R & D Tattooing

I came in here because I’d been following Akira on Instagram for a while and really dig his take on traditional tattoos. Originally went for some flash, but ended up with a custom mermaid instead! I said «mermaid, wine, these words» and I his original design was perfect with no changes. She’s fabulous, she’s colourful, and she’s got mad sass. Great team – it was a slow day and just the conversation between the artists there had me laughing the whole time.
I would advise that this studio specializes in traditional style tattoos, no matter the artist. They’re good at what they do.

Got a couple tattoos here. Came out great and fast! The atmosphere is really chill. Stevie will always make you laugh so you feel as comfortable as possible so don’t worry at all! Everyone is great so you’re always in good hands!

I absolutely love my tattoos! yes tattoos. Rich and Stevie do amazing work. I would take my kids there if they decide they want tattoos. And honestly I would let any of the tattoo artist tattoo me or my kids. I’d recommend them to anyone

After ending up with horrid work by about a handful of different people, I finally brought myself into R&D. I’d seen a ton of amazing work done by Rich Fie and am glad I didn’t waste anymore time. He continued to be the person I turned to for work and that definitely won’t be changing. Even after moving, I travel hours. Not only is he honest, he’s professional, artistic, affordable, quick and talented. He’s someone you can trust. I’d say that’s a good thing when the body’s involved! Stop in there, you won’t be disappointed!

I know a lot of people LOVE this place & would recommend it in a heartbeat but personally I think it sucks. I had one very simple tattoo done here which was nearly impossible to mess up. I was glad because the price was pretty reasonable so I decided to go back.
The next tattoo I wanted was similar to one I found off tumblr. I brought the picture to Stevie & said I needed some minor changes to the details I wasn’t crazy about. He said that he would draw up exactly what I asked for with changes by the next morning AND wouldn’t even charge me to draw it up.(I’ve never seen any tat place charge you for an outline so I don’t really feel that he did me a huge favor)
I called the shop for the next three days asking if it was finished yet. I was told to text him this way he could send it quicker as apposed to my email.
I was highly disappointed with the drawing that I saw, even pretty pissed I waited 3 days for something a pre-​k student could have drew me in 10 mins. He told me his drawing is how it looks without any detail work (it was still poorly drawn) & when I asked to see some detail work, he told me a true artist never shows his work & if I wasn’t happy with it I should just get my printed out picture framed.
I really wasn’t impressed with his shitty attitude just because the drawing was too complicated for him to do. If he couldn’t duplicate what I asked for he should’ve said so .
I enjoy being able to see upfront what will be PERMANENTLY marked on my body before hand idk maybe that’s just me .
I took my business elsewhere to Pete & Cubos who did a phenomenal job and showed me exactly what to expect and asked if I wanted any changes (they also didn’t charge me!)
My suggestion is if you’re getting something plain and simple, going to r&d’s isn’t a bad thing but if you need changes done or somewhat of detail don’t even bother to waste your time.
Pete & Cubos hasn’t disappointed me yet btw

Rich is awesome. Starting to work on a big piece with him and dude is so good at knowing what you want even when you may not know what you want. Compliments all around on what I have so far and looking forward to more.

Did my Tattoo with Stevie a little over a year ago, didn’t realize they were on Unilocal!to review!
Great place. Stevie is an awesome artist & so is Richie. My tattoo came out great I get
so many compliments and they’re just super cool guys. Made jokes and had great coversation while I was being worked on.

Went yesterday to have my tattoo finished. I had the outline redone by Richie and then colored. Richie, Dave, and Stevie are all extremely nice and professional. When you walk in they make you feel very comfortable and at home. Walk ins are welcome. I have nothing bad to say about this tattoo shop. I don’t plan on ever going anywhere else but here. Ever want a tattoo… this is the place to go.

Rich tattooed me. Something small and simple. He was extremely professional and super sweet and polite. I would definitely come back to him for more work.

R&D is a great old school NY shop and have had Richie Fie do a number of tattoos for me, all of which came out awesome. He has done both simple lettering pieces and complicated half sleeve pieces (koi fish & griffin) and his mastery is top notch. He knows his business, AND the history behind it. No, the shop doesn’t look like something on a pseudo-​reality show about tattooing, and thanks god! Come here to get good tattoos done well by artists that know what they are doing and care about the real tradition of NYC tattooing.

