Goose Tattoo

Goose Tattoo is an incredible tattoo shop! Not only does Nalla Smith do incredible pieces of art, but he's an overall awesome and very nice person to work with. He is currently doing an extensive and large tattoo on my upper back, which looks just like the picture i brought him, and i couldn't have felt more comfortable knowing he was doing it. He has been tattooing since 1991 and has mastered every aspect there is to tattooing. From color to black and white, portraits, large and small pieces, etc. He is the Michelangelo of tattoo artists, and thats not even a remote exaggeration. Cannot wait to see my finished tattoo!

Goose is the best tattoo parlor in NYC, hands down.  Where to begin?  First, Nalla is amazing.  In addition to being a great guy, he is a gifted artist and well able to tackle any project you throw at him.  For my last tat I went in with a very loose idea (i.e., "I want something that fits in this space, brings everything already there together, is sort of feminine, but not too girlie...") and he came up with magic, a piece that truly exceeded any expectations.  He also got it on me relatively quickly for such a giant and colorful piece -- he doesn't dilly dally, but does take the time required to get it just so (perfectionism is what you want in a tattoo artist!).  The shop itself is a warm and welcoming place full of genuinely kind people.  If you're thinking about your first tattoo, or your hundred-and-first tattoo, you will be treated with respect and made to feel at home and well cared for.  There is no pretense of cooler-than-thou that I've seen in other shops; this place is laid back and inviting for all who walk in.  They also take cleanliness very seriously, another quality you certainly want to look for in a tattoo parlor!  Watching them set up is like seeing a doctor at work:  tools are unwrapped from their sterile encasings, bottles are wrapped in plastic, gloves are worn and changed often as they prepare the space.  I have had nothing but great experiences here; each tattoo I've gotten from Goose (and I've had a bunch now) has been superlative, and has healed crazy fast.  This is the place for you.  What are you waiting for?  Go get inked!

Nalla is, in a word, the guy. While I may be, by "the scene's" terms, an old man -- no, let's say a lifer; that sounds more flattering -- I never had an urge to get a tattoo until recently, and when I finally did, I wanted to make sure the artist could hit the ball out of the park. I did a healthy amount of research around the neighborhood (and there are a LOT of tattoo parlors in this neighborhood), and while there were certainly cheaper shops around, I was very impressed by the professionalism all around at Goose and decided that if I received this level of attention and courtesy from Diana, the young woman at the front desk, and artist Nalla just when I walked in off the street to ask a few questions, then I could feel very confident about the actual process of getting the tattoo. And I was right. Even though I dropped the ball and missed my appointment by writing it on the wrong date on my calendar, they were able to fit me in the very next day. Nalla explained everything he was doing or going to do (again, I was a n00b), and he and everyone else at the shop were super-friendly, welcoming and supportive. The piece I wanted was not large, but I demanded geometric precision, and that's what Nalla delivered. Efficient, too -- including set-up, I was in and out in about an hour and 15 minutes. Nalla was also very informative about what I needed to do over the next few weeks to care for my tattoo. An ideal experience, really. If you're looking for a tattoo that you want to be particularly precise or beautiful, or that means something to you on a personal level and isn't some generic design, Goose is a great place to check out before you make a decision.