10 tattoos later, I am really one piece of work now! I am feeling very fortunate to have found just the right artist, Lucky Matthews, who has done all of my tattoos, each one an original piece of art based on a idea and/or image that I have brought to him, or his own original concepts. He is a master black and grey worker, and all of my pieces are exceptional in their line work, shading and rendering. I could not be happier. A friend of mine recently told me that I am a walking coffee table book now. That is a huge compliment, right? Maybe it was a veiled diet tip... I am stopped everyday and asked who does my ink. Only one guy for me. Check out Lucky's Instagram @ #luckdangit and you will see what I mean. Do it. You know you want to. read more

we're so rude and didn't wanna tattoos us and complete over charged for a small tattoo wouldn't recommend to anyone

i came in for two small tattoos in june and worked with jason. i showed my two designs, very simple line work (one tattoo was a word, the second a set of three numbers). the experience itself was okay and i appreciated that he worked with me through the back and forth on placements. final results were fine though ridiculously overpriced ($300... for a five letter word and some numbers). i went in for a touch up a few months later for the numbers, as there we unfilled areas of the tattoo. jason was very quick to defend himself saying "i never have to do touch ups, ive only done 6 in my 30 years" etc etc. i made it very clear that i wanted to preserve the tattoos, its size and its font. he said he could do that. one month later with my tattoo healed, it looks drastically different from what i originally got. after calling to discuss it and just share what i was seeing, i was met with a very inconsiderate, condescending, man-splaining explanation where i was told to just "live with it" and that its "my problem." he threw back in my face that he's been tattooing for so long and that he doesn't even really do small tattoo work. professionalism was thrown out the window and i would never trust someone like that to work on me. kindness and respect are very basic things to be offered to clients especially when that is what's being given. i would go to a basement tattoo guy before i went back to this place. read more

I've been coming here a few years and it's not bad. Reasonable prices and good communication. read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Ink Star - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

I came here for my first tattoo in 2018 im only writing this now because I've gotten a second tattoo and now I know better. When I got this tattoo the man that did it did not give me anything to care for it with. No cream, not the plastic wrap thing nothing. So my wrist tattoo did not heal properly & there's patches in the tattoo. I'm am going to get this tattoo covered up though because it's patchy and did not heal correctly. He did it and sent me on my way, I remember asking how do I care for it and he told me just put oil, so I did and still didn't heal correctly....my sister just went and I guess because she's tattooed all over they did hers right, took advantage of me because I didn't know what I was doing. My fault I guess. read more

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My mom, sister and I all came together without an appointment and were each able to get our work done pretty quickly. Receptionist was friendly and fine. They each had small touch-ups with Lucky and that went great. I had a new tattoo, however, with Esben. I had the drawing already, a very simple delicate design and it seemed fine while being done. He was friendly and seemed quite experienced. Unfortunately, the design of a heart, made of small dots, became very blurred, making a delicate design really unattractive. Then an effect he tried of "highlighting" the heart also is blurry, and ultimately I'm going to have to have the whole tattoo covered up. I'm really disappointed and wish that he'd known (or said) that doing this style of delicate work is not something he's good at. read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Price- About 125-150 per hour How to get there (car) - South Huntington to the End. Left on Centre street and its about a quarter mile down on the right side. (bus) 39 goes from Back Bay towards Forrest Hills. Take this just past the MSPCA. You can get off and make a left on Perkins street. You will walk right into it after you cross the mini round about. So, I found this place on yelp. Based on all the awesome reviews I decided to check it out. Ros at the front desk was very helpful and friendly to me when deciding on my artist. I looked through all the books and decided on Lucky. He had some very detailed animals which was perfect for my Monkey Tattoo (see the pictures for this place). This was my third tattoo and first that involved color. Lucky wasn't the best communicator through email which was unfortunate due to my need for computer use. When I showed up for my tattoo he wanted one more in person consultation before doing the actual tattoo. I didn't mind this at all. It showed the artist really wanted to know what the customer wanted before doing the tattoo. This is very important when it comes to permanent body art. That night the owner Ram (very nice guy) took me across the street to grab food at a Cuban restaurant. He definitely didn't have to do that but i thought it was a nice gesture. While most of my friends do not have tattoos, and I received a great deal of ridicule over it, nobody was able to talk down the quality of work. Then those with tattoos were all very impressed on the tattoo as a whole. I waited three weeks to post this just to make sure it healed up right. I was surprised when Lucky told me to primarily use soap and water after the bacitracin for one day. But it worked. My tattoo is bright and colorful. read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Squirrel Monkey on Calf woo hoo (Artist Lucky) - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Their professionalism is beyond compare. The reason I came here was because their receptionist or manager Cynthia replied to my email very quickly and were very educational as this was my first tattoo. She referred me to their artist Esben who I 100% recommend. I was very impressed with how much he listened to my idea of what I wanted and put in so much effort into making my image come to life. He made me feel very comfortable throughout the whole process from the consultation to the moment I walked out the door! He is so much fun to talk to I can't wait to get my next one! read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

