Devonshire Optical

Some the coolest frames you can imagine in the friendly atmosphere of a long standing neighborhood shop.

Manny is a great representative of the store. He has a natural enthusiasm for the store and its products, and it's a pleasure to deal with him. His no-pressure, patient, and extremely knowledgeable approach made me eager to do business here.

Manny went above and beyond expectation in offering me all kinds of great info and spending extra time to make sure I received exactly what I needed. Thanks Manny!

Pros: Great service. Extensive collection of unique frames.

Cons: None

Posted 07/20/09

John, who owns Devonshire, shops for his frames throughout Europe. Whenever I buy glasses at Devonshire, I am often one of the first in New York to have them. It's not until one or two years later that the chains such as Lens Crafters & Cohens begin to sell them and the frames begin to show up everywhere and on everyone. That's when I know it's time to purchase new frames. Customers are given expert advice and it's almost like having a personal shopper. If you like good service, expert style advice and enjoy being the first kid on the block to own something, this is the place to go.

Pros: Exemplary Service & Taste

Cons: None

Posted 04/21/09

Devonshire Optical is a breath of fresh air in the city. The people at Devonshire are helpful, patient, and full of good advice. Their eyeglass selection is also one of the best in the city. I'd been to alot of stores where I felt that I was about to be swindled or where the employees were either too busy or too uninterested to care. Skip the others, and go straight here now.

Pros: great selection, affordable, customer-service oriented

Cons: none

Posted 04/18/09

After reading the reviews on Citysearch, I decided to visit Devonshire optical. I'm ashamed to say that I was a little skeptical that there was nary a negative review. But I went, I tried on several frames. Had to get new lenses as well. I was told of all my options but never felt pressured into buying anything. I love my new glasses! Also, you get an NYU student discount.

Pros: Cosy, Service, Selection

Posted 12/25/08

they have got everything! you name it! colors, materials, designs, customer service!
I am really picky of choosing eyeglasses or sunglasses at that so I have tried many places with no results.
one day just walking by "Devonshire Optical" after my job I decided to give it a try since I have never been there before. Half an hour later I walked out as happy as never before that I finally found my perfect glasses.
great customer service - they answered to all my questions, both the girl and the guy helped me decide which one looked better on me( since I picked out like 30 pairs).
nobody pushed me or rushed me to buy anything and I am greatful for that.
Thank you and I will keep coming back.

Posted 07/20/08

You'll know as soon as you look in their rather amusing window displays that they have good selection, but when you go inside and actually get helped by a staff member, you will find that they have some really hard to find, unique and beautiful things that you wouldn't have even thought to look at. They carry Lafont eyewear, which I haven't seen in such abundance since I was in Paris. I'm sure I won't ever go to a different place for eyeglasses ever again.

Posted 02/01/08

knowledgeable-helpful staff-personal service-lots of choices-very prompt service-relaxing shop-good values

Pros: knowledge and choice

Cons: none

Posted 12/12/07

I read the reviews on Citysearch, then went to three glasses places downtown before coming to Devonshire. Now I know what it must have felt like for the Israelites to come into the promised land. Just so you know, I put optical joints in the same category as mattress places: rackets. They can charge ridiculous prices and I feel like I'm being sold snake oil. But at Devonshire, I found smart, helpful, normal people who cared about finding me a couple pair of nice glasses and charging me a fair price. I've never written a review on Citysearch before and generally suffer from a sense of my own ineffectiveness. So the fact that I'm taking the time to recommend Devonshire should be taken very seriously. It's where I'm buying my glasses from now on. The search is over.

Pros: Helpful, honest sales staff with good selection of designer frames at a good price.

Cons: No free cappuccino.

Posted 09/23/07

I have been extremely near-sighted for many years and so have a lot of experience buying glasses. This year I had to get bifocals--er progressives--and was really dreading this next step, so I put off getting a new pair for as long as possible, I ended up going to Devonshire shortly before leaving the country. They had a great selection at reasonable prices (for NYC) and had my glasses done in time for the trip. Dan was totally wonderful and let gave me lots of advice and encouragement with adjusting to the new prescription. I wish I could give them more stars!!!

Posted 08/23/07

I had a pair of non prescription sunglasses that I wanted made into prescription glasses and was told by three other opticians that it could not be done. Dan looked at them, checked the curvature of the frame and said he thought it would be possible. When my glasses were delivered to me they were perfect!!!! Thank you DEVONSHIRE !!!!! You deserve 10 stars !!! TTG

Pros: Everything about it is first class !

Posted 08/01/07

I've tried several optical stores with ok results, but Devonshire Optical stands out from all the rest. The service is first rate, the selection is unbeatable, and the prices are reasonable. All my friends and family have complimented me on my new eyeglasses. My experience with Devonshire Optical was so pleasant I will not go anywhere else. Thanks Dan for such a great experience, you have a new customer for life!

Pros: Selection of frames, and customer service

Cons: Not more store like it!

Posted 07/12/07

Devonshire is the place to go for high quality and chic eyewear. My opthamologist recommened I get Progressive lenses, corrective lenses that let you see at 3 distances. At Devonshire they fitted me wonderfully. I've never seen or looked better! My friends have gone there too for their eyeglasses and said it was great. This is a great place!

