This place is all about greatness. Greatness meaning providing a five star experience by being cordial and taking care of you, as if you were a house guest! I know it's kind of bizarre to say about a nail place... but they've got a great vibe/energy here. First nail salon I've ever been serviced at that's got a mini blue disco light spinning around the ceiling and great sexy pop music playing on the radio. Its a fun, yet relaxing environment to be in and I will be returning soon. I think I found my new nail spot; especially for acrylics! Notes: -Ladies are thorough and take their time (yet in an efficient way), to make sure your nails and toes are nourished properly. -They offer neck and shoulder massage! Exactly what I need-- (always!) -Ladies are super polite and take pride in their work. An (that's her name) did an incredible job and even removed whatever they did at Cindy's to perfect the acrylics. -They offered me Vietnamese coffee, regular coffee and/or green tea. (So courteous!) - plenty of parking right outside the door (at least on a weekend !) -The ladies are willing to work with you if you have your own design in mind (I know this sounds silly, but some places aren't willing!) Since I've decided to go back to acrylic nails, I've been to a few spots and this place is by far the best I've been to in the Menlo Park area! read more

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Spending a weekend or two each month in the Bay Area, it's pretty key to find a good nail salon you can continue to come back to for good service, lots of color options, and friendly staff that do a better job than the rest. Elite Nail's & Spa is awesome. They are open 7 days a week and are quite affordable, especially for being in the Menlo Park area. If you need other services done such as blowouts, getting your hurr did, and hair removal, they will do that too! They can wax or thread! Pick your pain :) Their salon is clean, decently sized and staff is minimally conversational but attentive. Don't fret over finding parking, they have a private lot. Manicures take about an hour. See you guys soon! read more

Elite Nail & Spa - Massage chair and pedis - Nail Salons Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Used to go here and they were good. But last time they put something on my nails before the gel manicure. Did nothing to make it last longer and when it chipped it took the top of the nail with it. I always remove the gel myself (no salon has the patience to do it gently) and this stuff would not come off! Soaked for 30 mins in 100% acetone and still would not come off. Ruined my nails. Also, they don't seem to use clean tools anymore. They just grabbed some stuff off the tray. Not going back! read more

Was able to fit my friend in on the first day they reopened after COVID. Very friendly and helpful and the nails looked great!

it had been some time since i had my brows waxed and they were starting to look a bit shaggy and uneven! i was already heading to menlo park, so i stopped by downtown, and walked around and price-shopped a bit, and also looked for places with short wait times. this place seemed to do the trick, as there were many customers in the process of getting a mani/pedi, but 1-2 staff members available to do wax jobs. i was ok with the $15 price tag, since this was menlo park and the place was generally clean and spacious. they even changed the paper liner for the bed right in front of me, check for cleanliness! my brows were examined, measured, waxed, and cleaned up all in a matter of minutes (maybe 10? 12?) the lady did a nice job and i had a chance to check out her work before i paid and left. not bad for a last minute, no appt job, but i have gotten better brow waxes at other places, for a lower price. location is great, right smack in downtown menlo park, with plentiful street and lot parking. read more

I had some time to kill after a class in Menlo Park and before dinner in Palo Alto so I decided to treat myself to a mani. I searched Yelp for a suggestion and it came up with "Absolute Nails and Hair." I even called the number listed for Absolute and Kendra was able to squeeze my gal pal and I for two slots. To our confusion, the address listed was actually of Elite Nail & Spa but she was expecting us anyway. A technician (not sure of her name, she greeted me but did not introduce herself) assisted me and half heartedly tried to match a bruised red/purple color I saw on the Absolute Nails Yelp photos; the end color was basically a dark red, but I didn't mind the divergence too much. She was rather rough filing my nails.. So much so that the file actually scratched my flesh on numerous occasions and I had to shirk my fingers away. I've only had a gel mani one other time so I wasn't practiced in the routine; my tech was not great at directing me to move my hands for light activation and even just lifted my wrist to plop it down once. I tried to make some small talk but she repeatedly ignored my question. Even my friend sitting a few feet away was able to hear me ask the same question twice only to be met with silence. I had some base translucent coat and specks of color stuck to my finger in the end which the tech tried to file off; the translucent piece was large enough to peel away but the specks were pretty tough and I pulled away before she could file a chunk of my skin off. My buddy also had an unsavory experience as she got a shiny, subtly sparkly black/dark purple when she asked for a matte black. Some of the few positives are the cleanliness and the friendliness of Kendra (I presume the owner?). The pedi chairs look super plush and comfy, though I don't expect to ever try them here. Value seems to be the going rate for Menlo Park ($20 regular mani, $35 for gel) but for the overall quality and service I would probably stay closer to San Jose/ Milpitas. P.s. They take card but on my way out I noticed they encourage tipping in cash read more