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It's taken me a few weeks to write this review because the place has a great reputation and was recommended by a friend. I came in for a birthday tattoo of a small sparrow on my foot. The staff was a little rude, but that's to be expected at a tattoo shop when you're getting something small. I showed the artist several images and photographs of the tattoo and when he was completed I was devastated. I hoped it was just the initial shock but it's only gotten worse as it healed. I'm getting it removed next week but I wanted to post a warning to anyone wanting to get a similar tattoo. This is not the place for you. read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Working with Chad on my latest piece was a great experience. Chad is super talented with the needle. I also appreciated the time he took to discuss my idea. I'm looking forward to working with him in the future! read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Chad's bonsai styled maple tree - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

The place is awesome, but I do NOT recommend working with Esben. He showed up an hour late, had me wait another half hour, then when he called me in and showed me the design we had worked on before (a very simple, small black text tattoo) it was clear he hadn't made the edits I had asked him to when we had first met the week before. I had provided clear specifications with measurements etc. and he had assured me that it would all be ready when I came in. Mind you we had had only very pleasant conversations before this, so when I kindly asked for him to make the same small adjustments I had already asked for, I was surprised when he got a little cold with me. Eventually he grew more polite and said, "Because this is going to be permanent, just let me know if there's anything at all you'd like tweaked before we get started. We can go back and forth a million times, because it's your body and we want to make sure it's perfect!" I thought that we were back on good terms then, but when I asked him to move the location of the tattoo a bit, he said, "Really? You want me to do it again?!" Right after he'd just said that was okay!! So I repeated yes please, and he did it after rolling his eyes at me. This happened one more time and by then his attitude was all the way negative ("I think it looks fine, I don't know why you want to change it again, but fine I'll do it. Are you SURE you'll like it after I change it? You're REALLY sure?") after I had only asked for the same edits I'd already given him beforehand, and after I asked for 2 location adjustments!! By then even the friend I brought with me who's had tons of tattoos done at Fat Ram's was like, "Yeah he's being super rude, this isn't normal." In the end he did a good job, but I would never work with him again. read more

Perhaps I should elaborate- I asked Alex to draw up a picture of my dog riding a skateboard to tattoo on my foot. It was thought out sooo well (he even did research on the anatomy of dogs, panthers, and skateboarders to get the drawing perfect) and beautifully executed. I sat with him for three hours and I feel comfortable saying he is one of the best people I have ever met. I always see members of the Fat Ram crew hanging out around JP and I kinda feel like Mel from "Flight of the Conchords" because I treat them like celebrities but also sort of like I'm an obsessive friend. *Pulls on the skin of my neck* Ull ull ull But I'm going to warn you: I've talked to a few people who decided to ditch Fat Ram because, when trying to set up an initial appointment, they were treated poorly and intimidated by one of the guys who works there. Don't let that one guy get you down because, between as the saying goes, "One dude (who doesn't do tattooing) does not a Fat Ram Pumpkin Tattoo make." read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - not the best of angles and the flash doesn't do it justice but my sweet tattoo!! thanks, alex! - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

I got a full sleeve done years ago and was happy with the work and the experience. Cant say that this time around. I was told to send the shop an email with my tattoo idea and to schedule a consultation appointment. After waiting weeks I never heard back. So I called to make sure they received my email. When I called all I got was "We're busy" then a hang up. Definitely never going back there. read more

