This place is amazing!! Choose it to a game of rock paper scissors. The food and coffee are sooooo good! Staff was so friendly and to top it off, BEST MUSIC playing in the background! Will totally come back!! read more

Cafe Topes - Bacon Benedict with potatoes and blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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went for my sisters birthday and although there was a bit of a wait, the person taking our order was super kind. the waitress as well was very kind too. i shared a the crack'n eggs and an orange juice. it was the perfect amount of food. everything was delicious. and the jam they give with the toast is amazing as well. would definitely recommend to any tourists, its very instagram worthy and just an overall relaxing vibe. read more

Cafe Topes - Crack'n Eggs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Food was wonderful. Not suitable for larger groups as theres wars over saving the two front tables. Water cups appear to be repainted vintage, except the bottoms are rusting out so you have rust and paint floating in your water. Please tell me they're tested for lead. 80% of their cups had this. They put a plant below the water fountain, i suspect they know people will dump the water and its cheaper than replacing their cups. read more

A chill spot with splashes of seating areas.. fun and off -the-beaten path. Natalie the manager educated us on some of the menu offerings. Ella another server who is on break from her Biology curriculum and Calli who fosters a deaf pitty and enjoys surfing..nice servers. Food is absolutely amazing with service off the charts!! read more

Cafe Topes was my late mother's favorite place to eat in Carlsbad. She always got the fish tacos. I have tasted the fish tacos here, and they are amazing! They're also huge, and you can order them individually. If you want a snack, I say get one taco. If you're feeling really hungry, get three. They come with shredded red and green cabbage, pico de gallo and aioli sauce on top. You can get the fish grilled, but I got them battered, because that is my favorite way to fish taco. Squeeze a little lime over the top, and you're good to go. I didn't get the fish tacos when I visited recently, though. (Sorry, mom.) I got The Terremar, which is a tri-tip sandwich with garlic aioli, shoestring potatoes, arugula and chipotle mayo on a ciabatta roll. It was very tasty, but I wish the steak was a little less tough and chewy! If the meat was a little more tender, this would have been an A+ sandwich, instead of a solid B. My son also did not get the fish tacos, and instead decided to venture into Cafe Topes' breakfast menu, which is available all day until close. He got a short stack of the buttermilk pancakes (two pancakes), which come dusted with powdered sugar and with a giant mound of butter in the middle. He really liked them! He just wanted pancakes, and fortunately, you can order them a la carte. It was a beautiful Carlsbad day -- the perfect day to dine outdoors, and we managed to grab a table on the patio. Seating on the patio seems to be highly sought-after. But the indoor seating is nice, too, because the doors are open and you get the fresh air and beach breeze. read more

Cafe Topes in Carlsbad serves some seriously delicious food, but the overall environment and service could use some tuning. Heads up: you wait in a line to order at the counter, get a number, then seat yourself and wait for food and drinks. If you're expecting table service, this isn't that type of spot. The line was long and moved slowly, though clearly they're not short on customers. There's plenty of seating both inside and outside, which is nice. I ordered the Breakfast Burrito with chorizo and swapped the chips for well-done hashbrowns for an extra charge--great choice, and they nailed it. My partner ordered the Soy Chorizo Scramble, but it came with seasoned potatoes instead of hashbrowns. They fixed it fairly quickly, but the food runner removed our table number while taking the plate back. So when a different runner brought out the corrected dish, she wandered around inside and outside trying to figure out who it belonged to. Just a small example of how the system could be more organized. Drinks were a mixed bag: the iced vanilla latte was average, and the Rumway was so strong my partner could barely taste the pineapple. All that said, the food itself was outstanding. If they tightened up the ordering process and service flow, this place would easily be a top-tier breakfast stop. read more

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Love the unique menu items at Cafe Tropes that includes Cardiff Crack eggs Benedict and signature coffee/matcha drinks. Gluten free bread is available for the sandwiches and scrambles. All the pancakes except the protein pancake can be modified GF. The texture of the GF pancake was light and fluffy but the ricotta was lacking the lemon flavor and overall was a bit bland. My husband enjoyed the bananas foster French toast which definitely didn't require syrup from the sweet toppings. The line took us about 25 minutes to get through on a Sunday morning and a majority of the seating is for smaller groups of 2-4 outdoors on the patio. read more

