A Cut Above Grooming Salon

The groomers at A Cut Above clearly love dogs, and treat them with loving care, respect, and attention. Everything is visible, so you know they are confident about what they do. Ming is lovely and makes a point of getting to know her canine *and* human clientele. And the free brush-out service in between cuts is an added bonus that builds cutomer loyalty and dog happiness.

Pros: GREAT personalized service

Cons: Expensive

Posted 12/03/09

When we first got our Tibetan Terrier, Oscar we called a local groomer in Westchester and asked if they had experience with the breed. They said they did so we expected good results. Boy were we wrong! After asking a tibetan terrier breeder in NJ and another fellow TT owner where they recommend, both said, A Cut Above. One trip and we were hooked!! They do such an excellent job, we travel from Westchester to their 83rd street location.

As other reviews have mentioned, the dogs are never stressed and always come out perfect. You can really tell how much Ming and the rest of her staff care for the dogs. Oscar is always so excited to see Diana when he walks in.

If you want a perfect groomed and happy dog. A Cut Above is the place to go.

Pros: Friendly and talented staff

Posted 12/03/09

A Cut Above does a great job grooming cats too! Hershey has been a client for the past 4 years. The staff is nurturing and attentive. I know she's in good hands when I drop her off.

Pros: Hershey the cat loves the pampering she gets.

Posted 10/28/09

When I got there at 8:30, Jose helped me. He was quite informative and seemed to care about my dog, Dharma, and her needs. He was very focused.

Adrian did the brush out and drying. He was careful and kind to my dog, which is important to me. I'll definitely use him again.

Nestor did the haircut. He was excellent. Truly a perfectionist and kind as well. I'll definitely use him again.

While I was there, Ming, the owner came in. She couldn't have been more gracious and we talked about her staff. Obviously she cares about her clients and seems to care about her staff too. She must treat them well, since most have been working there for years.

Dharma looks great and all treated her very well.

Thanks again!

Warmest, Jane & Dharma

Pros: Great staff. They're professional and very focused.

Cons: Haven't noticed any cons yet.

Posted 10/14/09

Your new 69th Street location, spotlessly clean, open and bright, with full vision of pets and groomers through a clear glass wall make the visit a treat for pets and their owners. Meticulous grooming and loving attention remains a constant.

Thank you Ming and Jamie

Posted 07/12/09

Thanks to the impeccable Ming and her fabulous staff, our PBGVs get loving treatment and come out ready for Westminster (or West 69th St.).

Pros: The best grooming salon in town.

Posted 07/06/09

just got back from snickers (cockapoo) for hair cut...couldn't be happier--we've followed a cut above from w. 83rd to w. 69th street which is closer to home . Service, enviornment caring, and grooming couldn't be better..best of all the groomers listen to your concerns and truly follow thru. -never been disappointed with snicky's cut... they give him puppy cut which looks great!!! Also from what I hear while checking in, is that they very good with difficult dogs--wish I could find a hair stylist without issues

Pros: Groomers Listen, Clean, Caring

Cons: none

Posted 07/03/09

Personal attention and honest caring staff!
We have had all our dogs groomed by Ming for the past 18 years.
Best wishes!
Lulu and Lili!

See you soon!
:)

Pros: Attention to detail and very nice to my bichons!

Cons: None!

Posted 06/20/09

I've been going to "A Cut Above" for approimately 11 years.

My dog acts as if she is going to be torturned near water. I've given up bathing her since this usually loving dog turns into a cat who scratches in the bathtub.

Ming and the groomers tell me she's fine with them. I do know Ming is very gentle and kind with her, and Nellie, my dog, generally stops trembling when Ming picks her up.

The establishment does excellent work every time. One time, I couldn't get over there by closing, and Ming dropped off the dog to me at my home, offering with quiet graciousness, and certainly going out of her way for me. It was really appreciated.

My dog, a Bishon, is a sweetie, but also "very" sensitive and reactive. She leaves there in a great mood each time, and loves the attention people give her afterwards.

Need I say more? I'd recommend this establishment without reservation.

Pros: Dogs are treated with gentleness and humanity

Posted 06/08/09

A cut above has been the most consistent and professional grooming salon I've ever been to. They do exactly what I ask for, will make suggestions for improvement, are quite nice and you can see it all happening in their open glass space so there are no secrets or worries about your pet. The salon owner Ming is totally accountable to all. They also just opened a 2nd salon in the upper 60's on the west side since they are so appreciated by their customers. I've been bringing my Shitzu (puppy cut) for 6 years and have been satisfied every time!

