Dave Norton is the man. He's done eight pieces on me, and the first - photo below - is still my favorite. I walked into the shop that day knowing the style I wanted but without a concrete design. Obviously, that could've gone very poorly, but I trusted Dave's judgment. He picked the design, and it was perfect. I've never once regretted getting it. I get compliments on it all the time. Dave's other pieces for me have ranged from nerdy symbols to my cats' names to a single line running down the middle of my back. The latter, I cannot personally see, but I've been assured it is, in fact, straight. If you're looking for fine linework, Dave's your guy. The rest of the staff are consistently personable and helpful - good vibes all around. Fair prices too. If you're looking for a great tattoo shop in the Boston area, I highly recommend Pino Bros. read more

Pino Bros Ink - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've always had such an amazing experience at pino bros, I've been going to gonzalo for a few years now and he always does awesome work. everyone is so friendly, the vibes are great and there are some amazing artists here. 1000% reccommend read more

tattoo looked great and they were very patient with me since i needed a couple breaks (it was my first tattoo). gonzo was great and i'm pretty sure he even ran to the store to grab me apple juice when i needed some and couldn't drink orange juice. great people, super nice, good vibes, and really great prices (250 for around 2 hours of work). when i get another one i plan on going back there!!!! read more

Pino Bros Ink - the tattoo right after he finished it - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Legitimately the best place to get inked. I will never go any where else (besides their new location that will be closer to me...when it opens!). Everyone is so incredibly fun to be around and highly talented. You will not be disappointed! I just got my 16th piece done by Logan yesterday and it's breathtakingly beautiful. Can't wait to return for my next one! read more

Pino Bros Ink - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Such a great experience. Everyone was friendly, called ahead of time and made a same-day appointment. Arthur did a great job on the tattoo - he took time to listen to all the details and offered his own advice and perspective as well when asked! Highly recommend - true artistry and a great sense of humor read more

Pino Bros Ink - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I got a tattoo when I was 21. It was a small butterfly, like maybe a little bigger than a golf ball. It was all black, right at the top of my spine before the nape of my neck begins. It was faded, old, tired, and sad. And, by the way, there is nothing badass about a butterfly. However, there were reasons why I got it and I was happy with it for many years and nostalgia wouldn't let me give it up, exactly, but it was time for something new. That's where Dierdre came in. I went for a consult and pretty much said, look, I know it's just a stupid butterfly, but it's MY stupid butterfly and I want to keep it, except now it needs to be better. Like way better, and it should look like something I'd doodle, only better, and I doodle like this ::random swirlies on paper::. Basically, I want to "spread my wings," if you will, metaphorically. /end conversation She walks away and comes back with something quick and rough, but in the direction I was thinking. So we talked about it a little more, I booked my appointment, gave a deposit and went on my merry way. This weekend I went back for my appointment. Dierdre had emailed me her concept a couple of days ahead of time, and I sent back some notes. When I got in, I was the first person there (they actually unlocked the door for me) but the joint soon became bustling. Dierdre was getting set up so my friend (Noopur S!) and I waited up front. Dierdre came up with a sketch based on my notes while I waited and it was pretty damned perfect. Also, while waiting, someone was making a coffee run to Dunks and offered to get us stuff too. We said no but the offer way way cool, and then, finally, tattoo time. So that tattoo I got when I was 21 did not hurt. At. All. But I was also 21 and since then I've had spine surgery which amped up my nerves AND I was having, well, let's call it "special lady time" which I'm told amps up the pain a bit. Well, this hurt, a LOT. "No worries," Dierdre said, "your endorphins should kick in and you'll settle into it after a few minutes." Nope, no settling. This was PAINFUL. Noopur said that I didn't have such looks of anguish on my face when I had spine surgery. I mean PAINFUL. This was not Dierdre's fault at all. Like I said, my nerves are amped up, especially around my spine, which is, of course, where most of the tattooing happened. (In fact, the parts that weren't along my spine didn't hurt at all, fyi.) But Dierdre took my anguish in stride, she was sympathetic, but not so much that it slowed down the process (which would not only have ultimately probably hurt more, but also would have cost more). At one point, I got the shivers (pain does that to me, see afore mentioned nerve comment) but despite whatever shivering, wiggling, etc I may have inadvertently done, Dierdre furrowed on with the straight or swirly delicate lines that made up my tattoo. Noopur told me after the fact that she didn't think I'd still opt for the color, after the expressions of pain she saw on my face. But I took it like a champ, and I'm glad I did. During the experience I thought "I AM NEVER GETTING ANOTHER TATTOO AGAIN" but then, when it was done, I looked in the mirror (with another mirror) at the finished product and thought about my next tattoo, which will come one day soon, and probably under the expert artistry of Dierdre. The tattoo itself held the basic original tattoo in the center, although corrected and perfected and then, with delicate and precise scrollwork extended from every wing tip, it has more than quadrupled in size. Maybe I'm a follower, since Dierdre is popular on Yelp, especially with Yelp's ladies (many of whom are my personal friends), but I'm telling you, she is popular for a reason and I got a little look at the handiwork of some of the boys there at Pino Bros, and I'm certain that they, too, are also worth their hype. So, in the end, I still have a butterfly. But this butterfly, is BADASS. read more

