Doin’ Dishes

Awful experience with my daughter and her visiting grandparents! To start with, the hostess/​salesperson rudely told us to ‘not touch’ the figures we were choosing to paint as we were looking at them (not touching anything!). She seemed exasperated when we asked for
paint refills. But the worst part was the pricing: she did NOT tell us that in addition to paying for the piece you paint, they charge $ 7 per hour per person. My daughter painted one piece, my mom
did another one and I helped with both — the result was $ 66 for 2 small pieces over a little more than an hour. The sales lady admitted she ‘probably’ did not tell us about the policy — she ended up taking off $ 10, not very graciously and only after she double-​checked that a tiny printed sign did not actually mention the price per person policy. I don’t mind paying for a service if I know in advance what it is, but in addition to the outrageous price, the lack of transparency and plain rudeness made me never want to go there ever again.

A fun, unique idea for a date. The late hours are quite a plus, since you can stop in after dinner and still get a piece done (at least when I went on Friday and it was open until 11). It does get expensive — my one piece ends up at $ 34 with the $ 7/​hour time — but you get unlimited paint and a lot of handy tools. I guess I expect a different pricing model, but there was only one table when we got there, so it’s plausible that the hourly rate is to discourage squatting and make sure new people can enter and purchase. Echoing others, could be cheaper. Maybe the Tuesday 6 – 9 deal for $ 7 would be a better thought if you’re going to try this out. Not sure it’s my thing, with the limited pottery selection (how many bowls or pots or spoons do I need), but once was fun.

This place just doesn’t do it for me. Some said this was great for a girls night but I think it’s better for a «mom’s night.» It’s very laid back and quiet and there are actually a decent amount of children and their parents or caretakers who come here. The selection of pieces to choose from varies from spoon rests to piggy banks to dishes and mugs, but they’re expensive in my opinion. Nothing is really less than $ 14 or so and you pay $ 7 an hour for unlimited painting time, which all adds up. I paid $ 28 for a travel mug that I still can’t pick up for another 3 days, which is the other caveat here. It takes 7 days, (YES, 7!!) to get your project back. So if you’re not super close to Montclair, it’s a pain in the ass to have to go back so many days later. As for the staff, the girl who was there when we were there was pissed at the world. She was so grumpy and made it seem like she was doing us a favor when she poured the paint or we asked her any sort of question. She also was eating when we got there to the point where she couldn’t even greet us because her mouth was full. Between the expensive prices, lag time to get your project and the rude staff, I believe there are better choices to get creative in Montclair.

I love, love, LOVE this place!
Prices are a little high, and I wish I didn’t have to wait a week to take my piece home, but there is no date night more fun than Doin’ Dishes. I love that it’s BYO and that you can come back to a piece if you’re not feeling particularly inspired.
Staff is super friendly and the environment is more than welcoming. Great place for parties too!

Doin’ Dishes is a little studio on Church Street. The staff there are very friendly and it’s always been very chill when I’ve gone here. The selection of ceramic pieces may not be a varied as other places, but they are nice. On Tuesday nights, the studio has «Grown-​ups Night» and, for a flat fee of $ 7, you can work on a piece anytime from 6pm to 9pm. Also, they had adult ceramic painting classes at night on Thursdays for $ 20 (inclusive of studio fee and instruction — ceramic is additional). I haven’t tried the night class yet, but I think that’s a cool feature about this studio.

I went with friends the first time and we had a blast ! As someone who doesn’t like to go out drinking every weekend, this was definitely a fun atmosphere to go and catch up with my girlfriends.
Well, I was so impressed when I got my final product (I painted a small box) that I wanted to take my boyfriend with me because we are always looking for something new and exciting to do.
I went in on Friday 7÷17÷15 and was a a little turned off. We walked in at 9:45 and the woman working there was extremely rude and said «They are no longer seating anyone». All we wanted to do was paint something (it doesn’t even take an hour) and I was completely turned off by the attitude we were given.
I went on the website later and in very small print it says «Last seating was an hour and a half before closing». It is definitely easy to miss on the website.
I would go back but definitely know not to go an hour and a half before closing so I don’t have to worry about getting an attitude with the staff.

I’d love to say we had some kind of experience but wasn’t given the chance. Website had special note saying they close at 5. My friend and i walked her little girl down to paint a dish but were turned away because it was 4 pm and «last seating» was at 3:30. We understand wanting to get out on time but please, we didn’t need a lot of time for the girl to paint a dish. Really? If you close at 3:30 please say that on your website.
signed,
not a fan of Doin Dishes

I had a great time here with my best friend. We had dinner reservations down the street afterwards, so it was the perfect spot to hang out just the two of us beforehand.
We picked out pieces, selected paint, then sat down and got to work while we sipped our wine and snacked on pastries from the Parisienne bakery down the street.
My only criticism is that some of the art supplies need updating. The brushes were old and hard to use and some of the foam pieces were cracked and difficult to work properly. Otherwise– we had a total blast and I would definitely come again.

My mom, aunt and I had a blast here! We went on a Friday afternoon and it was empty… The experience was very relaxing and Lisa was very helpful with my mom and aunt’s indecisiveness. I can’t wait to go back!