Cafe Topes - Bananas foster French toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I wish I could up my rating because I really do like this place. Unfortunately, the day we came we had a series of misfortunes. My friend loves cinnamon rolls and they are known for theirs, so I thought she'd enjoy it. I had tried one years ago and remembered liking it. We arrived and ordered a cinnamon roll and 2 drip coffees. The girl at the counter asked if we wanted cream & sugar. My friend said she did not want cream, just plain milk because she does not like the thickness of cream. She gave us our coffee, number, one napkin and silverware (forks & knives) and we sat. After a while she brought my friend oat milk. I thought I'd missed that my friend had ordered oat milk (I ended up using it), but after the girl walked away, my friend said she had not. Plus, she didn't bring sugar or spoons and we had to ask for another napkin. The coffee was lukewarm (before adding any cold oat milk) so my friend went in to see if we could get hot coffee. The girl said they would have to brew more. She brought us the cinnamon roll which was huge, warm and flavorful, but $8.50 for a cinnamon roll seems a bit high. Eventually, she brought out our coffees and milk for my friend and they were warmer, but far from hot. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they were having an off day, but it was definitely frustrating. Since both of my issues have been with the coffee I think I will just stick to food if I return. read more

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Cafe Topes in Carlsbad is an absolute brunch gem. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm, lively, and welcoming--perfect for a relaxed brunch with friends or family. The menu is creative and packed with delicious options, and everything we ordered was amazing. One of the standout features was their creative mimosa selection. It's such a fun twist on the classic brunch drink and makes the whole experience feel a little more special. Between the great vibe, attentive service, and incredible food, brunch at Cafe Topes was a total win. If you're in Carlsbad and looking for a spot with fantastic brunch and a great atmosphere, this place should definitely be on your list. read more

Cafe Topes - Brunch - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Food good.. rustic sandwhich on ciabatta good! Haeshbrowns light crispy. Take this for what it is but they charge for refills .. not cool -1 star for that. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way about refills. Will come again read more

Cafe Topes is my favorite spot for brunch. It has this beach, relaxing and pleasant vibes especially in a sunny day. The line was long but it moved very fast. We ordered: - The salad 5/5 It had mixed green, green apple, candied walnuts, strawberries, and blue cheese - Fish Tacos 4.5 / 5 I chose grilled fish. It was topped with pico de gallo, spicy aoli, and cabbage.It was very tasty. - Fish and chips 5/5 Beer buttered fish was so good and it came with a choice of salad or French fries. The amount was very reasonable. - Crab scramble with biscuit 5/5 The crab scramble was very savory and the biscuit was very buttery For drinks we got : - 2 Hawaiian express 5/5 - Hot chocolate with whipped cream 5/5 The service was fast. The staff were very friendly and energetic. It is a great spot for breakfast, brunch or to grab some refreshing drinks. read more

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Came to kickoff the new year with my sister! We finished a busy morning at the movies and then did a little shopping. We came very hungry! And this place did not disappoint. They have dining inside and outside. I ordered a burrito and my sister ordered yogurt with fruit and both were absolutely delicious! You can choose what kind of meat or sides that you want with the burrito. Side options are potatoes, chips, or fruit Meats for the burrito are ham, chorizo, sausage, for bacon I got the side of chips and it comes with salsa. Anything additional like avocado is an extra charge. The hibiscus lemonade was absolutely delicious. Very refreshing. We came during the holiday weekend so it was busy a lot of children. Service was great! Our server was checking up on us very frequently. She made sure our glasses of water were filled. Great location in Carlsbad. Beach is a walk-in distance along with many small stores. I give this spot a 10/10 Thank you so much for your service, and food! We will be seeing you in the future read more

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Decided to pop in to Cafe Topes on a rainy sunday morning around 10am and even with the Carlsbad 5000 going on it was busy but the line moved fast! I got the oppurtunity to meet the owners and their lovely family! For food we ordered the kids breakfast with mickey mouse pancase, sausage patty and scrambled eggs. The 3 year old loved the whipped cream and pancake and it was a huge portion for her. I ordered a veggie scramble with fruit for myself, despite reallllly wanting a brekky burrito, I was trying to choose healthy. The meal was nice and light and fresh with a side of sourdough toast. I ordered the crack eggs benny for my partner and I was really excited to see it on the menu bc I haven't made the time to get to the store yet for the crack in Cardiff but have heard really great things, I had one bite and now moving it up on my list! We had two coffees as well, those are bottomless which is awesome, on my way to turning my newbie coffee badge into an expert, the owner made me an ice capp with shot of vanilla. The price point is on the higher end, was $70 for three meals and 2 drinks. The cafe is adorably decorated with inside and outside seating, and even though it was busy the turnover was enough for folks to get seats inside. The parking can be tricky on the street but not enough to deter you from coming in! Can't wait to take our bikes next time and try the rest of the menu, I know my daughter was eyeing the donuts! read more