Elite Nail & Spa - Gel mani - Nail Salons Near Me - Menlo Park, California

I REALLY liked my experience here today, for these reasons: 1. The chairs are MASSAGE chairs, and not just vibration, they actually have rollers that move up and down. 2. Both the pedicure and the manicure included very good massages, not just for the feet and hands, but also for the calves and forearms. 3. The people who work there are very nice. 4. The clientele were also very nice. 5. I got to catch up with my sister while getting pampered. Minus one star because the mani woman cut my cuticle and made me bleed. And if I may be so picky, the apostrophes in the name of this place are really bugging me. Really. Bugging. Me. read more

I'm very confused about the reviews on here...I feel like they are not talking about the same place. The service when I went a few days ago was still GREAT, but there was no hot stone massage, no massage chairs, and a mani/pedi was $45. Maybe they changed management. But either way, this place was really great for the following reasons: 1. I walked in on a Friday at 5:30 and was immediately seated 2. There were a lot of really great polish colors. 3. They massage your hands and feet for SO LONG, it felt so so so good. 4. They were very careful with all of the equipment and put a lot of time into the actual painting of my nails. They go back through with a brush to clean up under the nail. I found it to be very detailed and precise and overall very good work. 5. Both the ladies were very nice. 6. $45 isn't that bad for a mani/pedi in Menlo Park Anyway, I'd recommend this place and will probably go back. read more

I drop in to this place every few months for a mani pedi and they always do a great job. I've never made an appointment and they've always been able to take me with no wait. The massage chairs are comfy and I love the warm foot bath prior to a pedicure. The place isn't huge but it's never crowded and the overall ambiance is nice. They play soothing music and give great foot, leg and arm massages as part of the mani pedi. They even do a hot stone massage on your legs which is lovely. They're pretty efficient here: there are typically two people working on you at all times, one on hands and one on feet. A standard mani pedi takes about an hour or slightly more. They're very thorough and the polish always comes out perfect. Everything is super clean and hygienic which I definitely appreciate. The ladies that work here are sweet and always accommodating. I do wish they wouldn't press for cash for tips - I never carry cash - but they'll put it on your card if necessary. There's plenty of parking in the lot out front and the downtown location is great. It's right next to Refuge, one of the best lunch spots in Menlo Park. Make a day of it and treat yourself! read more

NEW OWNER NEW EXPERIENCE I've been there twice since the spa (thankfully) changed hands. I've not been disappointed either time. I was treated promptly and both times satisfied with the service. Highly recommend. read more

This review is for just one tech (Kim) I received really poor service during my first visit. I only scheduled a pedicure and was was assigned to someone named Kim. Kim was so rushed and rude. She kept repeatedly hitting the top of my foot to tell me to move it instead of gently moving it herself (like 99.5% of what other technicians do). This went on during the entire process - she was very rough and acted like she was being forced to complete the session. I was there with an appointment after a long day and was looking forward to reading my book and relaxing - instead I left there feeling rushed, tense and was out $50 The other techs seemed patient, gentle and polite - do NOT get your nails done by Kim, if you find yourself here, then make sure it's not her. read more