this place was great! Bridget at the front desk was awesome and super helpful! Arthur did my tattoo and he was fantastic! I asked to move and resize the stencil several times and he was very patient. read more

Pino Bros Ink - tattoo from Arthur !! - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

UPDATE: I got a tattoo here. Dave Norton is a very talented dude. I actually followed him on Instagram before I realized he was at this shop. Loved him for the cubist work he does and now I love him even more for how original my tattoo is. I came in with an idea of what I wanted and when it came time for me to actually tattoo, Dave exceeded my expectations in design. It was so dope. During the session, we watched two movies on the huge projectors in the shop. We were in a temp space, I think, as they were renovating the main place. Either way, everyone I interacted with was super kind, really funny, and just all around great people. I left kind of sad as we had spent 4 hours pretty much kickin it while I got my tat. Looking forward to get more work done here with Dave! --------------------- Don't really know about the tattoos, but my piercing experience was great! I felt the need to get a nose piercing and found Pino Bros through Yelp. I walked in and it was pretty busy, but I immediately was greeted by someone at the front and was taken care of (already impressed). The guy that greeted me told me that it would only be a few minutes because someone was ahead of me which was fine. I didn't mind. I only waited maybe 8 minutes until Aaron walked up to me and introduced himself. He immediately made me feel comfortable and I knew it was going to be a great experience. Aaron walked me through everything and made me feel at ease. Super sweet guy. Everyone there is pretty nice and I would highly recommend! read more

Pino Bros Ink - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

First tattoo. Was very impressed with the cleanliness and professionalism at this shop. Put me right at ease. All I wanted was a small tattoo but I was treated so kindly. Ian was very thorough and spent a lot of time with details. I was convinced that this would be my one and only tattoo, but.........! read more

Pino Bros Ink - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Everyone in the shop is super nice, and when I went for my first tattoo I felt very welcome and comfortable. Pricing is really reasonable. When the tattoo healed the blue color faded a little bit so I was able to immediately make an appointment for a retouch and now it looks amazing. read more

Have gotten multiple tattoos here, all from Ian. He and the entire staff have never been anything but accommodating, reasonable, and professional. I have had zero issues with any of my tattoos in terms of booking, design, cleanliness, or outcome. Ian was very concerned with getting placement right on all of my tattoos, and did an incredible job. So in love with everything i've gotten done. He was also super personable, easy to talk with, and fun to work with in general. The entire crew is super nice. The shop is clean and the staff all genuinely care about the environment they maintain. Every time feels like just hanging out with friends (while you get stabbed with tiny needles). 1000% recommend. read more

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Just got another tattoo this weekend (my second from Deirdre) and I couldn't be happier (again). I can't stop staring at it, my bf can't stop staring at it, my co-workers can't stop staring at it... it's just so amazing! Decided to get Meh (aka Melissa A) a tattoo for her birthday, mostly because I selfishly wanted another one myself. I talked Meh into it, we went in to talk and make appointments with Deirdre, and we ended up spending our entire Saturday afternoon with her. Both of our tattoos took about 2 hours each, with some waiting around in between, so I just hope that all of our talking and giggling like little schoolgirls didn't annoy Deirdre too much... especially since now I have to go back in a few weeks and get the rest of my tattoo finished! read more

Pino Bros Ink - Tattoo done by Deirdre. - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came in today to get a forward helix piercing and the gentleman at the front desk was super friendly and helpful. Aaron who pierced my ear was patient and kind and walked me through the process, answered every question I had and was so calm that it put me at ease. I did some research on yelp on different piercing/tattoo shops in the Boston area and most of the reviews complained about the condescending tone that the employees had but not at this place. Everyone here was really nice and kind towards me even though I was super anxious about a simple ear piercing. The prices here are kinda high but I did get a 14K gold earring with a stone so that's probably why. To me its worth spending more on a quality piece of jewelry. Over all, highly recommend this place! read more