My favorite breakfast spot in North County. Got the chorizo Benedict and their chorizo is so authentic and fresh! Pro tip: get the potatoes extra crispy-- it is sooo good! Will def be coming back for more! :) read more

Cafe Topes - Chorizo Benedict - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

The food is quality and I will stand by that but what I was taken aback by is that the menu prices are different than what is rung up. In my scenario my bill was over $5 more for my blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes. I asked about it after I had already paid and was told there were new menus and prices did not update. I checked and over 5 menus I saw none had newer prices. I did not see any change of price. This is not honest to me and maybe others do not care but $5 more for one pancake dish is a huge difference and it all adds up. They should either toss the old or have a sign to say prices have changed. Honesty is key to me and this makes it hard to justify. read more

What a lovely spot to add to your list, whether just driving through or in town for a few days, you have to make it over to this spot. This place gets packed but don't let that scare you off from how quick and efficient the food comes out and how well this place works. The workers are all so sweet and friendly and the fact that they go above and beyond for their furry friends is even sweeter. The food for starters since I'm Gluten Free, is a huge hit. From GF pancakes to bread options and sometimes pastries, It's a hit for me everytime. The coffees and the occasional mimosa are also a great compliment for the food. And if you're lucky enough to get your hands on a cinnamon roll, don't hesitate. Cafe Topes is my go to place at the moment!! read more

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Favorite brunch spot in North county! Great food, nice staff, great atmosphere. All good! read more

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In my opinion a very mid brunch option!! My boyfriend and I visited for the second time on a Saturday around noon. Plenty of street parking. The line was out the door and it took 20 minutes to order and another 15 for our food to come out. It's a good space for both indoor and outdoor dining, but a lot of the tables were dirty. Service was average. We ordered the breakfast burrito and chicken sandwich. Apparently they have special menus on the wall but you completely walk past them. The food was pretty mid. Not enough meat in the breakfast burrito but lots of egg. My chicken sandwich was dry. I wouldn't recommend this spot, sorry! read more

Cafe Topes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

The hubby and I went for brunch, but not for the first time, and certainly not the last. I love the quaint outdoor seating especially during beautiful weather. This is an order at the counter place, and the food is brought to your table. The line can get long in the weekends particularly, but it moves fast and you can peruse the menu while you wait. I ordered The Goods Toast with an add on of poached eggs, as I often do, and an Iced Mexican Mocha. Both so delicious! The hubby ordered a Crack breakfast burrito - Cardiff Crack, that is. IYKYK. Always a solid choice. The servers are friendly and helpful. What more could you ask for? read more

this place lives up to the hype in my opinion. once you get through the line, you're seated immediately and the food typically comes out fast, so don't let the line intimidate you. everything they have here is great! savory, sweet, drinks - you name it and they do it well. coming here with friends or as a date and hanging out outside is one of my favorite things to do in Carlsbad read more

Cafe Topes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Service was awesome as was most of food, just wouldnt get anything bbq/ smoked meats again. Might just been off day, i would come back. read more

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Came here with 3 others ~15 minutes after they opened. I recommend coming right when they open/close to it or else you will be waiting in a line around the building... The staff was really nice and welcoming. The vibes in the place were high. We got the blueberry lemon ricotta pancake, the rustic sandwich, the country fried steak, and the crack bfast burrito--was amazed by how quickly the food came out! The side of potatoes were perfect. Definitely a repeat. read more

Cafe Topes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Fantastic find in downtown Carlsbad. Parking streetside is pretty easy. Order and then sit down with the provided number card. They have both indoor and outdoor patio options Heard great things about this place and was excited to try on a rare weekday brunch. They had a fantastic Crack Burrito (Tri tip steak with eggs and cheese) which was fantastic! The red salsa on the side was great with the chips and the burrito. Definitely one of my favorites I've had. Also got their Lavender mocha, which I've never had as a mocha (usually latte) which worked well. Their homemade cinnamon roll was good, but interestingly using more of a bread base than pastry base, which I wasn't expecting. I'm still unsure if I love or disliked it but was a good try for sure. Definitely will be back when nearby. read more

Cafe Topes - Crack Burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Service was surprisingly fast, even with a line out the door and around the corner. Casual dining... you order at the counter and then grab a table. Food was good! Really liked the tri tip and cinnamon roll. Will be back! read more