Pros: Treat dogs with respect and carefully

Cons: none that I've experienced

Posted 05/19/09

I've known Ming for 17 plus years. Her caring is so evident by the fact that my 4 dogs can't wait to get through that glass door. Her staff's ability to style so many different breeds is amazing. No matter what my pet's issues were, the staff always made sure they remained stress free and when they became senior citizens the caring and respect was heartfelt. The fact that you watch everything through the glass window is such a comfort. I don't know what I would do if I moved out of state....I will never give my pet to a groomer who takes them to that "hidden place". Also, how many shops offer free brushouts between cuts...none that I know of. Ming offers that service so your pet can continue to look great and remain mat free. As I said
"the only place in town". Also, her new location gets the same review....great!

Pros: Caring, respectful, extensive knowlege

Cons: NONE and I've been a client since 1991

Posted 05/11/09

I've been bringing my dogs here ever since i got them. Courteous personnel, clean and well-equipped facility (they actually opened the second venue several blocks away), glass walls allowing you to see what's going on inside, computer files of all the clients dogs, so that they can see special requirements from the owner, or refer to what the cut was last time you came; all-day service (you bring the dog in the morning and pick up before they close @6) - very convenient for 9-to-5ers.
They also clean ears, do a n a l glands and cut nails if there is a need for that. I don't know many salons who do a n a l s, so it's very important because this way you don't need to take your dog for a pricey vet visit (the extraction alone at vet's will cost you the same as the cut!)

Pros: a-gland extraction, computerized file system, transparent

Cons: a little pricier than the rest, but not dramatically

Posted 04/30/09

I have an old quirky mini poodle who gets very unsettled when he is away from home. ACB has been very helpful both in identifying this (until now) unknown trait and finding ways to make the dog as comfortable and calm as possible when he comes in for grooming-- be it having him come in very early/late so that he can be groomed when the salon is quiet to not force drying him and putting cotton in his ears so he isn't bothered by all the noise. They really go out of their way to take care of him...and he always looks amazing, to boot.

Pros: Focused on your pet's individual needs

Cons: Can be crazy at peak times

Posted 04/11/09

In the interests of truth in advertising, as it were, I've never taken my dogs anywhere else; and anyone can have a bad day.

That said, Ming and her staff are terrific. When I brought my first Portuguese Water Dog to them, the breed was still pretty rare in the city, and I'd been warned that most groomers had no idea how to shape them. A Cut Above did a great job, adapting the Porty standard to my tastes. They also put up with him! A non-stop barker in the crate, they let him wander around and even hang out behind the desk. During the last years of his life, when he was very ill and lost much of his coat, making his skin very fragile, they handled him with enormous gentleness and care.

A small poodle belonging to friends of mine had always been shaved by groomers, because of terrible mats. Needless to say, he was not a thing of beauty. Ming's staff patiently combed out the mats (yes, it's costly; yes, it's worth it) -- the dog looked sensational! They've never gone anywhere else since then.

Now I'm taking my 7-month-old puppy to A Cut Above. Every dog owner I've seen since his recent grooming has asked where I take him. And there's no question that he's well-treated: he greets everyone at A Cut Above as a long-lost friend.

There may be groomers that charge less. There are certainly groomers closer to me (I'm about 50 blocks away). But I would never even consider taking my dog anywhere else.

Pros: Great grooming, kind and attentive people

Cons: None in my experience

Posted 04/04/09

I have been taking my dogs to Cut Above for years now and highly recommend the establishment. Staff is professional, courteous, and talented. In addition, they are caring. One of my dogs had been ill for many years and was "cranky" most of the time, but he loved coming to Cut Above, as do all of my dogs. As soon as we approach the Cut Above door, tails wag, leashes are pulled to their max, and yelps of joy are heard. Don't bother going to any other groomer. Cut Above is the one!!!

Posted 12/30/08

I have been taking my four dogs to A Cut Above for more than ten years and have never had anything less than a perfect experience. They are so careful with each dog that I even trusted them to groom my elderly Yorkie (19 when she passed) although she had congestive heart and chronic kidney failure -- conditions which might preclude other groomers from accepting a dog. Another dog of mine, a skittish rescue when I brought him for the first time, has a complete personality change when he arrives at A Cut Above and becomes mellow and friendly to the other dogs (not the case elsewhere) . I can only attribute this to the zen-like sense of calm that permeates the environment there. He drags me down the block when we are close to 83rd & CPW because he is so excited to arrive!
A Cut Above give equal attention to both pedigreed and mixed breed dogs; and the proprietor, Ming (a devoted multiple dog-owner herself), always goes the extra mile to accomodate her customers -- whether it be staying late for a pick up or handling a specific request.
Five stars is insufficient for the exceptional service provided by Ming and her nurturing staff.