I started getting tattoos in 2006. I hadn’t gotten a tattoo in 5 years before I went to R&D because the last shop I went to (which has since closed) messed up one of my tattoos (and several of my friends’ tattoos) and had the audacity to charge me 80 dollars when I wanted it touched up and fixed. As much as I wanted another tattoo, I didn’t trust anyone enough to actually get another. Then last June a friend of mine recommended R&D. I was a little nervous (not about getting the tattoo, but actually trusting someone to do it), so we got tattoos together.
When I first walked it, it’s like any typical shop. I told them what I wanted, they drew it up, made any changes that were needed, made the stencil and then tattooed. But it’s the guys who work there that really make the shop what it is. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. Stevie has dealt with my neurosis many a time with nothing but patience, since I am a little obsessed with making sure things are perfect after being burned by a tattoo shop before.
The last tattoo I got there was in memory of my mother, I told Stevie what I wanted and he drew it up. I didn’t tell him any colors and just let him run with it and it came out absolutely beautiful. 5 years ago I didn’t trust anyone to tattoo me and now after going to R&D for the first time a year ago, I’ve gotten 5 tattoos there and have enough trust in their work and skill to let them have creative control.

I went to R&D for my first tattoo (by them) last October. It was a birthday gift from my kids and my significant other. (My son and daughter-​in-​law, and their friends, were already patrons of R&D.) I got an autism ribbon butterfly on my forearm.
I was immediately very impressed by Stevie — he is a true artist. I had an idea to combine details from two tattoos that I had seen and liked. He asked me to email him the images, and he combined them perfectly! I got — and still get — nothing but compliments from friends and family.
I decided to treat myself to another tattoo this past Mother’s Day weekend. We went back and I had provided the image of a unicorn’s head — just the outline in black — which I wanted tattooed on my forearm, beneath the butterfly I had already gotten. Again, Stevie did a perfect rendering! On my way there, I decided to get a second tattoo — my parents names on my arm, as they have both passed. He did a beautiful job, adding it to a piece I already had, displaying my kids’ names.
I have been to other tattoo artists in the past, but R&D is the only one I will visit in the future.
They are clean and pleasant and welcoming. Also, their prices are very reasonable. (I recently discussed tattoo prices with two of my co-​workers who have artwork on their bodies. They were quite surprised when they tried to guess how much I had paid for my tattoos and their guesses were higher than the actual costs.)
Also, R&D offers Gift Certificates, if you are stumped trying to decide what to get a friend or relative. I purchased two Gift Certificates for my daughter and her significant other for Christmas, and they too were very pleased with the tattoos they got!
On a final note… when I posted the photos of my butterfly on Facebook, I learned that my cousin had gone to them for her tattoos as well. She has great taste too!

I have gotten a few tats at this place and the guys are very nice… prices are reasonable.
Cons they don’t accept credit cards.
I actually have no plans in returning to this place because too many guys go in there to just simply hangout… its like the local hang out spots for some people…
Which isn’t cool with me.

Got some more the other week, Dave of course, pics to follow… As usual, the tips are, BRING CASH because they dont take cards…
Dave, Rich, Steve, and Rob are all dedicated tattoo ARTISTS, they really are a funny bunch of guys, very talented and well known in the Glendale area. Go there if you want to have a great experience getting inked, yes of course it hurts, but its well worth the pain…

I got 2 out of my 4 tattoos here… I wish I found this place from the start… All the staff is friendly. I always ask for Dave

Got a great tat from these guys years ago. The place was clean, everyone was professional and my tat still looks great 10 years later.

I got my first tattoo there last night. I had shopped around in a few places in Manhattan and found the culture a little overwhelming at most places. These guys were funny, nice, clean and professional. They made good suggestions about my lettering, went back and forth with me until I was happy, and checked in to make sure I wasn’t overwhelmed during. I’ll definitely go back, 100%.

Dave at R & D Tattooing has tattooed both my mother and I several times over the years, as well as many of my friends in the neighborhood. It’s a great place — clean, friendly, professional — and talented!

I’ve been using this crew since before they had the store and Rob was working out of his basement. Rob has since moved (I think, it’s been a while since i’ve popped in). I’ve used Dave & heard nothing but good about Richie. I will always have love for Dave as he masterfully covered up my X-wife’s name. They are a very talented crew, clean & prices are always right. A true no nonsense tattoo shop.

Clean, professional, great bunch of guys & you can’t go wrong with any of their artists.
Walk in’s are very welcome.