Pino Bros Ink - Forward helix piercing by Aaron - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This was my first tattoo. I did lots of research, looking for the perfect tattoo artist. I was originally going to go to book with a well-known tattoo artist in the city, who had just opened his own place. But for whatever reason, I decided to check out Pino Bros instead, and I'm so glad I did. After looking at all the different tattooers' styles, I chose to book a session with Adam LoRusso. He took a simple idea of mine and created an incredible design, and then completely transformed it into one of the most beautiful tattoos I could have ever hoped for. I never dreamed that it would be this gorgeous. I can't stop looking at it. He is unbelievably talented. Professional, friendly, and easy to work with. He has an amazing eye for detail and color. I was really nervous since it was my first, but he was able to calm me down and put me at ease. You can check out his art and tattoos here: http://www.lastlightart.com/ read more

Pino Bros Ink - The Great Gatsby-inspired tattoo by Adam LoRusso - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

When I was gearing up to get my eighth tattoo, I did some extensive research on places in the Boston area. Since all of my prior ink had been done before it was legal here, I was used to going elsewhere for tattoos. Thus, I had no idea what to expect from Boston artists. Thanks to Yelp, I decided that Pino Bros Ink was right for me. Not only were reviews excellent, but it was conveniently located for me. I really wanted this tattoo to coincide with my birthday, so I called about a week before to make an appointment. I spoke with Nate, who said that they normally set up consultations first, because they need to know how much time will be needed for the respective tattoo; however, because it wasn't my first tattoo and the design ideas I had were saved on my computer, he set me up with an appointment to see Matt Myrdal and had me email my design ideas to Matt for what would essentially be an email consult. Matt emailed me back the next day or so, and told me that a particular element of my design wouldn't work in the location I wanted (my forearm). He helped me come up with a better solution that still incorporated the most important piece of the design, and was very pleasant about it. I really appreciated his willingness to communicate with me via email, and to put some time and thought into a design for a customer had hadn't even met in person yet. Anyway, on the day of the tattoo, I brought along my mom and step-dad, because they both were considering tattoos (her second, his first). Matt was nice enough to spend time with both of them on the fly, discussing design ideas and setting up future appointments for them. As an artist, Matt was extremely personable and made sure I was as comfortable as possible during the tattoo. He often checked to make sure I was doing OK, and we chatted the whole time about various things -- including a mutual obsession with the show LOST. The piece he was doing was a quote (15 words) with some cherry blossoms, and his line work was superb -- crisp, clear and perfectly rendered. I've since gotten ridiculous amounts of compliments on the tattoo -- from friends, family and even strangers -- so needless to say, I'm thrilled with the result. Pino Bros Ink itself is a very cool place. Besides the fact that it's IMMACULATE and they obviously take great care to maintain it, there's a ton of amazing artwork on the wall and every artist has his or her own room in which to work -- which gives clients a great sense of privacy, should that be important. I honestly can't recommend Pino Bros and Matt enough. In fact, I'll be going back in September for more work from Matt -- and my mom and I are even planning matching tattoos in the future. If you're looking for a great, clean environment with talented, friendly artists, head over to Pino Bros. They totally live up to their reputation. read more

Pino Bros Ink - Confucius quote by Matt - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

You're crazy to get your tattoo anywhere else in Boston. Deirdre Doyle will put artwork on your arm. She has ears and both sides of a brain which she'll use to create something you'll be proud to display on your skin. And in the end, you'll end up thanking her for the privilege of paying her to stick needles in your body. The people at Pino Bros are serious about their art. Brian and Deirdre and the other tattooists talk together to learn from each other. Each person there seems truly nice. Walking into tattoo shops can be intimidating. These are good people. Trust them. This is how I found Deirdre... I asked anyone I saw who had a piece of art on their skin where they got their tattoo done. There were answers of Fat Ram's Pumpkin and Redemption, but Pino Bros kept coming up. I walked in with my ideas and they directed me to the right person to make it come to life. Correct decision. There are pictures on my profile or at http://web.mac.com/adk/Tattoo. You can pay more elsewhere if you'd like. If you'd prefer quality, now you know where to find it. read more