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Cafe Topes is my new favorite restaurant in San Diego. Period. Located on an unassuming corner in downtown Carlsbad I stopped by today to give it a try this morning. First impression even before ordering a veg breakfast scramble at the front counter: the peeps who are employed here love (not like) working here. Miles of smiles and genuine engagement with customers is not something you can teach so it says everything about the owners that they love their staff and hire those that match their vibe. And that vibe is infectious and inspiring in a world where most seldom if ever look up from their phones. Ordering was a breeze, service was upbeat and the extra crisp I asked for on the breakfast potatoes was a crunchy delight. Great menu covering all day food cravings from omelettes, pancakes, fish tacos, burgers and inventive coffee choices and fresh pastries were on display and inviting. Floor to ceiling windows, cool light 'n breezy tunes, indoor and outdoor seating equally easy on the eyes and ears. I live in Carlsbad so it's an easy commute but I would drive from Alpine or the border to savor a moment or two of pure gratitude for this amount of happiness and love served on a white dinner plate. You thank you Cafe Topes. Consider me a regular. read more

Delicious Crack Shack Salad and turkey sandwich. Very tasty and full of flavor. Good portion sizes however the salad was $28! Pricey. Service was great! read more

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Deserves all the praise! Went here with my daughter and got the 2-2-2 pancakes/bacon/eggs to share and it was delish. The space is welcoming and open. The staff is kind and hospitable. The prices are okay, but what you'd expect for Southern California in 2026. The coffee was also delish. If you're looking for a tasty breakfast or lunch in the Carlsbad Village, don't pass by Cafe Topes! read more

So wanted to go to brunch at another restaurant, but they stopped serving brunch a few weeks ago. The waiter recommended this place and said every single time he has friends and family come to town. They always go there and have an excellent meal. We had to stand in line to wait and order our food and went over inside at the table and the food came out very quick. I was amazed at how flavorful my sandwich was! Definitely five stars! The ambience inside was really cool and the staff was fun and friendly really worth checking out if you are in the area, you will thank me. read more

Cafe Topes - The Rustic - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

One of my favorite brunch places in north county! There's always a line out the door but it moves pretty quickly. I love the ambiance of this place-- be on the lookout on the boards inside for special dishes and drinks! I love a good breakfast burrito and I have to say the crack burrito was fabulous-- the meat is so tender and there's a perfect balance of eggs and potatoes. It's street parking only so just allow yourself some extra time during peak hours! read more

Cafe Topes - Turkey club and crack breakfast burrito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

If you get here at peak times be prepared to wait in the sun. We came in on Saturday at around 10am and waited for an hour just to get in. The concept is to order your food first and then grab a table to sit down. It would be a great idea for them to have a canopy out on the sidewalk so there could be some shade. The service staff was great; they are all friendly but boy was it busy. I don't mind the concept of the order first and then sit, but it really felt like I was trying to compete to get a spot to sit. It could be a skill-diff on my end. I do like how they have seasonals on the left side of the entrance. Make sure to look for those as it is easy to miss. I got the topes scramble; the portion is pretty good! I don't think you can mess up a scramble unless you burn it. We also got the country fried steak and the buttermilk pancake. For drinks we got the tea, I like that it is refillable! Very worth it and they will bring you a togo cup. My rating was a 3 star just for the wait but bumped it up to 4 stars because of the food and service. I can't say much about the drinks though. read more

Every time I eat here I want it to be good but they just go extra on all the wrong things. Who needs three eggs on a breakfast sandwich. Got the Rustic sandwich and there was WAY too much goat cheese on it, it overpowered everything and the pesto was fine but didn't blend well with the soft bacon. Hashbrowns were excellent but I didn't need a pound of them. My man ordered the Terramar. It was overdressed and the fries were sooo soggy and soft. The cinnamon rolls are the size of dinner plate. This place is in desperate need of an edit. Less portions + higher quality ingredients + good saucier = better dishes and less waste. read more

Cafe Topes is a very popular restaurant so plan on a standing in a line here. First, you order at the counter, then you sit at a table and wait for your order to be served. I had 3 grilled fish tacos. The portion size was large and left me full and the salsa that came with the dish had a good, spicy kick to it. The reason for the 4 star vs. 5 star rating is because the fish was seriously salty. I'm not picky but there was way too much salt on the dish. I saw some of the other dishes being served in the restaurant such as the burrito and it was huge. The staff at the restaurant were friendly ---- and busy with every table being full. The ambiance was buzzy and friendly. I sat inside, which was very nice. The outside patio is beautiful, but a little too sunny for me. It's a fun place and I hope when I visit again the fish won't be so salty. read more