So much fun! It doesn’t matter your age, painting pottery is fun for the whole family. My husband, mother and I went last night. We sat for over 2 hours and had a blast. They happily give you paper cups for wine and we brought a little dessert and we sipped and sloshed paint. I felt the prices were extremely reasonable (aprox. $ 15 to $ 25 for an average peice, plus $ 7 an hour).
The first time we went we didn’t make reservations (early summer, so shore season). We were one of only two tables so it was fine. When we went last night (a Saturday evening in October), we didn’t have reservations, and the place was jumping. If we would have come 10 minutes later there wouldn’t have been a table for us! Next time, we’ll make a reservation to be on the safe said.
The first time we went, my husband’s peice was cracked in the glazing process. It was still, more or less, in one peice (though there were separate peices). They gave us a coupon for him to make another one of the exact same mold for free, but I would have preferred a refund.
One note, the music was terrible. It was of the repetitive techno genre and I left feeling as if I had been partially lobotomized. It was definitely something the girl working enjoyed more than any of the patrons.

Obsessed with this place. Im a first timer but I’ll be back again for sure. Such a great place for a girls date. I went with two of my friends on a Saturday afternoon and we had such a good time. There’s a variety of peices to choose from and I’d say that its reasonably priced. You pay 7 $ by the hour but the clock only starts ticking when youve sat down with your piece, paint brush in hand (and the staff is super sweet and lenient about the time clock), plus the cost of the piece you choose. Prices vary depending on your choice but nothing is over 25 $. They give you all the tools you need (stencils, sponges, brushes, ect) and unlimited paint color choices. They also have various already painted peices on display to induce inspiration. The downside? You can’t take your peice home the very same day. You have to come back a week later to pick it up but they will hold it for you if you cant come exactly a week later and theyll hold themselves fully responsible for the peice up to 30 days.

First time ever trying this place out and I’ll defintely be going back again. There’s a variety of pieces to choose from and you can basically get unlimited colors and they only charge you 7 $ an hour plus whatever piece you pick. Me and my friends spent a cute Saturday afternoon here and really had a good time, the staff was super nice.

BYOB. Need I say more?
I went with my friend and we ended up staying for a few hours. We both painted starry starry night so we brought a photo to help us out. I picked a 6×6 trivet and my friend did a small plate. Prices were fair. The girl who was working that night was very helpful and refilled our paint as the night went on. We had a great time and I would highly recommend this place for a girls night out! We went late on a Friday so the place was almost completely empty (which was nice).

Does not advertise special nights. I was there with my daughter and got turned away. Staff is inflexible and don’t have a friendly personalities. I would recommend going somewhere else first like Creatively Yours in Ridgewood.

My sister comes to this place often and I thought it would be nice to treat her and her friends. It was cool. They put on music and constantly offered advice on how to make our pieces nice. We are all returning when we get a chance.

I’ve been to Doin’ Dishes a few times in the last 10 years, and I really think it has gone downhill. I have great memories of coming here as a child and painting pottery with my mom or with friends. It has always been expensive, but most paint your own pottery places are, and this is right on Church St. The last time I came here was in the summer, and the service was terrible. The women working there were unhelpful and unfriendly. They made me and my mom feel uncomfortable asking questions or for supplies. When we were done, I realized that I was moving in 5 days and that the pieces might not be done by then. When we asked if they could be fired more quickly, the women were not understanding, and told us that they could not be done earlier. My mom ended up picking them up, and gave me my bowl when she visited in November. Within 2 weeks of having the bowl, it broke in half. Since it fell off the counter, I didn’t think much of it, except that it was weird how easily it broke and how it perfectly broke in half. My mom told me yesterday that her mug dropped onto carpet and broke into a bunch of pieces. The quality of their pottery must be really low. I will not come back here again.

I guess it’s more of a mommy & me place or a place for sober gals to get together for a glass or two of wine. I don’t say I wouldn’t return, because I do think it’s cute, but I’m not particularly artsy and there was no one there helping to get you in the mood.
This is the type of place that says BYOB, but expects you to keep it classy. I came here for a friend’s birthday and had a fun time. I say fun and not fantastic because I had to be crafty and get messy when I was hoping I could just pay off a small child to do this ceramic thing instead.
Maybe I was just expecting more due to the rave reviews. Either ways I’d be open to returning in my early 40’s when I can spend $ 40 on a piggy bank that I have to paint and then return to pick up when it’s dry.

The women that work here are very rude and unhelpful. I was there with my child and they were not busy at all, one group of 3 campers and 2 – 3 other small groups. I was approached fairly quickly when we walked in and given instructions to pick pieces and paint colors. However, they did not do a good job out pointing out the color tiles on the wall to pick colors, they pointed at the shelves of paint bottles by the register. My son picked up 1 or 2 of the paint bottles to look at as we were picking colors, and the girl got annoyed and finally pointed out the tiles on the wall and told my son to put the paint back. We took a table as another group of 2 walked in. The girl then proceeded to help the new group before us, bringing them their pottery pieces, brushes and paints well before us. I then had to track her down any time I needed anything.
The woman helping the camp group was loud and snippy with the campers, constantly telling them no, no, no!
For the prices paid, I would expect better service and a better attitude.

I came here with my friend, Sister, niece (6) and nephew (5), and we all had a ball! I made a cool sugar bowl with lid, they made a mug, tile coaster, mermaid and star box. We had loads of fun painting and hanging out. The staff really helped guide us and answered any questions we had! Definitely will be back~

My girlfriends and I had such a great time here on a Tuesday night during which, like a previous reviewer stated, you pay a flat rate of $ 7 plus the cost of the piece you select. There are a large variety of pottery pieces to choose from. I painted a square platter, my one girlfriend a large mug, and my other girlfriend a child’s dish. The staff was very helpful in getting us set up and helping us choose our colors. My girlfriends and I then enjoyed chatting, painting, and drinking (It’s BYOB!!!) the evening away. We then got to pick up our pieces a week later and they looked great!!! We will definitely return.