They are thoughtful, kind, the ambiance and feel of this place is amazingly peaceful and it's super duper clean. All the things you need in a spa. They've even got some sort of sound proofing thing going on because whenever I've come here there hasn't been traffic noise - it's truly a peaceful oasis in an otherwise frantically crowded neighborhood.
That being said, I've now come here a few times. My manicure have always been ooookaaaaaay. But I return because it's a wonderful experience. You lie down, there are comfy pillows, almost an eerie silence with very calming music playing overhead and it always smells lovely. It's a great way to spend a lunch hour and kind of recharge your batteries after a rough morning.
This past visit (probably like my 5th or 6th - I don't always remember to check in) my manicure really wasn't okay. It was bad. I hate having to do things like ask for the nail file and file my own nail after someone makes it significantly shorter and files it into a crooked square shape...when I try to keep my nails a nice medium length (rather than short :-/) and I was clear about wanting a more rounded square. I had to fix a few after I was done...I also had to ask for my (very attentive) nail tech to paint the sides where she would miss a lot of my nail...having to fix some left some nails darker than others. She also did one coat of the deep blood red polish I chose and then a top coat. Any polish, especially darker colors require a minimum of 2 coats. This is pretty common nail polish knowledge.
She was so nice and I was nice about it but after paying and getting to my office I was pretty horrified at how my nails looked. They were all really weird. Lots of marks, lots of unnecessary thickness, some air bubbles - I was pretty upset.
There's also usually a brief complimentary back rub done afterwards which is a really nice treat and something I got used to the previous times I've come here which makes the experience worth coming back for considering every mani I've had here has been ooookay. Yesterday's was not okay. There are photos. Today I've got two nail polishes where the polish has chipped from just typing at work...my normal Astoria spot manicures generally last me 3 weeks.
I'll probably return sometime for a couples massage or something as I mentioned my fondness for this place to my husband, but I don't know if I'd come back for another manicure. I don't do my nails that often and I need consistency...plus it hurts to spend money on something that's meant to treat myself and the final result is something I could have done to myself 100% better. I felt like I had to kind of hide my hands during my client meeting. Again, I've had good experiences here and not let frustrated so 3 stars for A okay. Ooookaaaay. read more