My mom and I had matching tattoos done by Roz at a different shop years ago, my mom has since passed away and I was looking to get a memorial piece done for her but wasn't sure where to go or who to go to.... until I stumbled across Roz's Instagram. In just a few emails describing what I wanted(a fall scene and a robin) and some reference photos, she drew the most perfect tribute to my mom I could have ever imagined, she was so helpful with placement suggestions and ideas on how to tie in the other tattoos I have on that arm. The shop is clean, bright, and all the staff I interacted with were super nice and friendly, I would 1000 times over recommend Roz and this shop to anyone looking for a tattoo whether it's your first or fiftieth. read more

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My experience here was awesome. I had 4 appointments within a few months to work on a tattoo with Ram, who was amazing and friendly. I spent a lot of time there getting to chat with other artists, staff members, and clients - it's really a fun and comfortable place to hang out! Needless to say, Ram's work was better than I expected. I am not only going back there at some point in the future, I'm also recommending them to anyone who's looking to get a tattoo. Everyone was friendly and professional the entire time. As far as the few negative ratings - it seems that people didn't do their research (re: times, availability, or how things work) or are hyper sensitive/high maintenance. It's a tattoo shop... take it down a peg. read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Knitted tree done by Fat Ram - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Yo!!! Esben is AMAZING!!! Cool as a fan to talk to while he did amazing work on my half sleeve! Looking forward to finishing and moving on to the next piece(s)!! Highly recommend him!!! read more

I love this place. First thing that stole my heart was the attitude of anyone who sits at the front desk: Professional, extremely approachable, and very knowledgeable. The shop itself is very clean and spacious, lots of really incredible flash on the walls to look at while you're waiting. I've gotten 2 of my tattoos done here and they were both executed perfectly and healed completely evenly. One of them was based on a drawing taken out of my sketchbook and the artist (I believe he was visiting) altered it to be appropriate for a tattoo but still maintained exactly what I wanted. Would always recommend Pumpkin to anyone looking for a great experience getting some ink whether it's your first time or your 50th! read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Completely healed - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Amazing. I can't say anything bad about them. I had a small peice done but at no point did I feel it was unimportant to them. There was a small scheduling snafu, but they did everything possible to fix it and were very apologetic about it. The consultation with Alex was great and he made me feel very confident. I wanted a flower and he was the right artist for the job. I had checked out his work on the webpage and I recommend everyone checks out the work of the artist to choose the best fit for them. Alex did an amazing job on the tattoo. He was friendly and I felt comfortable and confident in his abilities the entire time. He did a perfect job and made sure to listen to what I wanted so I got a tattoo I love. It isn't cheap. But it isn't overpriced. You are paying for great services. read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Just after it was done. A gladiolus behind my right ear. Done by Alex 5/23/10 - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

A unique tattoo parlour, with friendly and professional service. I wanted an eternal knot (Buddhist symbol) and the artist did a wonderful job, detail oriented and precise. He also offered his own opinion and added some shading, which looks great! Its been about 3 years now since I got the tattoo, and it hasn't faded. Very satisfied with their work, and if I am ever in Boston, will have to go and visit, and perhaps get more ink! read more

Got my first tattoo by Kamal-/ creative, kind, and imaginative. Great experience from the minute I booked the appointment to the tattoo follow up. read more

I've gotten 3 tattoos done here as walk ins and have never had a problem. The staff is always super friendly and helpful whenever I go in. Last night I had a tattoo done and the staff stayed late to make sure I got tattooed. It needed some touching up this morning, came in and they touched it up right up for free with no questions asked. Yeah they're expensive but you get what you pay for. If you can't afford to pay a decent price then stay home and save up. Exactly happy with all of my tattoos. PS love Fred. He's awesome read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Tattoo that needed to be touched up after the touch up - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