Pino Bros Ink - Paisley Paean to my Progeny. Done by Deirdre at Pino Bros. - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

After 25 years of waiting, I finally got my first tattoo from Kurt at Pinos. I discovered the shop on Yelp (thanks guys!), and based on the ratings, decided to look up the artists' portfolios on their website. The vividness of their colors are striking and the style is diverse and apparently well-trained. I knew they could deliver. To cut the details short (I'm sure you don't want to hear ALL of them), the result is absolutely amazing. It's a replica of a 1930s painting, and is perfectly precise. Sure, it was "the neverending tattoo", but the 2 sittings and 6 1/2 total hours spent on it was so worth it (for me... poor Kurt!); I had never expected it to turn out so wonderfully, given the complexity of what I was asking for. It's also remarkable that he was willing to tackle a replica, since the joy of being an artist often lies in putting your own spin on things. Hopefully I'll someday have the cash to continue an extension of this arm piece, and give Kurt a chance to improv. I wouldn't trust anyone else with my skin! read more

Pino Bros Ink - by Kurt Brown - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came here on a recommendation from a friend who's landlord owns this business. I had an idea of what I wanted and with the little artistic ability I have drew it out. I made an appt. with Ben. Total luck of the draw. Best thing that happened to me. He totally understood what I wanted and worked with me till I was completely satisfied. Before we started the actual inking he admitted that sometimes he takes a bit longer because he's a perfectionist. Who doesn't want there tattoo artist to be a perfectionist? Sufficed to say I was so pleased with my tattoo and the entire experience. If I ever decide to get another or need a touch up this is were I'll be heading. Oh please who am I kidding .....see you next week for the sleeve? read more

Pino Bros Ink - By Ben - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We were visiting from az, and had done our research of which shop we wanted to go to in Boston. This was definitely the best shop out of the bunch! We walked in for a couple of tattoos... We were helped quickly. Gonzo was our artist, we wanted some small simple tattoos that only required line work. Gonzo has a steady hand, and completed the work with ease and in a timely fashion! When We come back to Boston, we'll definitely pay pino bros a visit! The shop is immaculately clean, and well laid out. All the staff we encountered were great! read more

Pino Bros Ink - Gonzo at work - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I just finished my tattoo with Kurt -- 6 1/2 hours total, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! He does fantastic work. The more I look at my new tattoo, the more I love it, and the more amazed I am with Kurt's skills. The colors, the lines, the shading... all perfect. If I ever get a second tattoo there is no question in my mind that I'm going back to Kurt. I couldn't be happier. I'm sure all the other artists at Pino Bros are wonderful, but you won't regret booking Kurt for your ink! read more

Pino Bros Ink - Work by Kurt Brown - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Kurt has just recently opened his own place in Concord called The Gallery Tattoo Studio! So excited to check out the new place, have an appointment set up for the end of August. Can't wait! If you love his work as much as I do, check out the new shop here: http://www.thegallerytattoostudio.com/ Still love Pino Bros though of course, and oh so convenient for those of us in the city without a car. High recommend seeing any of the artists at the shop! read more

I got a piece done by Matt and I cant say enough about how awesome the experience was. From the consultation to the final product everything went smoothly. Matt took my jumbled idea and actually made it into a piece of art. The consultation was quick and Matt jotted down some notes and ideas. When i went back in the shop a couple weeks later to get the piece done he drew up 3 or 4 different line drawings for me to choose from. When he finished the outline he recommended colors that would work the best. They were totally different than what i imagined but worked out so well. great call on his part. Conversation was good and his movie selection was even better. After riding giants, the hangover and part of 300 i hardly noticed the nearly 4 hours of tattooing. okay thats a lie, but it was a great experience. I'll be back for any future work read more

Pino Bros Ink - work by Matt Myrdal - Tattoo Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I've gone to Pino Bros for all of my tattoos (six relatively small ones). I've gotten my last four with Arthur, who's amazing. He's a good listener and makes sure to talk to you about things you may not have considered, and his work is impeccable: really beautiful detail and color. He never gave me a hard time about the tattoos being small (some other places made me feel like they weren't "real" tattoos if they were smaller than a sleeve-- ugh). It's also a great atmosphere-- everyone is really laid back and nice. We were all swapping stories and laughing for my whole session. Absolutely recommend. read more

