Artist didn't introduce himself I had to ask his name after my tattoo was done. Didn't talk during my tattoo and I didn't like that. The tattoo turned out pretty well. I love coco though, she was such a pleasure � Read Less

Stopped in the shop last week and was able to get tattoos done right on the spot. First time getting tattooed by E, but he did a fantastic job! Professional and was able to chat throughout the session which helped me. This is a great shop and I won't go anywhere else!! Read Less

I can't say enough positive things about Jim and his staff. My family and I have been going there for years and every piece is more amazing than the last . We always leave planning our next visit and I have never been disappointed. Read Less

It's was great!! And the people are very friendly and kind! Great place to go trust me! They did a great job on my friend and jim talks to you and tells you great tips if your wondering and e is very funny! Ask coco about your pericings she's kind and will help you find what you want! Read Less

Jimmy has been tattooing me since 2007, and I have never had a bad experience ever. Always a fun conversation and easy going time. He does such amazing work to the point where you find yourself looking forward to what unique piece he's going to come up with next. Always my #1 spot and always the best in my book Read Less

Couldn't be happier with them. Mine is the before and after rose pic that was posted last week. I went to get color added and I walked out with a whole new tattoo. Jim did an AMAZING job!!!! Five tattoos there in the last eighteen months, and I've loved them from the moment I walked through the door. Coco is wonderful, she really got me to thinking about what I wanted and how I wanted to express it. Look forward to getting more work done, and I recommend them highly at every opportunity. Keep it up! :) Read Less

She forgot to mention that I was up till 5am because we had a house fire and lost everything, we tried to accommodate with a new date, but she was so self centered and have it that day!never once did she ask if everyone was ok or if I was ok from the fire,I was still in shock when they came in, but they didn't care,"just give us our deposit back and we'll go somewhere else. We did make it threw the fire ok, just list all our stuff Read Less

Island Avenue is a real tattoo shop! They are so professional and clean. Jim is the best tattoo artist in the area. He has done all of my tattoos and I wouldn't go anywhere else. His knowledge and years of experience shows in the quality of work that he does. If you want a tattoo that is done right the first time and is going to last go see the guys at Island Avenue Tattoo! Read Less

Horrible experience. Had an appointment for my daughter and myself , put a cash deposit down. Went there for our appointment and the shop has a sign on the door that they were closed for the day. Went in the next day employee had an attitude. Told us we had to reschedule or get our money back. Never got an appology. Needless to say we got our money back. DO NOT go there very unprofessional. Read Less

A few months ago I went to island ave to get my first tattoo. Id heard nothing but great things about the place so I was excited. I walked in with a picture of exactly what I wanted and when I showed coco she very rudely complained about how much they hate pictures. Iddont understand why its a very simple design no colors or anything. The tattoo artist however was very nice. That's really all this place had going for them. They charged me $120 for a small 2in long tat with no color. Which I didn't mind really because you get what you pay for. Unfortunately I payed for an extremely sloppy tattoo. It's just terrible. There's parts of my tat where he missed shading. And this is the first day I had my tattoo I saw this before I even had a chance to screw it up. I will not even go there to get it fixed. My advice is to not go there. Read Less

I had recieved my very first tattoo here over 22 years ago by Craig, the best in Pittsburgh. I have had other tattoo's done through the years by other places who couldn't even compare to these guys, I needed some help recently with my piercing and decided not to go to any places near me that have very unprofessional people working for them who really dont know what they are doing but try to act like it. Coco is the bomb I must say, she surely did take care of it for me, her and her husband are very professional but to the point which is ok, they know what they are talking about so as far as I'm concerned this is the best place in town. for anyone who is new to getting tattoo's and piercings, Jim and Coco cater to cowards, they will make you feel very comfortable and relaxed during your visit as they did with me. Read Less