Just went to Elite for the first time and was happy to see Kim is now the new owner with her sister. It's much more affordable, they take credit card & can add the tip in the card!, the ladies don't talk about people, it seemed like a happy place to work, very nice space and much quieter/easier to get in than their neighbors. I didn't feel like I was putting them out - they were very happy to see me and took care. The hot stone was amazing! I'm very happy to have a new menlo park favorite and b/c of the price I'll come back more frequently! read more

Hands down the best value anywhere - manicure and pedicure for 40.00 including the stone massage. I always tip 10.00 just because I appreciate not being overcharged and I like the consistently excellent service. Much better than Cindy's in my opinion thanks! :) read more

This is a great place! I love going here to be pampered. There is a great deal right now so make sure you get in and get yours!! Get 2 manicure/pedicure appointments (a 90.00 value) for 70.00!! The only catch is you need to use it within 60 days. For most of us that will not be a problem. Make sure you give them a call or stop by and get your certificates before this deal is over! Jennifer is amazing and don't forget... they also do waxing and threading! read more

Very rude staff. 5 minutes before our appointment they called demanding to know where we were. My nail tech was FaceTiming while waiting for my nails(gel) to dry. After we were done they demanded tip and cash and told us they didn't want to put the service charge on card. I asked if there was an ATM near by and the woman said "I don't know, go find one". Overall it was a very unpleasant, rushed, sad experience. read more

This was by far one of the best manicure/pedicure experiences I've ever had. The salon itself was nice and clean. It was nicely furnished with new equipment. It was roomy and ventilated. I went during the day, so I didn't have to wait. If you do have to wait, they offer a wide variety of magazines and polishes to choose from.The girls working there were friendly and fast. For my pedicure I had picked a bright nail polish color. She did an amazing job, I still can't believe the detail and care she put into painting my toes! The also give you an incredible foot and leg massage. They use hot rocks -- I didn't know if I would like that. But it was wonderful. I think this is what makes this salon different from the rest. While one person is working on your toes, someone else is working on your manicure. I got the same great treatment and care with my hands as I did with my toes. I just went for the basic manicure and pedicure, nothing fancy. If you need to have nails for special occasions you might have to go somewhere else, they don't do acrylic nails here. This is a bonus for those of us who don't like the smell of acrylics. I will be returning very soon! read more

I had my facial and waxing today and that was refreshing. I enjoyed it but when I got done, the one who had helped me out today, offered to get my hair washed and dried. I was going to tell her, "I'll do it myself, thank you for the offer." but she insisted. She did wash and blow it. The disappointing part: my hair was scrubbed but not thoroughly. I thought she'd wash, dry, and and at least style but it didn't happen. If you do hair as part of your business, make it look presentable/gorgeous/beautiful. I do have lots of hair that's curly but I walked out like a 1/2 pampered pup...feeling half fresh and 1/2 natty. Ugh! I didn't expect this at all! Another downer: I almost got pressed for doing a mani/pedi. Twice. I'd like to but not today. It's good to ask but not force someone for business. I'll come when I want to. Thanks for the facial today!! :) read more

My nieces and I had a wonderful afternoon with Kim and the other ladies there. We called ahead Friday at around 3:30 and were able to get in for mani/pedis. The ladies were very nice and attentive and my niece loved their mani/pedis (as well the candy at the front desk). And I was thrilled with a great pedicure (much needed X's 100) and lovely gelish manicure. The amount of time we were in there was just about right. The manager Kim was attentive, hard working and had a quiet, positive demeanor. My nieces and I will happily return when the opportunity presents! They loved it as well. Thank you, Elite! read more

Even though I moved away from the area, I still try to come back for their beautiful mani/pedis as often as possible. Get a back & shoulder massage from Kim. She does wonders on those nasty knots in your back. Ask for An for shellac... she is really detailed and does a wonderful job. read more

Elite Nail & Spa - Gorgeous shellac... as usual. Love this place! - Nail Salons Near Me - Menlo Park, California