First off, reception was super nice and easy to make an appointment with. Got a tattoo on Saturday from Lucky who I had met with a week prior to look at what I wanted. I sent him pictures and he wrote down exactly what I wanted (which was an orchid as the center with some other little flowers surrounding it on my forearm) to make his own personal design just for me. On the day of my appointment, he showed it to me and it couldn't have been more perfect. He really listened to what I wanted and made sure I was 100% happy and comfortable with it. He's very patient. Took about 2 hours from start to finish. Reasonably priced and will def be coming here for touchups! read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Well, a little over a year ago..I embarked on a journey..a journey during which I added some serious embellishment to my backside. This embellishment was executed beautifully at Fat Ram's. It was my tattoo initiation, and it was amazing. I felt very comfortable and secure. Darlene was my artist, who is not there any longer. I had 2 sessions, one for my outline and the second for color. Each session was 3 hours long, which I endured rather well for being a first timer. My tattoo is on the lower left part of my back. Darlene did a great job on the colors, which I get complimented on the most! Very clean lines and style. Very clean setup..and ORGANIZED..which I loved. They also played some good metal while I was in there, which helped distract me from the pain of having a portion of the tattoo done over my spine. During my shading session, the guy across from me who was having a huge back piece done was writhing in pain and was in amazement as he watched me just laying there texting on my phone as the needles poked and prodded my back...thankfully I have a strong tolerance for pain..or at least I'm good at hiding it!!! The other artists came over and commended Darlene on her work and were very nice. Overall, this shop has a great knack for art and how they turn that art into tattoos. I will definitely be making an appointment with one of the other artists when I am ready for my next tattoo...since I am addicted..thanks for everything Fat Ram's! read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - Done by Darlene 7/08 - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Great shop great artists great rates all around great experiences. Will go back for years to come. read more

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I love this place went there this morning and had lucky. Today was a walk in day I got there at 945 by 1015 am I was already good to go and out the door by 1115. I figured I get there early because walk in days are so busy ( one time I waited 7 hours but worth it) Lucky is great, professional and his lines are impeccable in outlining. Ive never had a bad tattoo there, it's always lucky or chad I get and wouldn't want it any other way because both are fabulous!! Thank you once again lucky your the best! See you soon read more

I really wish I could have gotten the 5 star experience that most people have gotten but alas...I'll just tell my story and leave it at that. I went in on impulse to get a quote tattooed on my forearm. I had been researching Melissa Baker for over a year. I went in and she wasn't available...actually she was waiting for a client (that never showed up) so she was able to fit me into their space. I showed her where I wanted my quote and what I wanted quoted and she said ok. We looked up various fonts on dafont.com and each one I liked was met with a reason as to why that wouldn't work so finally I let her choose the one she thought was best. It was generic, I hated it but this was my mistake for letting it go on. She placed the tattoo, tattooed it and that was it. Nothing creative. Just copying that printed quote from the font website right on my arm. Okay no problem, she never stated this was her specialty. I knew she faired beautifully doing mandala style tattoos which I wanted for a cover up. I ended up booking her for that, and since she was booked far out, we decided on a date a few months away. They require a deposit which is standard. It was $100 in cash and in return I got a teeny little piece of paper to save the date. (I wish I knew that I was supposed to keep this piece of paper in mint condition) When the date approached, I got an alert reminding me and had a conflict so I called to cancel. The person who answered the phone said "okay I don't see any appointment with your name in here." I asked if he was sure. Repeated my name. Nothing. We checked other dates incase there was a mix up. Nothing. I thought that was weird but it didn't matter because I was cancelling. He told me that they have to refund my money in person and I have to come in to pick up my deposit but the manager has to be the one to give it to me. I said ok, cool no problem. Maybe two weeks later I finally made it in to grab my deposit. I was told the manager wasn't in and I had to come back another time. I called the next time to find out when he'd be available. I was told the manager's schedule and when they are usually in. So I waited and came back into the shop during that time. This time, there was a different person at the front, and when they called the manager out, it was the same guy who was in the shop the first time (the one who told me I had to come back when the manager was in) So i said, "you're the manager? you told me to come back before cause the manager wasn't in" and was met with "Im sorry I don't remember that but I am the manager" I was told that they couldn't give me my deposit back because I ghosted my appointment. I said that is impossible. I had called to cancel, I explained the whole ordeal. They said, you had an appointment on (such and such) and you missed it, no call no show. The irony was, the date he stated was the day I actually came in to get my innicial tattoo as a walk in client and the OTHER girl that was booked didn't show up so I (once again a WALK IN CLIENT) was able to take her place. We went back and fourth about this but it ended with them telling me I'm assed out. Despite this being their mistake, whomever their receptionist was clearly mixed me up and didn't take my name down correctly but was able to take my money. So I personally think this place's customer service is terrible, their organization is terrible, their artists are obviously choosey with what clients they want to display their actual talents on and all in all I'm unimpressed. I'll let you guys decide but you've been warned. read more

Absolutely incredible artists that really care about making sure you have the best tattoo possible, I got 2 incredible tattoos from Fred and another from lucky. If you want the best quality tattoo and for a good price fat Rams is your best option. read more