If you're looking for a truly great tattoo, the guys and gals here are extremely talented artists. I've been tattooed by John and Dave, and have seen work from just about everyone else, and I can't stress enough how impressive and versatile these guys can be. All of my tattoos have a super nerdy theme to them, ::cough cough Harry Potter and Game of Thrones tattoos cough cough:: and I've always felt like even if it wasn't their thing, they're so enthusiastic about it, and I really appreciate that. I've been to tattoo shops in the past where the artists and even receptionists have this egotistical attitude that is so unnecessary. But you won't find that here. Especially the manager, I forget his name so I feel like an ass, but he is SO EFFING NICE. I'm grateful I am that everyone here is so professional, and really friendly. And if they aren't, well they hide it well, so that's good enough for me. :) read more

I am going to start off by saying there location and the store looks amazing. Inside the tattoo room has enough space for about three people if you want someone to hold your hand while something drills a needle in your skin. Now I am giving two starts because of my experience with the artist and there front desk person. I got my first tattoo there two years ago. I had to change my whole work bacause the artist didn't have the the talent or didn't want to admit that he cannot do the work. I talked the people in the front suggestion to go to him because he had some experience but my work was way too simple and not really something worth talking to. So I went to another artist from another place and said all that needed to be fix was the spacing I didn't have to change the whole tattoo. This year I decided to get my next tattoo because I did enjoy the artist I had before even though he didn't stick to what I wanted he was really nice and had steady hands. I went to talk to the person in the front and told him that I wanted to get a tattoo on my foot. This guy said they won't do it because of it not going to looks great. I asked if I can talk to someone and he said that no one will do it. I was really disappointed. I talked to other artist from another parlor and they said I may need a touch up and it will hurt but didn't say that they won't do it. I did get that tattoo on my foot from another place it looks great. I wish that these people would try and practice before saying they won't do something. Also have someone in the front know what they are talking about or find someone who knows. I also didn't like how their front person who thought he knew what he was talking about tone. My suggest is if you was somethng simple and not as creative you should go to this place, but if you want a custom work you might as well go someplace else. read more

I kind of sort of hate going into tattoo parlors. I have to feign an air of toughness that ends up with me looking constipated instead [strangely, more on that later]. If I got any of my first tattoos that I wanted, I'd have giant angel wings on my back [bah!], a guy in a straightjacket and a ball and chain ready to throw himself off a bridge, giant ants circling around my stomach, bees climbing up my arm and Sepultura on the inside of my other arm. And I always thought several random tattoos placed on your body in different locations was kinda cheesy and I'd want everything to tie in together somehow. So maybe if I decide I want to get more tattoos, I'm stuck with the insect theme and I'll have a Discovery Channel amount of bugs crawling all over me. So instead, I waited several years to finally get one done and in the twilight of my twenties, I finally took the plunge. And uh...this tattoo will never seem lame to me. And I'll NEVER regret it. EVER. *koff* *koff* I'm going to be a single granny playing canasta and tugging up my support hose still sporting a giant ant on my arm. And once senility sets in, I'll probably have attempted to cut or sand it off or start chatting with it. I read reviews one afternoon and had nervous gas just thinking about the whole experience. This didn't sound like it was going to turn out that well, especially if the tattoo artist and I were going to be in an intimately small room with no ventilation. Eep! So Jocelyn C. and I finally make an appointment and we have an afternoon appointment with Dierdre Doyle. Just waiting for her to set up, I have a nervous poo in the bathroom of the shop. Luckily, there's plenty of nudie reading material in there. After about an hour and a half of yapping with Jocelyn and Dierdre about this, that and the other thing [and nervous poos], my tattoo was finished and I immediately love it. Jocelyn's tattoo took about the same amount of time, but I think we ran out of stuff to talk about, so I got one of the Penthouses from the bathroom and we talked about surgically "enhanced" vaginas and huge round knockers. And with that, we were out and I felt like a total tool walking around Inman with a huge maxi-pad taped to my arm. Apparently, Deidre had a very nervous costumer in a few weeks after our appointment and she asked her, "Do you have to take a nervous poo?" *blank stares from customer* Then there's this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgaAzjK5TFo read more