I found this place on yelp.. I thought I would try a new place And I WAS NOT Disappointed. Amazing massages for the mani /pedi. I had Cindy and Tracy and I will DEFINITELY be back to see them. I will be back here and recommend elite nails!!! P.s I also like that line the pedi tubs, + in my book!!! read more

I won't be back. They've really gone downhill.... also if you are looking to get a gel matte black manicure apparently they don't do that here. So now I have matte black toes and regular gel black nails... read more

Elite Nail & Spa - They've really gone downhill.... also if you are looking to get a gel matte black manicure apparently they don't do that here. - Nail Salons Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Let my just share my latest experience that followed a number of occasions I left really unhappy with my manicure. I showed them a picture of the style of manicure I wanted - white with silver glitter on the top edge. I got a white polish. Done. I asked for the glitter and showed the picture again. Even though it was 90 minutes before closing time and no other customers were around, that needed attention, they then rushed and only slapped a massive drop of glitter polish on the top of my nail, without distributing it or paying the least attention to how it looks, booting me out the door. Now I have bulks of glitter on half of my nail, uneven polish, the glitter coat is darker than the top coat so it looks brown and I had to pay 50$ for that even though I told them I was unhappy with it. Sadly, this is not the first time I left unhappy. Last time a had a pedicure, I was sent out of the room before it was even slightly dry, with my shoes in a bag. They told me I should drive home without my shoes on. After standing in the sun for half an hour I had no chance but to ruin both shoes and pedicure to get home. I was a loyal customer for a long time, but if this is how you treat your regulars, you don't deserve them read more

- The manager said the price for a mani+ pedi would be $50. She then encouraged me to get a gel mani, which costs $15 more (normal mani $20, gel mani $35), so the total would be $65. I said okay, but then the final charge was $70 and she said the gel mani was $35 and the pedi was $35. I was too flustered to correct her, and ended up paying $70 plus almost a 20% tip (I don't know why). That was THE most expensive mani/pedi I have ever gotten. - My finger cuticles were not pushed down and cut properly so the bottom portion of my nails are all crooked. This is really important for me because I have tiny fingernails and short nails, so I need the cuticles to be done really well to make my nails look bigger. - The nail polish on one of my big toes was completely ruined in a couple hours. I don't even know how, but it has a huge dent so I will have to remove it. The only good thing was that the staff are really nice and try to pamper you. However, it turned out to be a horrible experience for me regardless because of the price and how my nails turned out. read more

Excellent location and great services. We came here with 5 of us and we all got pedicures and manicures done and love Kim and Jenny. I would recommend their services. Easy to get the parking. read more

Elite Nail & Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Yet another positive experience at Elite. My last pedi lasted a full month. For those of you who walk in during busy times, please try to understand they work really hard to try to please everyone at the same time. I know how frustrating it can be to feel rushed, but walk ins are a challenge for small businesses when they also have a full appointment calendar. Give them a try! Best to call ahead if possible. read more

Expert level staff! Clean, pleasant, reasonably priced. I have been to almost every shop in the area for the past 2 1/2 years and this is by FAR the best ever! Highly and absolutely recommended. read more

I LOVE this place! The ladies here are SUPER nice. They are very friendly and do a excellent job! They don't haggle you for upgrades or rush through one client to get to another. I have gotten 3 pedicured done here and they have all lasted a long time. The pedicure is wonderful! The best I have ever gotten. They take their time to make your toes pretty and really put a lot of care into it. The hot stones and warm cloth is the best. NO 30 second calf massage here! I also just recently received a shellac mani which was wonderful! It lasted 2 weeks and no nick or peeling just showed growth. While I was getting it done. The lady gave me a back massage= Heaven! =) The prices are a little high for me but this is Menlo Park and in my book ,it is worth it. I work right around the corner form this place and go here on my lunch. I have been to may other salons but this is the best one ever! read more