Posted 12/04/08

I have been taking my cocker in to Cut Above for several years after unsatisfactory experiences with other groomers. Dylan came to us with many problems typical of some cockers such as fear aggression, and I was very reluctant to have him groomed when we first got him because I was afraid he'd bite the groomer. A couple of places we went had young pleasant groomers but he came out half done because they made each other nervous and they didn't finish him. One groomer started out great but eventually they thought they needed one person to hold him for dear life while the other clipped him. I witnessed this and it was unbelievably stressful. They actually called to tell me not to bring him back before our last appointment.

Many of the people I saw walking well groomed dogs in the neighborhood told me they had been going to Cut Above for years, including a couple of cockers. The first time I took Dylan there it was like a cocker convention. The groomers at Cut Above have never had a problem with Dylan. It is like watching The Dog Whisperer through their picture window. Instead of watching a scared groomer and a scared dog as I had before, I saw a more compliant happy Dylan than I ever thought possible.

If I had known how much grooming a cocker needs before I got one I would have thought twice. And having to go through several bad (and expensive) experiences before I discovered Cut Above was not fun. The owner is an excellent business woman, trainer of grooming and dog person. On any given day there may be 20 dogs in various stages of grooming and I have almost never seen one on a table that seemed stressed.

In fact, we're going back tomorrow.

Pros: Expert dog handlers as well as groomers

Cons: Slightly pricey but you get what you pay for

Posted 05/02/08

I had the most horrible experience with my Wheatan Terrier. The groomer was nasty, the job was awful. I'm not one to write reviews, but if you love your pet, stay away!!

Posted 04/03/08

I had been disappointed by the way other groomers treated my blind Maltese. But when I called and spoke with Ming and explained my dog's handicap, she was warm and understanding and immediately said I could wait while my dog was groomed.

At first I was a little apprehensive since the place reminded me of a factory -- two large rooms closed off by glass -- with groomers in one room and dryers/fluffers in another room. But after staying and watching my dog be treated so well, I was hooked. I talked with the many other friendly pet owners as some of them waited too. They had been clients for years and only had wonderful things to say about Ming and her employees. Most of them had been with here for years.

I HIGHLY recommend A Cut Above!

Pros: Caring, Understanding, Knowledgable

Posted 05/14/07

I took my cocker spaniel to A Cute Above in the Fall 2002 after a year to trying various groomer's throughout NY and having my baby come home with razor tracks, ear infections and traumatization. When I walked into A Cut Above, what won me over initially was the glass window that allows you to watch the pets receiving cuts. The interaction between the pets and the groomers was astonishing. When I picked my cocker up he was clean, smelled wonderful but most importanly he was calm. It was our first time there and Ming was very friendly addressing us both by our names which was an indication that she understood and appreciated the relationship we have with our pets. 5 years later, we are still clients who travel from one of the outer boroughs. She takes care of him noticing when he is gaining a few pounds (and suggesting a little more excercise and a little less food) or when he needs a deep conditioner at the end of a particularly rough winter. She even caters to his separation angxiety. I am greatful to have found this wonderful place and would be hard press to find the same quailty of care presently received at A Cut Above anywhere else.

Pros: bright, clean, environment and friendly knowledgable staff.

Cons: I live in an outer borough so the travel is a little bit of a challenge.

Posted 05/11/07

My Lhasa Apso, Sophie, received a beautiful and expert grooming at A Cut Above yesterday. Ming and all the talented staff are welcoming and kind people who love dogs and so I feel confident when I drop Sophie off. I highly recommend A Cut Above to dog owners who want an excellent grooming experience for their dogs and themselves as well.

Pros: Talented, expert, knowledgeable dog groomers.

Cons: None.

Posted 04/04/07

We needed a groomer for our cat and called 2 cats for recommendations; they all recommended A Cut Above. The staff was so friendly and gentle with her, and they kept her in the lobby away from the dogs so she wouldn't be scared. We will definitely be returning.

Posted 05/28/06