I would like to preface this review by saying that I have several tattoos, so this was NOT my first tattoo experience, nor was this even my first tattoo AT FAT RAM'S. I'd previously been tattooed twice there, by Alex, who no longer works there. Both times were great experiences -- Alex is an amazing artist, and I love the tattoos he did. It was a very relaxed atmosphere, and I felt very comfortable. Whenever people would ask where I got them done, I would tell them Fat Ram's, and that I highly recommended them. THAT STOPS TODAY. Two friends and I went in for a walk-in appointment at Fat Ram's today at noon (a Sunday). I would first like to say that the guy who works the front counter is a total jerk. He was condescending and rude. My friends and I explained that we were adding to some tattoos we already had (of a string of letters/numbers.) We were told to have a seat, and about 20 minutes later, I was told to head back and talk to the tattoo artist (I think it was Ed Powell) about the font. Both he and the counter guy were really aggressive with me, explaining that there was absolutely NO WAY the font was going to match (a basic typewriter font), and that even the same artist who did the original tattoo couldn't guarantee that. I tried to explain that between the first tattoo and the addition, there were only 3 characters that overlapped, so as long as those somewhat matched, and the new letters were in a similar style with similar spacing, it shouldn't be a problem. However, they both seemed much more interested in telling me what they COULDN'T do, rather than what they could do. About 20 minutes later, Ed came out to trace the font of the tattoo we already had, and then went in the back room to work on the design. He came back out with something that wasn't even remotely close to the style of lettering we already had, AND he had actually copied one of the lines down incorrectly. He didn't seem to care. While we were in the middle of discussing how to proceed, he just walked away, which effectively ended the "appointment." I certainly understand what they were trying to tell us -- that there was going to be some variation in the letterforms, etc. But Ed wasn't even TRYING to give us something similar. He drew up some bullshit in the back in his own lettering style, with absolutely no concern for what we had asked for. Basically, there are some huge egos running around that shop. I honestly have no idea how Ram's will continue to stay in business if this is how they treat clients. REPEAT clients! It was a thoroughly disappointing/maddening experience. I will NEVER recommend Ram's to ANYONE. In fact, I will be telling people NOT to go there, unless you don't MIND being treated like total crap. read more

I would like to be a returning customer, but after this phone call I'm not really sure. So I just called fat rams just to figure out their hours.. I have no clue who I spoke to on the phone, but I was not impressed. The phone call was 17 seconds long. I asked about hours and then right away without saying a word was told "there's no time for walk-ins today, okay" then he hung up. I understand it's a tattoo shop and you're busy, but seriously? That alone turned me off from fat rams. What if I wanted to schedule an appointment? What if I had other questions? Get your phone etiquette together, please. I think I'll stop giving raved reviews to people when they ask about the ink I've already got. read more

Just got my first tattoo here and it was a good experience! I called on the weekend to set up an appointment during the week and the front desk guy informed me that for little tattoos they do weekend walk-ins. So I just walked in! I showed the front desk guy my design and he showed it to the artist who was free (Fred) and Fred redid it and we discussed and then voila, I was in the room and ready to go. The waiting part took about 40 minutes during which time I enjoyed listening to ATCQ and checked my wallet to make sure I had enough cash - $100 minimum and cash-only. Fred is a trip but made me feel comfortable. I breathed and held still and I think my new tattoo looks totally fantastic. read more

I have mixed feelings about this place. I've gotten two tattoos there and know of three other people who have gone there. The first thing I always say about Fat Ram's is: the receptionist (white dude) is a douche, he is the rudest guy in the planet and knowing he'll be there makes me almost not want to go. He treats you like shit for making an appointment OR walking in. He treats that desk like it's his -probably- gross bedroom and makes it seem like you're interrupting his peace when you just want to get a tattoo. Second thing, price-wise, it is one of the best tattoo parlors in Boston. I've gone to three different places and this was still the cheapest one, but you might have to negotiate a good price before getting it done, because I know of someone who was definitely overcharged. So let the tattoo artist know what's the price you are looking for. Third, I think their guest artists and the artists there are good. So in terms of quality, no complaints. I got my first one with a guest artist and the second with Chad, he's pretty cool, recommend. Last observation, recently a friend of mine went there and got her tattoo done (I think, in part, because I recommended the place), and she was annoyed at the receptionist, who was probably a jerk (reason why I won't recommend Fat Ram's anymore). She got her tattoo with Darlene, who I also know did my other friend's so I think she's talented and all, but she, without asking, put a tape all over my friend's back and she is highly allergic to it. So it turns out the allergic reaction to the tape is worse than the healing process of her tattoo, which is messed up. All and all, it's not a bad place, it can be cheap, but there are definitely drawbacks. read more