Aaron. Is. So. Nice. I really wanted to get my nose pierced but I only have one hole in both my earlobes. Not exactly a badass over here. My roommate has had something pierced at nearly every popular place in Boston, including Chameleon and Stingray which she said did good work but she was in and out really fast and felt like she was on a conveyor belt. The only place she'd had a good experience was Pino Bros, so even though I've never set foot in a tattoo parlor before, I decided to take her word for it. I definitely needed someone who was going to treat me like a person and walk me through the process and help me decide what would look good, not someone who was going to prick me and then shove me out the door. Aaron was super friendly, alternating between explaining exactly what he was doing and cracking jokes to put me at ease. The piercing was quick and clean, but I felt like he really took time before the actual piercing to figure me out, show me where it would go, ask me if I liked it, etc. Also, I brought my friend who has been having trouble with a cartilage stud she got at Chameleon. She was just going to buy a neometal stud because the one Chameleon pierced her with wasn't anti-allergic. But when she told Aaron why she wanted to buy a new stud, he asked if he could look at her current one and noticed that it was too long (she almost got it yanked out by a careless hairdresser once). Instead of just ringing her up for the jewelry, he put it in for her and fit it to her ear. Overall, my experience with Aaron and with Pino Bros in general was amazing. I went in wearing a Hello Kitty sweater, for god's sake, and nobody gave me any funny looks or made me feel like I was out of place. read more

Not everyone who creates tattoos can be considered an artist. Being an artist takes talent, patience and a sharp sensitivity with both the medium and the canvas. At Pino Bros Ink, you'll find yourself looking forward to surrendering your body to some of the greatest talent Boston has to offer. Being an artist myself, I'm familiar with all the garbage out there and I wasn't ready to just let anyone make a lifelong mark on my skin. I was looking for someone who was not only gifted, but who took pride in their work and how it was displayed. After reviewing Ben Pease's portfolio, I knew I had found a good artist - but it wasn't until my odd first session that I knew just how good. My first rib session with Ben took over 4 hours and was absolutely painless. You heard me - painless. How could that be? All his materials were set up and ready to go - gloves, ink, chair. But after positioning the stencil on me the first time and rolling back in his chair, he shook his head and said "Ah... nope, I'm not feeling it. Do you mind if I try again?". I got cleaned up and he re-positioned the stencil across my skin. He rolled back again, cocked his said to the side, and still wasn't feeling it. He took off the stencil, broke out the scissors and starting to cut apart the beautiful stencil he had prepared. We tried this again a number of times, while he patiently re-cut areas and taped them back together and free-handed new lines on my skin. I started to feel bad that he was taking so much time to tailor the stencil to make sense on my body, but he assured me that he didn't mind and he refused to put something permanent on me until he felt it was right. It was at this point I realized that I could put my full confidence in Ben - he truly cared about his work and his canvas. Long story short, there was no inking that happened on the first session. Ben was very apologetic about having kept me there for so long with no ink done, but I assured him that I was very thankful that he did. And I was, because there are plenty of tattoo artists out there who would have simply run out of patience and started on you anyway because they were losing time and money. The next time I saw Ben, he was excited to show me a re-worked stencil. He didn't charge me for the extra time it took for him to adjust the pencil (though I made sure to tip him anyway. Always tip!) After he laid the new stencil onto my skin, he rolled back again and looked at the placement from every possible angle... finally, after at least 5 minutes, he clapped his hands and said "That's it. I think it's gorgeous. You ready?!" Awesome. Now with two sessions behind me, I have a beautiful tattoo started across my ribs. Painless? God no! It's my ribs we're talking about and this was my first tattoo!! However, Ben made sure I was comfortable the whole time, periodically checking to see if I needed a break and admitting whenever he needed a break as well (which is pretty rare, actually. He goes into this sort of 'zone' every now and then - You'll see what I'm talking about if you work with him). He made sure to distract me with jokes right before he'd go over softer areas and otherwise let me drift into my dazed, quieter states during calmer runs. Many of the artists at Pino do take a while to book with, including Ben, but if you're a reliable customer, they'll do their best to call you about earlier openings. The rest of the people in the shop are hilarious and really entertaining to listen to. You'll feel comfortable there, whether it's your first tattoo or your 24th. If you truly care about what goes on your body permanently and prefer a work of art over a careless, wiggly scribble, booking with Pino Bros Ink is well worth the few months you may have to wait, trust me on this. read more

