I had moved from Bergen Beach about 8 years ago. While I lived there, I had gone to David James a number of times for hair cuts--always great service. The day before my wedding (almost 8 years ago), I went to David James for a massage and a mani-pedi with my mom and sister--top notch service. I haven't been there in 8 years with the exception of getting gift cards and jewelry around christmas (BEAUTIFUL selection of jewelry, as well as handbags).
I had gone onto Groupon one day and they were offering a deep tissue massage at David James for more than half the price. I snatched it up right away!! A day or two later they had a Groupon for a spa mani-pedi for 1/2 the price as well. I had a wonderful previous experience at David James so I was excited!
I had called to make an appointment to use my Groupons and was told that for the Groupons they were only doing the services on certain days and they were booked up until the expiration day, BUT would extend the groupon for another few weeks to accomodate me....which was very nice. Which is why I gave them 3 stars instead of 2 stars. Let me explain my rating of only 3 stars:
2 stars on Yelp means: Meh---I've experienced better.
3 stars on Yelp means: A-OK.
My experince at David James was "Good for the Price Paid". So A-OK for the price. If I was paying full price for the services I experienced, I would not have been too happy.
Deep tissue massage:
First off...this has NOTHING to do with the lovely woman who did my massage and my nails. She was very friendly and this is NOT her fault, BUT, let's be honest, David James Day Spa--She is NOT a professional masseusse!! I've had enough massages in my lifetime to know what a real professional massage feels like! She is a nail tech--a really good one--but not a masseuse. She didn't even know to put the pillow roll under my legs. I go to Mimi's Nails and Angel Gift Nails in Bay Ridge. Sometimes they offer a quick back massage for $10. It feels good, but you know it's not professional. So in conclusion, I did enjoy the massage, but would I ever go back and and pay $90? No Way. For $40--yes. I'd go to the Green Spa or Cavali Tonuzi...where they give REAL massages.
Oh--and hearing a ticking timer throughout my treatment with a loud--and I mean LOUD alarm going off at the end wasn't a nice touch!! LOL
Now, do I think your spa offers REAL massages? Yes, but I think you cheaped out for the Groupon customers, which is very dissapointing. If I were someone who had never been to your salon/spa....I would NOT come back again for a massage.
Also, the spa is nothing special. You guys need to take a trip to some other spas to get some ideas. I was not even given a robe or slippers or offered water or anything, that was a first!
"SPA" mani-pedi:
Let me start off by saying that 99.9% of the time, I get my nails done in a NAIL salon where they have spa chairs with massaging backs, whirlpool foot baths ,nail dryers, and a large selection of colors. They are also 1/2 the price of what spas charge--and do an excellent job at what they do.
So, although the woman who did my nails at David James did a wonderful job, I was missing those extra touches that Mimi's or Angel Gift's have. David James just had a bench you sit on, with dirty pillows (clean them or get some new ones) and you put your feet in a sink of water. The spa mani-pedi to me, was no different than a regular mani-pedi, except they put some sort of mask on your legs and some extra jelly stuff on your hands. But, I wasn't going to complain because the price was good and the woman did a good job.
But seriously, someone at David James needs to visit a nail salon to see what a "SPA" pedicure is all about and raise your standards a bit. You do say you're a spa, don't you? Why would anyone pay the prices you charge when they can go to a really nice nail salon, pay a bit less and get a lot more treatment. At the nail salons I've been to, you not only get a mask on your legs, you get to PICK the scent of your mask, your feet are in a scented whirlpool foot bath, and you receive a hot stone massage and a lotion massage that lasts about 10 minutes. It also includes a parrafin wax heel treatment. Also, where are the nail dryers???? After my mani-pedi, which did come out BEAUTIFUL, the nail tech said "where do you want to sit to dry"? Um...you guys don't have dryers?? Oh no, they don't!! I sat for 15 minutes next to dirty pillows, watching tv, blowing on my nails with my breath. They were still very tacky when I left....they had a "spray"oil which didn't work. And my nails never really dried and when I woke up in the morning they had the creases from my sheets. What a waste! I now have to go to the nail place by me and get a color change.
All in all, for the price, it was decent...but I will not be returning...except maybe for some jewelry... read more