I have nothing but good things to say about my experience at Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo. I walked in to get a simple tattoo today, met with Ed Powell who was extremely polite and confident in his abilities. The entire process was smooth and professional. Ed did a kick ass job and I am extremely satisfied. If you are looking for a great tattoo in Boston I strongly suggest Ed Powell at Pumpkin Tattoo! read more

Yeah I am that girl. The one who got her girlfriend's name tattooed on her ass- ok right above my ass. I have been informed that this is called a "tramp stamp." So when we broke up (amicably) I didn't mind that I had this tattoo and rarely thought about it since I never see it. However, my next gf was none too pleased. After we got serious I finally relented and said I'd cover it up. Covering a name isn't so easy though. You can't make a cool tribal design or anything because you need to actually black out the name. I researched tattoo places and found Fat Ram's got rave reviews. I entered the shop, head bowed, red-faced, ready to be laughed at when I asked for a design for my cover-up. So I was laughed at BUT my artist worked with me and we came up with a cool design. Ok, it's a gecko, not something I ever would have gotten but I get compliments on it all the time! Moral of the story - aside from the obvious- Fat Ram's rocks! They do great work! read more

I went in there because I heard great reviews about their work. What was left out was what cocky, rude, jerks they are. I went in wanting a simple tatoo, nothing fancy something really simple and clean looking but since the man giving me my tattoo was "an artist" he had another idea of what my tattoo should look like. This was supposed to be my very first tattoo and I was excited about it and little nervous. Neither of which my artists seemed to give two shits about. He said things to me such as .. " dont even ask me to make this tattoo smaller because I wont" "no, im not probably right, I am right" "this may be your tattoo but this is my reputation" "your wasting my time" Even if I was asking for something unreasonable, no professional place should speak to someone like this. What I was looking for was a simple shamrock tattoo on my neck I wanted it the size of a silver dollar or so about an 1nch and 1/2 ..... but he wouldnt make it any smaller then the 2 1/2 inches he sketched out. Just really disrespectful and the self-entitlement was beyond overwhelming. Not the laid back friendly tattoo parlor I was hoping for by any strech of the imagination. The artists their may be well respectful- but dont expect them to return the favor. read more

Hey bro, that's a sweet tattoo; what fraternity were you in? Guess how many times I've heard that since college. Too many. Yes, I'm that jackass with a tattoo of his college fraternity on his ankle. Been there since 1992. Looks like it's been there since 1892. So, just imagine my shame in going in for my long-scheduled consult with Darlene to get a cover-up. Forget about it - Darlene was totally cool and put me at ease all the while making light fun of me (totally warranted and appreciated). Not only was she cool, but she listened attentively and worked with me on my concept - doing a number of redrafts without complaint. She also steered me away from disaster with the deftness of a therapist. The result is a beautiful tree in full leaf stemming from my ankle and rising up my calf, and covering my college-era mistake. She also placed a rising sun in the background of the leaves and incorporated the subtle hues of a sunrise. Nice touch. Perfection. I'm happy to say that is also everyone's view that has seen the tattoo. Perfection. Having done much research and asking many people around town (before and after my tattoo), my result and satisfaction are not anomalous to Darlene or any other artist at Fat Ram's. So, what I had previously thought was a lifetime mistake on my ankle, Darlene turned into a lifetime piece of beauty and perfection. read more