so today i got my first two tattoos at island ave. i was so excited after hearing such good things about this place. A week or so before today i went in to make an appointment and discuss what i wanted ( very simple small tattoos) coco was nice and she said that everything i wanted was fine and such. when i went in today JIm had totally changed things on me. making things bigger with way too much unnecessary extra details. Dont' get me wrong, he does great work and im very happy with my tattoos however he was very abrasive and went about it the wrong way. Here i am, a little 18 year old girl getting her first tattoos, nervous, anxious, etc. and all he could do was shoot down my ideas. He did give some professional advice on how and why something wouldnt look right because of the spot or such, and i heeded his advice. But he continued to push his opinons on me about what i should get and it really wasn't pleasant having a debate like this in front of a roomful of people. great work, clean and such. but no professional people skills whatsoever. im not one hundred percent sure id recommend this place to a good friend, i guess if youre willing to deal with alot of attitude for good work, then go for it Read Less

I wont even give this company any stars at all. I called to see if they sold tatoo supplies because where my dad is from in canada they sell supplies in tatoo parlers, but the girl was very nasty and rude when i called to ask if she sold them and i asked her where a supply store was in the area as my dads a tatoo artist and wanted to pick up a few things or see what kind of supplies they have in the area and she contiunues to be very rude.. so i will not reccomend this place to anyone.. It was the worst customer service i have ever experienced anywhere in my life!!! Read Less

I got my first tattoo at Island Avenue when I was 18 - since then, I have not gotten a tattoo ANYWHERE that was even close to as good in regards to quality - and I have MANY tattoos. The staff are professional, polite, and friendly - and all of them are AMAZING artists...they work with you to create a perfect, unique design...unless you're picking flash art, no one will be walking around with your tat!! So far, Jim has created one amazing rib cage and is currently working on my backpiece - free hand!! I can't begin to describe how incredibly talented he and his staff are. I take my friends, family, and refer everyone i talk to that wants a tattoo...it's that good. :) Read Less

My experience at Island Ave. Tattoo was beyond great!! I walked in on sat. with an idea of a start of a sleeve no picture just a thought in my head.. Jim put it all together for me.. He is doing an awsome job on my arm!!I cant wait till my last sitting.. He is a very down to earth guy.. You can tell he takes pride in his work.. He did work on my family and they told me about Island Ave tattoo and im so supper happy they did. My sleeve is going to be so freaking awsome!! Thank you Island Ave Tattoo. You guys are the best EVER!!!! Read Less

Island Avenue Tattoo is one of the oldest tattoo shops in the Pittsburgh area for a reason. The people there know their s**t. Not only are are they extremely talented, they are very helpful, friendly, patient, and above all they want the customer to be thrilled with whatever tattoo or piercing they get no matter what it is. The shop is very clean and you can tell that keeping things sterile is a very important part of things there. Jim Allchin has been my tattoo artist and Coco my piercer for a long time now and I will never go anywhere else! Read Less

Went to Island Ave. Tattoo for my 5th tattoo - Had never been there before, went on a friends suggestion. The place is awesome - extremely CLEAN and the owner, Jim, is real cool - actually the entire staff is really friendly. He does beautiful work - clean lines and great color. (and he did it freehand! - liked that it was custom)I would HIGHLY recommend Island Ave. Tattoo for all your tattoo and piercing needs - GREAT PLACE!! Read Less

I am not from Pittsburgh. Someone recommended Island Tattoo to my cousin. She got her first tattoo there by Mike. The first time we went in Jim went over my cousins's thoughts and desires for her artwork she wanted done. She is a little indecisive but he was really, really patient with her. I appreciated that a lot. She went back in and got her tat, and she is thrilled with the work Mike did. Mike answered every question and also gave her the entire run-down on how to take care of the tattoo. I got my nose repierced by Coco in the Zen Room (that's what I call it). It was a very relaxing atmosphere. Coco knew I was nervous (anxiety) and she was so kind to me. She was extremely funny and easy to talk to. I will go back to her to get the rest of my piercings. She also did everything by the book. There was no concern at any time about cleanliness. I never worried about any time of side-effect or infection. She gave me all the paperwork on how to take care of the piercing and what to do if I had anything go wrong. She was very thorough. I don't go to a Tattoo Shop to get my ego stroked. I don't go to hear everything I want to hear. I want someone to tell me, yes, that's going to work, that's going to look good, or it's not. People that work at Island Tattoo aren't going to do work that they won't be proud of. After seeing so much terrible artwork over the years, and after reviewing the work Island has done, I will refer them to everyone I know. Read Less

