Gardenia Nail & Spa

I had a pretty horrible experience here. I walked in this morning asking to get a gel manicure. The woman working me seemed to have a hard time removing my previous gel manicure. She left my fingers in alcohol for a full 20 minutes before attempting to remove the polish. She then called the owner over and explained to her (in their language) that she is having a hard time. The owner proceeds to turn around to me and tell me that «they need to charge me an extra $ 5 because i have OPI gel on my nails and it’s more difficult to remove».
I have NEVER heard of such a thing in my life. I told the owner that if that is actually a rule, then I will leave and go to a different salon. She then tells me that she needs to «call the owner and let me know». So she walks to the side and «calls the owner», puts down the phone and tells me it’s ok and I don’t have to pay.
It was just really awkward and made me feel terrible after only a few minutes of being there. Don’t recommend!

Was not open at 10am (or even 15 minutes after that) as their store front signage AND Unilocal page claimed.

One of the only places in NYC with affordable gel manicures. The salon is clean, staff is friendly and they have a wide variety of colors (one of my biggest pet peeves). I’m usually in and out in approximately 30, 45 minutes tops. Don’t let the quick timing fool you, they’re quick but efficient. You can leave with your nails perfectly shaped, neatly painted and cuticles cleanly cut all for $ 24.

I went in today for a gel manicure and ended up trying their SNS manicure, the powder gel. It was $ 45 and looks amazing! Aileen did a perfect job and the color selection for the relatively new product was impressive. I’ve been going here since I moved to the area and didn’t know they did the powder manicure. I love it and definitely would recommend going in for one!

My go to nail spot. Across the street from my apartment, clean, affordable and very quick & efficient service.

I went here for the first time and I loved my nail tech Rachel. She was so calm and took her time, I’m usually extremely picky when it comes to my nails and she made me feel calm like she knew what she was doing. I didn’t have to tell her anything. My gel mani came out just the way I wanted it to, nice and thin. My pedicure as well. The salon is really quite. I’m definitely coming back.

I’m fairly new around the area since I’m from Cali and they mostly do Acrylic and 3D designs there and so i realized that most places only do gel manicure. I had a nail emergency and needed to get my acrylic fixed ASAP. This was the only place that knew how to do acrylic like back home.
I walked in during opening hours and they didn’t turn me away like some other nail salons, they actually welcomed me and was able to fix my nail as soon as possible, right then i decided to do a full gel set for all my nails. The workers Aileen & Joy were able to help me out throughout my first experience there, they were really nice :)
I will actually be coming back again but with my natural nails this time, thanks to Ellen also!
Paying in cash is recommended, btw.

came here for their early bird special from mon — thurs to 2pm! mani/​pedicure for only $ 20. for the city this is greattt. unfortunately many other people know that as well so make sure you get there a good time before 2pm. after 1pm there starts to start a line of people trying to squeeze in a quick cheap mani/​pedi. in terms of quality of service it wasn’t the most specular but there really wasn’t anything to complain about. definitely would recommend!

I just got a manicure here and all of my nails now have a really nasty fungus. I’m positive it was this salon because I hadn’t had a manicure in 2 months, I was letting my nails breathe a little and they were perfectly healthy. Three days after my manicure I removed the polish and every single nail had already started to turn white — I was devastated. I’ve tried several different over the counter remedies and nothing seems to be working so I’ll have to go see a doctor.
Seriously, it’s not worth saving $ 5 to $ 7 to go here. It’s unsanitary and not worth risking your nail health. They do not clean their tools properly.

I choose to go to Gardenia because they keep everything impeccably clean. For the price, it’s really hard to beat the service.
Beware — if you are somewhat regular customer and they are busy they won’t even try to fit you in. They just tell you to come back later, typically after any specials are offered. I’ve started frequenting other salons in this case instead of making a second trip.

Just had my nails ruined by the owner/​manager. She spent 25 minutes filing and cutting my cuticles, stopping to answer the phone, greet customers and ring people up at the register. Touching money and then going back to my manicure without washing is gross. She didn’t even pretend to sanitize.
Filing for 30 minutes is too long. My nails are usually weak anyways and after that, they are non existent. She filed flat across the nail which I don’t understand. That doesn’t help shape them and I didn’t have polish on to remove.
After mauling my nails, she told me to get up and go wash my hands which makes no sense, since when I asked her to soak my hands before attacking my cuticles, she said they couldn’t be wet or the gel wouldn’t stick.
Once I saw the state of my nails, I said I didn’t want a manicure anymore. She said it would be $ 8 for the filing. I paid it, left and will never come back.

I’ve tried a lot of nail salons in the midtown east area and I have to say Gardenia is at the top of my list. They always do a great job and prices can’t be beat. They’re very accommodating with appointments and walk-​ins. The salon is small but it’s comfortable and clean.