**this may be a lengthy review ;) 1st experience: I walked-in on my birthday knowing exactly what I wanted and where I wanted it. I had the pleasure of having Melissa do my tattoo and because it was my first one she took the time to explain the procedure and advise I change the location from the side of my pinky to the side of my wrist/forearm. The procedure took at least 10-15 minutes with minimal pain. I ended up paying $130 + a tip. I thought the price was a tad high but the work was beautiful so I didn't complain. 2nd experience: I had just got off work bored and randomly decided I wanted a tattoo. It was close to closing and very few people were in the shop. I got the sense I was getting on the receptionist nerve because I couldn't make my mind up which artwork I wanted so he just printed out a few pages of doves (which I requested) and I was able to pick out the one I wanted. Darlene had just finished up with a client and was setting up for me. It was quick and easy. A simple dove..no shading no anything, behind my ear. I wish she'd make it a little bigger but all in all I was satisfied. When I went to the front desk to pay he easily said "$100", I paused for a second not sure if I had heard right. I don't think that small dove was worth that amount but I paid anyway with a tip included. Although I love my tattoos I will not be returning to this shop it's way too pricey I almost feel like I was taken advantage of. I went to another shop in a different location got a bigger tat for half the price. read more

I called on a Saturday or Sunday morning (can't recall which one) and asked if they were busy, or if they could handle a walk in later that day. I chatted with the woman on the phone a bit about what I wanted, and where, and how much it would cost, ecc. She was very professional and helpful and told me everything I would need to bring, and who I might talk to later that day. I walked in with my little sister and friend in tow. My friend had gotten a tattoo the day before, and I was meant to have gone with her... sadly, I was stuck at work. My little sister was just along for the ride, cause she wanted to see a tattoo done in person, and it was a memorial tattoo for our grandmother. I talked briefly with the tattoo artist (who's name I will try my hardest to remember and then edit into this review... was it Lucky? maybe...) gave him my Nonna's signature which I wanted on my arm, he photocopied it, told me what size would be best for the letters to really be as clear and precise as he could make them. This made a little bit of a change to my original idea of what the tattoo would look like, but I was quick to trust his judgement, as he made many valid points. The tattoo itself took about 7 minutes to do, and I was really excited to show it off - still am! I've had many compliments on it, and like it a lot better than the first tattoo I got, which I spoke to this dude about maybe doing something with in the future, so that I didn't hate it as much. They have an $80 minimum, and when I told a few people that I've shown my arm too, have been overwhelmed by the price, but in my experience, you get what you pay for. A piece of art that is permanently affixed to my body is worth paying top dollar for, in my opinion. To make sure I am happy with it and it looks as good as it can! read more

the ONLY place i'll ever go for a tattoo now. heard great things and went in early in the summer to start a backpiece. i'm one session [plus free touchup a month out] from finally being done. i've had four sessions so far plus two consults and every time i've been in the shop it's been great. even the counter staff is super friendly and treats every customer equally - covered in ink or a first timer, or somewhere in between. i've also been in where some people wandered in and asked painfully ignorant or just plain stupid questions and was admittedly stunned while everyone kept a straight face and honestly answered anything they wanted to know and really listened and advised them accordingly. it's awesome to be in a place that pushes custom work and will tell people honestly they should be 100% serious about their decision, as opposed to just wandering in and picking some piece of flash on a whim. my tattoo artist is alex dawes - i've heard darlene is awesome when it comes to flowers which is what i'm getting but i went to college with alex [who then became ram's apprentice] so i felt most comfortable with him and he seemed really psyched to tattoo me so i told him to go for it. i gave him the individual specimens i wanted in the tattoo and let him as the artist run with the composition. on the outline day when he showed me what he'd drawn up i nearly had tears in my eyes. if you're curious about what my piece is looking like, i've photographed it at every stage and you're more than welcome to send me a message and i'll give you a link. i've also had three friends get multiple tattoos by andrew [currently out due to a broken hand, unfortunately], but as others have mentioned all the artists there are great - ram is one of the best artists out there so you know he would expect nothing less from the other artists in his shop. as for price, they have a saying - "a good tattoo ain't cheap, and a cheap tattoo ain't good." added bonus - i always drive here and always easily find street parking no matter what time my appointment is. read more

Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo - a detail photo of a work in progress [artist: alex dawes] - Tattoo Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

You're not going to read this because there's no need to because you've read 100 opinions saying this place is perfection, heaven and a rogue art studio with the illest inksters (did I just coin a lame phrase) this side of the Atlantic. Everyone loves this place and no one leaves unhappy. The more tattoos I get here, the more I want, it's like my meth. Chad is the only person I trust with a needle to my foot. This place makes me want to tattoo my entire body. read more

The artists here are very talented. They are also busy so are going to have to plan a bit far out. But Mellisa Baker does really good line work. read more