Pros: Excellent customer service, competitive prices, convenient location

Posted 07/02/07

I was impressed with the selection of frames, the knowledge of the sales staff, and the high-quality and personable customer service. The salesperson was patient, extremely easy to talk with, and very helpful in assisting me to purchase two pairs of glasses. When I returned to pick up the frames, a second salesperson fitted the glasses, carefully making sure they were comfortable and well-placed. I highly recommend Devonshire.

Posted 03/18/07

This is the best customer service I've had at an optical story in NYC. Dan fitted me perfectly for glasses and is always willing to make necessary adjustments. They have beautiful lenses and just great staff.

Posted 03/08/07

I have a friend in the optical business but she works far away, way upstate. I mention that because I've gotten a lot of inside info on materials used for eye wear, designer wear vs. the eyewear designers -- and also those opticians who are talented in helping you pick frames that flatter your face, that are good for your presciption, your coloring...

Devonshire not only carries all the top eyewear artists like Theo, Anne et Valentin, Booth and Bruce, to name a few, but their service is top notch. This is the kind of service you don't get anymore especially in the city. Since you have to wear glasses, you want them to be nice, right? Well, Devonshire allows you to browse their selection and take the time you need. John even wrote down the frames I liked and I came back a while later to actually order and see if I still ike them. They really know how to match your taste, and of course, the technical side of the prescription and the options for lenses.

There is a wonderful feeling here, the shop feeling, with no attitude. I can't recommend them enough.

Cons: None

Posted 01/31/07

My experience at Devonshire Optical was a great one! My boyfriend and I both got rimless glasses. Mine were Kawasaki with blue sides, and my boyfriend got Silhouettes that look great. The service there was terrific, and Dan recommended a coating that makes a huge difference in the glasses. I always love walking by and seeing their new and creative window displays.

Posted 01/14/07

best selection, great staff, great sence of style, fast turnaround, really great customer service.
I highly recomend them.

Posted 01/03/07

Best in the city. I shopped around: the service, selection, and price cant be beat. These guys have an eye for aesthetics, theyll take the time to help find the pair of glasses that complements your face & personality. Really nice people, honest service. No reason to go anywhere else.

Posted 09/11/06

I found the exact pair of glasses I was looking for at Devonshire. I had compared many on-line and in store options and while I found them at many locations, I chose to buy them at Devonshire because I got a great price and very helpful service. While trying on glasses the staff showed me many options from their extensive collection. And during the purchase they helped me get a great price by reminding me of the NYU discount they offer. Will definitely shop here for my next set of glasses.

Pros: Selection, Service

Posted 09/10/06

Very nice salespeople that were willing to order several pairs of frames just so I could check them out, and they have very competitive prices.

Posted 09/08/06

both I and my husband got prescription glasses here: coolest selection of frames, without an imposing atmosphere, that I have seen after several disappointments elsewhere. This is important since one does not want to be pressured into such important purchases, of items that sit right on one's face! I especially like their color frames, possibly the largest and most varied selection of non-conservative quality frames that I've seen in NY, yet within an intimate store: closer in all these respects to shops I've used in Europe. Very attentive staff, and good optical results. Highly recommended.

Posted 09/01/06

the selection here is unparalleled (they actually carry frames that you will wear), as is the service. unlike other such places, they will take as much time as it takes to find the right frames for your face and give honest assessments of how each looks and without the slightest hint of sales pressure. once the frames/lens are ready, they'll sit with you for as long as it takes until the fit is correct for each time you come back for adjustments, if necessary. i just bought a pair of glasses there a few weeks ago and have subsequently gone back to purchase a new set of sunglasses as well. each time, everything has turned out perfectly. great place, great products, great people.

Pros: selection, turnaround, service

Cons: none!

Posted 08/19/06

The staff is really friendly and helped me find a pair of sunglasses that was just right for me. Prices are so reasonable that I'm sure I will be getting a few more. The selection of frames is great. The store is well stocked on major brands as well as some more obscure, hard to find ones. I loved the whole experience!

Posted 08/14/06

When I first needed reading glasses, a friend recommended Devonshire Optical. Their professional yet personable service has kept me returning, both for new lenses as well as new and interesting frame styles that have been introduced.

Pros: Nice service

Posted 08/13/06

Devonshire is the Rolls Royce of Optical Shops in NYC. No games, no pressure just great frames geat service and superior staff.

Posted 08/10/06

I have been wearing glasses for my entire life, and Devonshire Optical is the best Optical store I have ever been to. The selection they provide is unparalleled and the customer service is superb. I left with two great new pairs of glasses, and even brought my parents back to get glasses there, too! The small space and private atmosphere make it so easy to browse around and find the frames that perfectly fit your face and personality. And to top it all off, I did not have to wait very long at all before they called me to tell me that my glasses had arrived and were ready to be picked up. All in all, a great shopping experience. Very well worth it!

Pros: Ambience, service, selection

Posted 08/05/06

I have had the same pair of glasses for years and one day they finally broke. I thought they were gone forever and I brought them in to Devonshire Optical and they not only fixed them on the spot, but they also straightened them out for me and didn't even charge me. I decided it was time for a new pair and came back with my prescription the next week. For a small store they had the biggest selection of glasses I had ever seen! Dan was really good about picking out frames that looked good on me. The hardest part was choosing just one. He was really good about explaining the different types of lenses to me and wasn't pushy at all. He even told me not to pay more for the thinnest lens because I wouldn't need it in the frame I chose. My glasses were ready the next day and since then I haven't stopped getting compliments! Definitely a good experience.

Pros: Lots of different glasses, honest and patient staff

Posted 06/12/06