smilin dave is wicked fahqn good!! He's been putting up with all of Seekonk boys for a while now. As you can see in his voluptuous gray hair! sam elliot aint got shit on Smilin Dave. Oh yeah, and he's done a ton of fabulous tattoos on me and all of my friends. Read Less

Walked in for my scheduled consult. He made me feel like we were wasting his time even though he was the only one there. He told me to schedule an appt for a consult (which this was) & come back with my ideas, which I already had & was trying to show him in pics. When we said we drove over 45 mins so could we do the consult now he shook his hands & said "Ooooh 45 minutes!" He walked in the back to grab some paper, we walked out the door. Read Less

Amazing job! Dave did 2 small tattoos for me, my first ones and I love them!!! Going back for 2 more. He offered great feedback as to the location I wanted them in as well. Nice guy, nice place. Great experience. Read Less

just got mine done a few hours ago.. Dave did a fabulous job! Free handed a beautiful butterfly the first tat I ever got 20 years ago! I will be going back to have him add too it! Dave is so sincere and follows up on his clients.. Im motivated to make a plan to finish it sooner then later! Read Less

I came here to get my first tattoo and I will definitely be returning here for all my tattoos. They were extremely professional and I had drawn up my design and the artist just did some touch up for me to make it perfect. It was thin design and I was worried they were going to tell me it needed to be bigger. But once I told him I wanted it on my ribs he informed that it was going to hurt but he could do it. I was so happy with the placement and outcome. We just walked in too, you're not required to make an appointment from what I understand. Read Less

Amazing environment, wonderful dudes that work there, phenomenal art work and great pricing! My personal experience with Dave was great! He's awesome to chat with and he's super light handed (which comes in handy with many hours of work to be done!) Every time someone asks where I got my work from I also say where and how amazing this place is! Need to come in soon to get my back started back up again! Read Less

I went to smilin Dave at federal hill tattoo with the idea of a tattoo based on the fabric paisley.he took my idea and made the most amazing original piece.people come up to me on the street and ask me if it's real it's that amazing.Dave is the most unassuming tattoo artist he has wonderful bed side manner he's soft spoken and kind .he let me ask all kinds of questions and put me at ease.he is also a super sick artist who understands the placement and color choices for a tattoo. I plan on going back for years to come thank you smilin dave Read Less

When I was 18 I got a crappy rose. Last year I decided to get a coverup and pursued federal hill tat, Dave did the most amazing job and I still look at my arm and smile. The compliments never end, and my family viewsMy piece as art. The place is great, and I wouldn't go anywhere else for a tattoo! Read Less

I got my second tattoo here last Sunday. I went in on Saturday to make an appointment with my friend. Since her tattoo was considerably larger than mine and we wanted to get them together, we had to make our appointment for Sunday at 5pm. I went in knowing exactly what I wanted - a very simple word in a very simple font just below my right clavicle. At first I thought I wanted all lowercase letters, and when Mike drew it up, we both agreed that it looked kinda silly - I was glad he felt comfortable sharing his opinion. He did a great job with executing the fine lines of the lettering.The tattoo was finished in about 5 minutes and although their minimum charge is $60, Mike let me have it for $50 (the price of the deposit). My friend got her state flag tattooed on the side of her hip - about 3x4 inches, in color. It looks INCREDIBLE. Furthermore, it's the Maryland flag, a really, really complicated design - I was so impressed.My only complaint is the music... I friggin hate hardcore. Definitely going back for my next tattoo! Read Less

I had one of my two tattoos done here and they were much better then the first place I went. Fast but thorough with plenty of ready to go ideas plus a decent artist on site to sketch what is in your brain. I have been with two other people here when they got there tattoos and both were satisfied with the results. My tattoo artist, I can not remember his name, I believe his words were sit down and shut up and 15 minutes later i had a tattoo. so maybe not the friendliest but who really wants to chat while being stabbed with a needle repetitively. Definitely rec commend! Read Less

If you want good work, they'll do it for you. I saw Mike for both my tattoo's. Both are about 3 years old. They both look terrific. I was recommended by a friend, and I would/have recommend anyone there. Prices can run high, HOWEVER; you get what you pay for and that is quality. $50 deposit- they draw up the sketch and set an appointment- deposit will carry over and taken off the price of tattoo. Read Less

I came here for my first tattoo.  I was planning on getting three stars on my lower ankle but ended up with a trail of ten stars around my hip.  Let me start from the beginning.My friend and I arrived early because Federal Hill only accepts reservations in person.  When I told the artist that I wanted a tattoo on my foot, he advised against it.  He explained that the skin on your foot is very delicate and foot tattoos don't hold up over time.  I guess a lot of people come in and ask for Nicole Richie's famous cross tattoo on her foot.  The artist claimed that it was photographed when she first got it and she constantly has to have it re-inked.  Federal Hill has a lifetime guarantee on their ink and will re-ink your tattoo for free if it fades.  However, that does not apply to foot tattoos.   I was a nervous to get my tattoo in the first place and now I was second guessing going through with it.  The artist told me he would do the tattoo if I really wanted him to, but he would prefer it if I got it somewhere else on my body.  He also said he understood if I didn't want to get it at all, he just wanted to tell me the truth.  My friend and I were impressed with his integrity and decided to go inside and think things over.The studio was clean, professional and inviting.  Right away, I decided I wanted the stars on my hip.  I had the artist draw stars, first on paper, then on my hip with a Sharpie.  He had in mind a big tattoo with two inch stars but that wasn't what I wanted at all.  I'm petite and wanted smaller stars and for the tattoo to only show if I was wearing a bikini.  I made him wipe his drawing off, redraw it again and again, then I would run half dressed to the mirror to inspect if I liked the design.  He was extraordinarily patient with me and made sure the final drawing was exactly what I wanted.Finally, we agreed on the design and size of the tattoo.  I had ten stars drawn in an arch, the largest resting on my hip bone.   He also suggested dots in between which looked fantastic.The actual tattoo only took eleven minutes and didn't really hurt.  The artist was professional, had a great sense of humor and now I have an amazing tattoo! Read Less

I got my first tattoo here.  On a whim, my then-boyfriend and I took a "road trip" from Boston down to Providence.  I don't recall how I found out about this place, but I believe an acquaintance had seen their work and said that they were good and reputable.A downside is that you can't make an appointment via phone - it has to be in person.  So lucky for me, we happened to go at a time when it wasn't busy so I was able to be ushered right into the chair.  Being that I was very very scared of needles, I didn't know what to expect.  But Bob, (or was it Dave?) talked me through the process and eased any of my concerns.  I chose to get a tattoo on my upper right back/shoulder area.  Bob (or Dave) was so good that I hardly even felt the needle and when he was all done, I almost signed up to get yet another one!  It has been 6 years and I have had no fading, despite my love of wearing tank tops and laying out in the sun, and it came out EXACTLY the way I had wanted.  I have since moved down to New Jersey and gotten another tattoo.  My regret - not waiting and getting it done at Federal Hill Tattoo.  Beautiful work, talented and friendly staff, and most definitely worth a drive from Jersey to get the next tattoo! Read Less