Getting my first non-ear piercing from a guy that lists "mutant telepath" on his business card and has sleeve tattoos of an octopus tentacle on one side and a robot arm on the other side? I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I walked in on a Saturday night, was greeted very nicely by Aaron, the aforementioned above, and had no problem getting right in and having the piercing done. (Quick note: I did call earlier in the day to make sure that he would be there after 6pm. I recommend it, just in case.) I was a little nervous and he could tell, considering I'd never had anything pierced besides my ear, but he made my experience very comfortable. He said, "If you weren't nervous, then I'D be a little nervous." Fair enough. He took me into a small room that overlooked the front of the place through a fish tank (nice touch), and talked me through everything. He was very helpful and he answered all my questions about the process and what to do for aftercare. He even allowed my friend to take pictures of the whole thing. Not something I think all places will let you do. I expected it to hurt a lot more than it did (I was getting my nipple pierced). Don't get me wrong, it was painful, but Aaron did a good job and put me completely as ease the entire time. I definitely intend to come here again to get the other nipple done and to get my first tattoo. read more

After over a decade of debating it in my head, I finally got my ink done, and after reading reviews around town was pretty much decided that Pino was the only place that I could trust to mark me permantly. I didn't have an appointment set up, but instead was able to just do a walk in early Monday afternoon and was greated warmly. The young woman behind the desk asked me if I knew what I wanted, and upon showing her a picture I had on my phone, she had me e-mail it to their servers From there they printed out several different sizes of my soon to be tattoo. I was a little picky because it as my first tattoo, but they were constantly glad to work with me and never once expressed any fustration at how many times I kept having to repeat this process until I got just the right image size. Next my tattoo was actually applied by Ben. He did an a amazing job at making me feel at ease during the process, telling me what was gonna happen every step of the way. A nice touch was the instant the needle hit my skin he congratulated me on now having a tattoo. The entire process took about 20-30 minutes and Ben was very professional the entire time. When he was done he took several minutes to go after care instuctions with me. I really can't imagine tlmy first tattoo going any smoother then it did with Pino Brothers. read more

I can't say enough about Zid, the piercer. I went in a few days ago to discuss the possibility of having some piercings redone. I had some pretty bad scarring due to being stupid and going to a less-than-reputable shop a few years ago. I told Zid my experiences and he went through all sorts of info with me. He was incredibly thorough, trying to help me sort out why my past piercing had gone wrong. After a long talk and a good exam of the scars, he determined that I could be re-pierced. Zid takes his time with each step of the process. Never once did he make me feel rushed or like one of my questions or concerns was silly (that goes for everyone else in the shop as well....all very welcoming and friendly). He has a fantastic demeanor and is very calming during the piercing process. The last time I had this piercing, it was weeks before I could comfortably wear clothing. This time, after only a few hours I felt fantastic. I know that's because Zid took his time to make sure that he used the right size and material of jewelry, and he was incredibly thorough in measuring and marking to ensure perfect placement. I will never go anywhere else for my piercings. read more

My review is well over-due for an update (esp considering last year they became 'my' shop when I started going to see Andy their apprentice). First off, Andy is fucking badass. I love going in to see him, getting some work and chatting with him cuz he's awesome! I'm definitely looking forward to future work he'll be doing on me (and we've got plenty of ideas). They are truly artists at Pino Bros. And all that entails. This can sometimes rub people the wrong way. But, when you work *with* them what they produce is maaaagic. Like unicorns and fairies and shit. But not the actual work being unicorns and fairies and shit. Just really effing cool in that sense. Like dinosaurs, but magical. read more

Got my first tattoo here by Ian a few month back. He's awesome, the environment was friendly and fun, and my tattoo was not rushed but not drug out either. For me, it was completely painless. It healed so quickly since he's not heavy handed. People thought I'd had it for a long time just days after I got it. Thanks Ian! read more

This review's primary purpose is to rave about Deirdre Doyle, one of the artists here. I came to her with a complicated design of overlapping flowers to be inked in different styles -- some to be filled in and some to be left uncolored. She worked with me to turn my concept into an actual rendition that would be well-proportioned for my back in respect to my shoulder blades and would also work well with the tattoo I already had. The end result? The tattoo of my dreams. Not only is it the kind of design that I was hoping for, but it's also beautifully done. She is a real artist with an eye for composition, and she also has a great sense of color and how to use negative space. Importantly, she's also an excellent technician and, therefore, the lines are clean and the color is well integrated. I am going to tell everyone I can about her. Re: Pino Brothers: it looks like pretty much everyone there is a good tattoo artist. I liked the space, and I also appreciated that they weren't trying too hard to be "hardcore" the way every other tattoo parlor I've been in does. In other words, they weren't blasting heavy metal, which I happen to love, but in a tattoo parlor, I feel like it just makes it seem like they're trying to make up for something. The art binders are easy to access, and there is always someone helpful at the desk to answer questions. It's a good place. I am so glad I went here for this very important tattoo. read more