My favorite place! Just went here today for the first time to try a new salon in Menlo Park. Not only did I run into an awesome spot but also ran into Kim who has been working in Menlo park with local customers for 9 years! Kim and An provided service like no other... Message.. Tea,water or Diet Coke (yes my favorite!) and quick to greet you... Basically everything you expect in a high quality nail salon. I for sure recommend coming here if your looking for clean, relaxing, and perfect nails. I will for sure be back! read more

Definitely DO NOT recommend. I went to the salon for a simple gel mani pedi and their pricing was very confusing. My friend wanted acrylic gel nails and was told two different prices, both very expensive at $60 and $65. When it was my turn to come up, I asked for the price for a gel mani pedi and was told that it would be $60 for both the hands and the toes. I ended up paying $90 and wasn't pleased about it. I wasn't pleased because I was told a different price at the beginning of the appointment. Also, three out of 4 friends got cut on their fingers when the nail ladies were cleaning their nails. I also got a design on my thumb nails and one of my designs were smudged and the nail lady refused to fix it. After the appointment when I asked why the total price was $90, I was told a DIFFERENT price for gel than I was told at the start when I walked in. The nail lady never told me that the price was going to be $90 during my appointment. I was lucky enough to bring $100 with me in order to cover the cost. In addition, the lady who worked on me went on to make rude comments about my appearance in effort to promote their business. None of my friends, including myself were satisfied at all with the service or the result of our nails. We definitely aren't going back and would not recommend this place as they are overpriced and doesn't do a job worth what you're paying. read more

Elite Nail & Spa - Nail Salons Near Me - Menlo Park, California

I love Elite Nail's & Spa! Every time I come here, I leave feeling relaxed and amazing. They have never failed me. Once I walk in, I am greeted and offered a drink. This is a great place to relax and get pampered after those long weeks. They have message chairs which are very comfy. I always get a mani and pedi here because they have a wide variety of high quality nail polishes. They always make sure I leave with beautifuls fingers and toes! I would definitely recommend Elite Nail's & Spa to all my friends. read more

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They are great! They consistently do a good job and nurtured my nails back to health from being damaged from fake nails. Now I have my own nails strong and healthy. read more

I had been going to Elite Spa for years and been getting a bikini wax by Tina. She was sweet and nice gentle and thorough. She left and the new owner took over. The price was raised, she was rude, mean, and painful, and did not tell the truth on many occasions. My niece went and she wanted to charge her 60.00 for what I got for 40.00. My niece also said her bikini wax was crooked, painful and just awful. Never again. read more

If I could give a o star that's what I would choose. By far the worst service I have ever received at a nail salon. I took my five year with me for a pedicure and they seated us separately. My daughter was upset and wanted to be close to me and the owner spoke to us very rudely. When I told her that I had brought my daughter as a special treat and we wanted to be together, she kept arguing and finally she let out our water telling us that we should leave. I was absolutely appalled. Not to mention that my five year who was watching the owner speak rudely to us was so upset. I will obviously not go there again but wanted to write this review so nobody makes the mistake of taking their children to this place as they have no respect for their clients or for little kids. What was supposed to be a fun, bonding experience for me and my daughter ended up being quite a nightmare thanks to this unpleasant experience. read more

They did a great job on my nails the prices were reasonable (way cheaper than the place across the street), friendly staff and clean shop. The reason I am only giving a 3 is because I was told a mani pedi is $45 which was perfect. When I went to pay they told me it was $50 because they gave me a message (which they did to my legs and hands and I assumed that was part of the mani pedi). They never asked me if I wanted this additional service. It is a bummer I would have rated them higher had that not occurred. read more

I was really excited to get my mani/pedi here especially since some of the reviews mentioned hot stone massages (I'm a big fan of the massage portion of mani/pedi's). Sadly, I was incredibly underwhelmed. They just run the stones over your legs and the actual traditional massage was much better. This place is very average. Yes, it is clean and they were nice but it was just "meh". I got a french mani and the nail technician diluted the white polish with so much acetone that the white wasn't white. It was also a little sloppy and I had to ask her to redo one nail that was obviously not done well. There are better nail salons in the area for the same price IMHO. read more

