I woke up yesterday morning with my back in knots. My girlfriend had an appointment near El Cerrito Plaza, so I figured I'd give her a ride and try to find a massage while I waited for her. I went to Oriental Massage and they said they took walk-ins. They asked me for $60 for a 60 minute massage, which is a bargain, so I went for it.
The good thing, and the reason they get two stars, is that it was a pretty decent massage--"deep tissue," deep enough that I had to ask for a gentler touch a couple of times. Comfortable massage table, heated room, warm towels--all good.
But there were some weirdnesses. She touched me in ways that aren't usually part of a massage, like trailing her fingernails gently across my back. And she "accidentally" brushed against part of my body that's not part of a normal massage either. She touched me in other inappropriate ways too, like holding my face between her hands and smoothing my hair after I got dressed. She also brushed the front of my jeans when she asked if I liked my massage and whether I might come back.
The last weirdness, and the reason I decided I had to write this review, was when she asked for her tip. I gave her a $10 bill, and she protested that that wasn't enough, that tips were usually $40. I don't tip $40 for my usual $90 massage, much less a $60 one! (Maybe if I'd had the additional service(s) I think she was offering, but that's not what I was there for.) She even leaned forward to look in my wallet to see if I had more money. (Fortunately, I didn't.)
So just be aware of what you're geting into. You can get a good massage here, but you can also get more than you bargained for. read more