I have been a loyal customer to this salon until a new one opened down the street. However, I came in today because this new spot was closed and I was expecting the same great service that I have usually received when I frequented the salon for my gel manicures about five months ago. However, I am afraid that this time will be my last.
I came in asking for a gel manicure and regular pedicure. When I sat down into the chair, one of the ladies (who I think is the owner of the joint) looked at my outgrown gel pedicure from three months ago and started insisting that I get a gel pedicure again, which I explained is out of my price range at $ 45. She kept insisting that they had the cheapest gel pedicures, that it was a «good deal,» and then started grabbing my engagement ring and saying something to a man in Chinese. She then starts wrapping my feet in plastic wrap and hands me a spa pedicure menu saying «pick one.» I hand the menu back and say «I just want a regular pedicure.» At this point she walks away, and another lady comes to finish what I later find out is a special spa pedicure.
This review is not to say that the employees don’t do a meticulous job here, because although I was not completely satisfied with my experience, the ladies here always do an amazing job. However, being charged an extra $ 14 just to get moisturizer on my legs and being forced into services that I don’t want? Definitely the last straw.

I went back to this place because it’s hard to find a salon in the neighborhood.
This time the service was impeccable, and the back massage incredible!

A new lady did my gel manicure at my most recent time here, and three of my nails chipped within a few days. I went back to have them fixed, and the lady decided that the best way to fix it was to just paint in the chipped parts. Well not even 24 hours later they chipped right off.
Also, the color i chose was $ 5 extra and they didnt tell me until it was time to pay.
I see a lot of updated reviews with lower ratings. Maybe they need to stop making changes (for the worse)

I have a feeling today may have been my last visit to this salon. I’ve been a pretty loyal customer for a year and a half, and the constant up selling and policy changes here keep throwing me off.
The women who work here so phenomenal jobs. I am always very happy with the results I get here… but it does come with a cost.
They have a frequent buyer card. The story has been the same for the past year and a half: ten services equals one free manicure or eyebrow wax. Ok. I spend $ 24 each time for a gel manicure. I wanted to give my nails a break and went in for a regular manicure. I told them up front I have the card, and I want a regular mani. Three women plus the owner each pushed for me to get gel, even though I told them each I was redeeming my free manicure! When I was about to pay, I put my card on the counter, and the owner tells me that now the card is only valid when I purchase the $ 20 mani/​pedi package, I get $ 8 off the service. It’s the middle of winter, I’m wearing skinny jeans and snow boots. I have to literally take my pants off to get a pedicure.
The credit card minimum has been $ 10 until now. They usually push for cash, which I get, but I usually only keep a few bucks on me. When one girl tried to pay for her eyebrow wax, the new card limit is $ 15. I have insisted paying with my card before, but the most horrifying experience was when the owner tried to look in my wallet and tell me I had cash to pay with by literally touching my wallet. Not cool.
And like someone else mentioned, the women do talk A LOT amongst themselves. Aileen was always really great at talking WITH me, giving me a personable experience I prefer to receive. But yes, there’s a lot of talking, and more recently, one woman stopped filing my nails to answer a personal phone call, and balanced the phone on her shoulder while skipping one nail and continuing on to the next.
This was such a nice salon a while ago. Now it’s just out of my way and not enticing enough for me to come again.

I came here for a gel manicure and when I left I was very happy. The spa was clean and all the girls were very nice. I would say my manicure was three stars but the customer service was five stars.
After three days, four of my nails needed to be redone because two had chipped and two others had the nail polish starting to lift off the side. I only do gel manicures and except for maybe once or twice, they always last me 2 ½ weeks. I went back into the salon and spoke with the woman in charge. She looked at my nails, and then had me sit down so that they could be fixed. They were very accommodating and although I wasn’t happy with having to go back, their response was appropriate.
I would come here again to try another gel manicure, but I don’t think I would have my nails done here if I was going on vacation and unable to have them fixed if necessary.

I came here for their weekday special (mani-​pedi $ 20) but ended up getting a gel mani and regular pedi.
Nail salon: It’s very clean and they have great products. It doesn’t feel like a hole-​in-​the-​wall dinky nail joint. It feels like a nail SALON.
Service: They took me right away and the staff was very friendly and welcoming. I went to a nearby nail salon a week before but it was in no way a comparison to Gardenia and it was the same price.
They have a great selection of gel colors and this is definitely a clean and relaxing atmosphere! Will definitely be back.

I decided to try a new nail salon and had heard good things about Gardenia from a friend. Their mani-​pedi is $ 20 on weekdays before 2pm but I came at 3pm and got the $ 24 mani-​pedi.
My nail tech was really friendly and didn’t rush at all (the salon was mostly empty though). She asked me exactly how I wanted my nails cut and didn’t try to push extra services on me. I accidentally messed up the polish on a toenail while going to the bathroom and she fixed it quickly and without the sass that I sometimes get from other salons.
The manicure was great and my nails turned out beautifully. The only thing I didn’t love was the extra $ 2 charge for using their «quickdry» on my fingernails and toenails which is basically just drops of OPI drip dry on your nails to make them dry faster. I don’t know why this isn’t included in the basic package. I was out in an hour and had a relaxing experience so I’ll definitely be back.

Excellent spot for gel manicures (and relatively inexpensive too, only $ 24). I went in on a weekday during a 1 PM lunch hour and they had me out by 2:00 PM. I love that they are mostly clean and the zen the salon pronounces.
Most other Asian spas I have been to tend to be more quick paced and rush you to get out. They aren’t like that here at all. They are all about various freebies, like a legitimate 2 minute massage while you wait for your nails to dry) and various scented salts for soaking your feet pre-​pedicure.
Gardenia is currently hidden under scaffolding and other construction materials, but they are part of the first floor of a condominium complex.