I went here for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I read the reviews so I knew to call for an appt. The experience was really good. While I was there, several walk-ins came and nobody seemed to have to wait much. I got a mani/pedi. The pedi still looks really good, and the mani lasted about a week. That's good for me. I will definitely be back. I like that they kept the doors open for ventilation and the space looked clean. read more

I have been going to Elite nails for over a year. They are always very clean and polite. The hot stone massages are fantastic, and the hand/arm massage is wonderful. Depending on who does your manicure you might even get a massage up to your shoulder and part of your neck, AMAZING!! All this for $40+ not bad. I have also gone with some girlfriends, 6-8 ppl, on a week night evening for a mom's night out. Jennifer, the owner, will stay open later for us and we can bring appetizers, drinks, including wine. What is better than getting your feet rubbed, having a glass of wine, and catching up with your girlfriends? It is really a great evening out. read more

This was the worst experience I ever had at a nail salon. The girl giving me a pedicure cut my toe so badly that it took the whole pedicure to stop the bleeding. I didn't get the hot stone massage because of this and they made me pay the regular price. I will never go here again ever! read more

If I could give this place zero stars I would. I came to get my nails done the day before Prom and, before you discount me as a young melodrama queen, hear me out. I asked for what I found pretty simple: white acrylic tips manicure and a regular white pedicure. Having gotten pretty crappy acrylic tips in the past, I was hoping these would be at least a little bit better, but I was completely disappointed when I looked down and saw that the woman began painting my acrylics with out filing the sides. The solution they paint on top of the acrylics (the regular stuff) was JABBING into my fingers on the sides. My nails looked immensely chubby. I asked for square nails, and, instead of receiving the nice smooth square, wounded up with a 180 degree flat surface. When placed under the late, my nails began to burn the skin around the nail bed. Being a naive teenager, I just allowed it to happen. The tips were white, giving a sort of uneven french manicure look. She said "you're done go get your pedicure", and I saw that my nails had no color on them, just a shabby "french" manicure. Me, extremely optimistically, hoped she planned to paint them after, even though they were extremely thick. The woman who did my pedicure proceeded to accidentally scrape part of my foot with her nail and then not even say sorry but just kind of touch it a bit. The actual look of my toenails was probably a 4/5, as they were a bit streaky but pretty standard for a salon of this type. They told me I was done and I said I wanted white nails and made that clear earlier so another woman came and took some white polish and brushed it on quickly, no base coat, no top coat. In total, I was rung up for 85 dollars. I gave them a five dollar tip because it is courtesy. For the next half an hour, as I was alone, I just kept looking at them and trying to adjust them because they hurt so much, but it was really no use. I showed my friends when I saw them later that night and some of them told me they looked like a weapon and that this is an example of reasons not to trust a manicurist. The next day, I went to my mom's favorite nail salon and they started laughing and then fixed my nails. It took nearly an hour, but I eventually got nails that were less atrocious. I posted the photos of the nails I ended up with. read more

Elite Nail & Spa - the right hand of the terrible nails I received and talked about below - Nail Salons Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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I won't be back. Here's the deal. The salon is convenient in Menlo Park and nice looking and spacious. Service, however, sorely lacking. And expensive to boot (but of course it's Menlo Park - still, there's better for the same $$). Technician friendly but here's my gripes: Not sanitary - watched technician use restroom and then come outside and just put her hands in sink no soap. Then she proceeds to touch her face, eat, touch her bare feet and then greet a client. If I hadn't been 3/4 through my service with a different tech, I would have left immediately. Watched another technician squirt lotion out of a broken dispenser, which lotion then squires all over preparation tray. Instead of wiping it up and getting clean lotion for client, she scooped spilled lotion off dirty tray and put on client's hands. Ew. Lastly, I was forced to tip in cash and was not given change for my bill, resulting in a tip of 40%. Hello. Offer change and let customer determine tip, especially if you're going to require cash trip. Horrible. Avoid. read more