Cafe Topes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Delicious! I was so happy to eat here while catching up with my friend from San Diego. She found this place on tik tok and it has a great ambiance and interior. super aesthetic place to eat but the food was great too. here are my food ratings: crack n' benedict, 9/10 - wow we both ate this so fast. the tri tip was made medium to medium rare like we asked for and it wasn't too chewy or bland. good amount of seasoning to pair with the hollandaise sauce. the cashier said she likes getting hash browns extra crispy with this and it was perfect. blueberry lemon ricotta, 6/10 - my rating doesn't mean it was bad it was okay to good! i think i've just had similar pancakes elsewhere that were better in my personal opinion but these were solid. virgin pina colada, 7/10 - solid drink and exactly what i needed! typical virgin pina colada that i enjoyed drinking excited to come back again to try other dishes. they had a lot of specials that i didn't get to try but sounded scrumptious! read more

Cafe Topes - Crack 'n Benedict, - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This place was yummy for brunch and they have vegan options which I love you have to order at register and then sit down. read more

Cafe Topes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Very popular little cafe, you wait in line they take your order then they give you a number & bring your food out to you. the line can tend to get very long so make sure your not be starving lol. The food was delicious, the hot vanilla latte was tasty very creamy and super cute We sat outside the ambiance is super earthy & warm!! Make sure to try there other business dons cafe which is my FAVORITE! read more

Cafe Topes - Vanilla hot latte, caramel iced salted latte! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Divine breakfast food! My friend suggested we try this popular restaurant down the street from her hotel while we were in town. There was a long line outside on a Thursday morning and it was moving pretty slow. They have a large menu selection and everything on it looks good. We were drooling standing in line to order and watching all the delicious looking dishes being delivered to the other customers at their tables. You order at the counter with the friendly staff and are given a number stand. Open seating and there is lots of it inside and outside. A popular item was their giant cinnamon buns and it was so good! Fluffy and not too sweet. I ordered the chilaquiles and it was good too though I wish the salsa was thicker. My tortilla chips were drowning and getting soggy. My friend who ordered the grilled cheese sandwich said it looked good but fell short. She claimed it was a bit too sweet. Another friend ordered the omelet and loved it. The pancake was fluffy and perfectly cooked. read more

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Cute corner place, you order your food at the counter and pick a table. Got the Crack n Eggs (which is tri-tip) & Country Fried Steak and both were soo flavorful! Staff was really nice. They have outdoor seating so you can take your dog. Clean solo bathrooms. The lattes taste more like milk, but other than that everything was pretty good and well seasoned! Would come back. read more

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An amazing place!!!! Atmosphere is perfect - light, airy, peaceful. Food is SO yummy, absolutely delicious. Coffee is so good. Gina who took our order was a breath of fresh air. Fun and down to earth, took her time and helped us be confident of our selections. We were so happy from start to finish. There was a line but don't let it deter you, the line went quick and the food came out even quicker!!!! Can't wait to come back, 100/10 recommend. read more

Cafe Topes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Cute spot for brunch! Their horchata chai is delicious, what a great idea! And their blueberry pancakes are soo good and fluffy! I got their Chorizo Benedict and it was ok at first but the chorizo wasn't really cooked the way I imagined... it was like chili, very saucy and the chorizo flavor was barely there. The rest of my dish was yummy especially the potato's! I just wish they didn't do the chorizo that way... it needed texture in that dish, it was mostly all soft with the poached eggs, tomato, avocado and the biscuit. Also it's a lot of food! Great portion sizes to split with someone! The service was wonderful too, very lgbtq+ friendly! The food came out fast! read more

Cafe Topes - Blueberry pancakes Horchata chai Chorizo Benedict - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This is an excellent breakfast/brunch place, and I'm guessing lunch is just as good. You order at the counter and then grab a table, inside or on the wraparound outdoor patio. It's extremely casual so come as you are. Gourmet coffee drinks? They got 'em. The iced horchata drink, whatever it's proper name may be, is very good, in particular. Fancy and very delicious breakfast food ? You bet. The French toast is phenomenal. It's hearty and sweet and incredible. I am a chilaquiles fiend but was very disappointed with the dish here mainly because the chips became very mushy very quickly. The fantastic texture and crunch from the chips does not exist here . The add-on of Cardiff crack (i.e., tri-tip) was good, although undercooked. Moving on, the Hot Honey Ricotta Egg Toast (on special) was fantastic. The bread was delicious and, though the hot honey wasn't spicy at all, this breakfast creation--with avocado, ricotta and amazingly soft and creamy scrambled eggs--was wonderful. If you see this dish on the wall board, get it. The presentation of each dish was terrific. There is a lot of care involved with these dishes. Free street parking everywhere. I could easily return here many times to enjoy the rest of the menu. read more

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