I didn't get inked up in this joint but my roommate did. His tatts look juicy. I heard that these dudes sold "water filtration devices" so I totally rolled over there one night when I wanted a new one. I just got some primo "tobacco" and wanted to smoke out of a "water filtration" device. Either way, they were 2 seconds away from being closed but I made it in there and got a 2 footer. The dude totally hooked it up on the price and it became my prized possession. A year later, while washing it I cracked it accidentally. It broke my heart. I had to put it out of commission. Either way the dudes who work here are real nice and my roommates ink looks word up. I'd poke around in this piece if I were you. Get a mural of children playing in a sandbox on your back. That way I'll know you read this if I ever see that. read more

I have returned to Pino Bros twice now. Once to take a friend to get her nose pierced by ZiD, zen piercing master, and then again yesterday to have same friend get re-pierced by ZiD after having to lose her piercing for surgery and me to get a spur of the moment tattoo. Yeah. I know. I've been deliberating the tattoo thing for at least 16 years and then I go and pop the tattoo cherry on a whim. But I love it. Seriously love it. They took me as a walk in since someone had canceled their appointment and they now had time. And since I was only getting my first initial done, it wasn't exactly hard. I was lucky enough to get Deirdre Doyle (who is turning out to be the resident tattoo artist of Le Clique). She is über cool. One of those girls you really want to hate because she's cool, pretty and wicked awesome, but you just can't because she's cool, pretty and wicked awesome. She did a phenomenal job. The placement is perfect, she managed to keep me calm, and, like everyone else in the shop, is seriously patient and lovely. If I ever decided to add to the tattoo collection I am definitely going back to Pino. read more

This is a long overdue review. I went to Pino Bros in August (thanks to their 5 start rating on Yelp) and had a great experience during my first ever tattoo. I took a childhood photograph and wanted to get the writing on the back of the photo tattooed. Actually I went there twice - first time was to checkout the place , put down a $50 deposit and make an appointment. The second time was to get the tattoo. My tattoo was done by Gonzo who was great! He was warm and friendly. He made the stencil in minutes and it was all done in about 20mins! It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would (I did get a little emotional right after seeing how beautiful it was). After the tattoo he explained how to clean and care for the tattoo in the coming weeks. They also have a care kit for $10 that includes wash, balm and lotion. The place is clean, bright and not scary at all. read more

Literally just got home from my younger brother getting his first tattoo. Gonzo was the artist and did an AMAZING job - he was so patient and really took his time to listen to what my brother wanted for the design. When we made a slight change, it was no problem. He also gave great advice on the design. The tattoo, a simple outline of the state of MA, was the epitome of perfection - super clean lines! The shop itself was clean/sterile, the staff was incredibly friendly and laid back. As someone with 3 tattoos, I look forward to getting my 4th (and then some) from the team at Pino Bros Ink! Thanks so much. read more

Pinos Brothers is the BEST, I repeat BEST place to get a tattoo or piercing. I not only live right down the street, but got my first tattoo here. I don't think you could ask for anything more. They are professional, yet fun. Clean, yet their atmosphere is not sterile. Down to earth, yet hot. Yup, they have some mighty fine artist working there. I would never go anywhere else to get work done. Not only are their prices reasonable, they put you at ease, explain everything up front and care about each and every tat they give. I will say that I grew up in the same city the Pinos brothers are from yet I was younger then them. Even back them, they were known for their very chill attitudes and being very artsy...and well, hot. P.S Yay 300 reviews!!! read more

Rebellion against parents at 21 years old, August 2008. I have to hand it to these guys - I went in with five girls (three of whom got tattoos) and we all clustered in a tiny closet-sized room, and these guys didn't tease us or give us hell. Kurt is awesome. He has pictures of his art plastered over his wall, and he's super talented. Mine was in a location that compelled me to sit Britney Spears-Stronger style in a chair and try not to lose feeling in my legs. Kurt was super professional. When it was going to hurt, he wouldn't lie to me - he'd tell me. His script of my beatles lyrics came out awesome, as did the strawberry fields strawberry. My friend got a gigantic white tattoo on her ribcage, and Kurt expressed his reservations VEHEMENTLY (the white would mix with the silver in the ink barrel and would come out grey), but she was insistent and her reluctantly gave her what she asked for. Came out great, and he was relieved. This place is fun - light, bright, clean, and the guys talk to you and make beautiful art. Mine was inexpensive - around $110. read more