Coco is the greatest woman you will ever meet.. But it never fails the owner Jim always has to say something smart or just be completely rude as ever. If you dont like people you shouldnt have a business. Being a business owner you should never ever disrespect your customers that hasnt done a damn thing to you. HE NEEDS SOME ANGER MANAGEMENT AND SOME PEOPLE SKILLS!! I PERSONALLY AND A FEW OTHERS WILL NEVER GO BACK THERE GOOD LUCK COCO AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO WORKS THERE DEALING WITH HIS RUDE A** SELF Read Less

I was visiting my family in Pittsburgh and had promised my niece since she was 14 that I would go with her to get her first tattoo when she turned 18--well, in Feb. she turned 18! We ended up at Island Ave by pure luck..and we're glad we DID! Everyone was awesome and my niece is super happy with her ink---I, too, got some work done by Jim and took it back to Maine with me as a great souvinier!!! I would definately go back to see them anytime I visit my relatives, again!!! AWESOME place!!!! Read Less

I havent had a tat in 10 years....I called Island Ave and talked to COCO....she was sooooo very helpful with all the info I needed about my tat....then when I got there....I showed Jim Allchin (Owner) what I wanted and what my ideas were for my tat and he gave me his input and his ideas and it was the best thing I could have ever done!!!! His vison of my tat and the colors are incredible! He has such an eye and talent that is just unbelievable! I will never go anywhere else for a tat again....I have been telling everyone I know to see him! I have 2 other tats from other places and now Im having Jim redo them and make them awesome! I also have quite few more that Id like to get and hes very informative on how he thinks they should be done....if you want an excellent quality tat....go see Jim at Island Ave Tattoo!!!! Ill NEVER go anywhere else! Read Less

alot of my friends have gone to island ave in the past for tattoos and piercings and i have heard nothing but wonderful things...i have 2 tattoos and 2 peircings already and i finally decided to have my nose pierced and went there. everything was fabulous, super friendly, energetic, clean, knowledgeable, just overall a great experience. its been a little over a month or so now since my peircing, everything is healed up great, no problems whatsoever. great place to go to :) Read Less

I drive past Island Ave Tattoo on my way home from work, and my need for instant gratification led me to stop in this past week to get my nose pierced. 20 minutes later I left in shock, after MANY piercings over the years I had NEVER encountered such a fantastic piercing artist... Coco is amazing! I left with an understanding of what had just happened, as well as a comfort in knowing if there were any problems She was just a phone call away. She also cared enough to suggest the side of my nose that should be pierced due to sleeping patterns, I wish the dude that did my eyebrow years ago would've told me that and maybe then it wouldn't have fallen out! Anywho, my nose has healed already (6 days) with no issues whatsoever. I only wish that I had gone to Island Ave Tattoo for my other piercings and tattoo... I am beyond impressed with their service and will be going there for any future impulsive ideas! Gold stars all around!!! Read Less

A few years ago I got my belly button pierced at Island Avenue Tattoo by CoCo. It never once got infected and healed perfectly! I got a tattoo there a few months ago, and it is absolutly gorgeous. The shading is incredible. I definatly recommend Jim. I have gone w/ my friend to 3 tattoo's there, and everyone he did is amazing. i wouldn't go anywhere else!! Read Less

I was a little nervous, but they were great. They made me completely relaxed. I didn't feel any discomfort. The place wes very clean and they were very professionl. I'm going back for another tattoo and belly ring. Read Less