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    Donatello Restaurant

    3.8 (223 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Donatello Restaurant Photos

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    DONATELLO RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Grilled calamari
    Mona W.

    Waited a LOT, felt like staff prioritizes returning customers, and there is better in Toronto. Service is bad : We were starving after a day of birthday of celebrations for my mom's birthday. Waited 20 minutes with reservation, waited to order because a big group was paying, then waited after paying to get things packed. Ambiance: elegant vibe ruined by initial staring. Creepy. Food: Bread was the best (not sure if it was because of the 20 min wait while starving though...) Grilled calamari is ok; could have been juicier. I prefer it whole then cut it after grilling so it can be juicier, but to each their own. Lobster was overcooked in the lobster pasta, rubbery and hard to chew. Pasta part of lobster pasta was not as savory as expected. New Zealand lamb racks was not well seasoned. Better with the sauce but you can't let sauce do all the work. Got pasta with the lamb; average tasting but fills the stomach. The extra star is for the chanterelles pasta, which was the pasta of the day. Hard to mess up a creamy mushroom pasta and a staple for us at any Italian restaurant Overall experience: negative, will not be back, do not recommend. Better in Yorkville area.

    Wiped the plate with crab ravioli sauce
    Chloe O.

    When I checked out their menu before I went in, I was not keen on their menu. Menu seemed rather boring. I was wrong. I was amazed by how cozy and comfortable it looked as soon as I walked in. I loved the atmosphere right away. I was amazed that we ordered butternut squash and crab ravioli that was off menu items( they used to have on the menu), without hesitation they would make them for us. Ravioli dough was for sure made from scratch, that means they probably added stuffing and cooked to order. How special is that they would do that when restaurant was a full house? And my ravioli was delish! Whatever they did with the sauce was like thick gravy and I wiped my plate with extra bread. I was also amazed by how generous portion size was. I was stuffed after my ravioli & friend's salmon dish was like 1.5 portions size. And the price was very resonable. Highly recommend this place.

    Linda P.

    I visited on a weekday evening when the weather was great, and we sat on the second-floor balcony, which was very pleasant. I really liked the Gamberoni & Scallops al Vino Bianco. The Linguini alle Vongole was a bit too bland for my taste. The prices are somewhat high, but you're partly paying for the ambiance and location.

    Fettuccine Panna
    Katie M.

    Our service was wonderful. Our server was super friendly and spoke to my partner in French and told us about his background. We really appreciated that. The ambiance was very romantic and nice. While I thought the food was a bit expensive for what it was, the portions were decent and flavor was good. The table bread and butter were also delicious. The only ding against this restaurant is the selection of pastas (there weren't any I jumped at immediately), but what I ordered was still very delicious.

    salmon and Alfredo pasta
    Rachel J.

    Went for lunch on a weekday, and had made a reservation. We happened to have the misfortune of sitting down at same time as a large group (who did not have a reservation. That entire group and almost everyone else was served and paying their bill before we got our food an hour later. You may be saying - why did you wait around?? The waiter continually told us - - yours is coming out next! When it finally did we asked them to put in take out containers as we had to get back to work. Astonishingly no apology, no attempt to offer some sort of discount. So the food was just ok - might have been better if I had had it hot, in the restaurant instead of wolfing it down at my desk - salmon was over cooked

    Awful awful awful place. Went in after reading the menu outside the establishment. Very intrigued for some nice Italian food at a good price. However, once I opened the menu I found all the prices to be more expensive by at least 7$ or more. But, I committed. I order a tortellini cream sauce dish. It was bad. Just plain bad. Pasta was stiff, sauce was bland and so was the sausage. 30$ Canadian and I would've had a better meal at dominoes. They should be ashamed.

    Tartufo
    Linh T.

    Italian restaurant located on a quiet side street in the core of Downtown Toronto. It has both indoor and outdoor seating (outdoor seating is open during warmer weather). I've dined here twice, once outside during the summer and recently indoor, if you have the option of both, outdoor is much nicer. I personally found the decor inside to be quite dated but if you're looking for a place with an old charm to it then the indoor space is just that. The service was good and professional both times that I dined here, no complaints. The food was delicious and price point was good for what you're getting and the location of the restaurant. I definitely recommend this restaurant if you're in the area and craving some decent Italian food.

    a variety of dishes of food on a table
    Brittany P.

    The best penne ala vodka in the city ! The service is always amazing and great ambiance! Highly recommend

    Smoked salmon fettuccine
    Emma N.

    On a street off of yonge, lies this place amongst a few other quite nice restaurants. I came with great company, and we enjoyed our meal and experience. The ambience was nice, you can tell the restaurant has been there for a long time, and even though the tables were quite close together, it was not loud. The service was very accommodating, letting us take our time with ordering and coming around refilling our water quite often. In addition, the food came out at an appropriate speed -- not too soon, but we did not wait long either. The menu itself did not have an overly extensive as usual the case for other restaurants, which I quite liked as a large menu tends to overwhelm me. We ordered two starters: the grilled calamari and antipasti for two. They were good, but I would say they were overpriced for their portions. For mains, I went with the fettuccine with smoked salmon in a rosé sauce. You may be like "Smoked salmon in pasta?!" and I understand, I actually only initially ordered it because I LOVE rosé. But, it was a very delicious dish! The taste of the smoked salmon was very light and paired quite nicely with the rosé sauce. The fettuccine was cooked perfectly too in my opinion. A pleasant surprise. The other dishes ordered were the Gnocchi and a Seafood Risotto. *note that the smoked salmon fettuccine and risotto were specials, so they were not on the menu* For dessert I ordered the red velvet cake. I won't lie, I was caught off guard at first by the lack of volume for the cake, but the flavour made up for it. My favourite thing about red velvet cakes is that if done well, they are not too sweet or artificial tasting. This one checked off all the boxes! The cream cheese frosting was soooo good. It didn't stick to the top of my mouth or need a sip of water to wash it down. It complimented the red velvet part perfectly. If you like Italian food, I'd totally give this place a try! The portions are also quite generous. I wouldn't recommend coming here in a large group though (no more than 4-6) as the interior is not super spacey. Maybe a good place for a date! 9/10.

    Kent M.

    Guided here with high praise from store clerks. What we had was GREAT. Good people attending all our requests and questions. We really like.

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    This place has it all. No wonder it's rated as a top 100 in the USA. Service, food, music. outstanding!

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    Grape Witches

    Grape Witches

    5.0(1 review)
    1.8 km

    Grape Witches located inside the Waterworks Food Hall is their second location in the city (their…read morefirst location is located along Dundas St. W.!). This bottle shop has a unique variety of natural, organic, and biodynamic wines that may rotate depending on the season. The space also has a wine bar where you can try different wines by the glass or treat yourself in a wine flight or a whole bottle. The by the glass menu changes weekly where you get to have a chance to try new and exciting wines from different regions. I've been to Grape Witches several times but I was able to sit down at their wine bar this time and enjoy a wine flight (three 1oz pours featuring wines from Germany) and a glass of wine. Having the wine flight, I was able to find a new rose that I really enjoyed that I ended up getting a glass of it afterwards. Staff are extremely friendly, personable, and knowledgeable about wine where they can give you suggestions based on your preferences without being pretentious. You are also able to taste any wines you're interested in on the menu to see if you like them as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Grape Witches enjoying the delicious selections where I even found new favourites. Overall, a great new wine shop and bar at Waterworks Food Hall. If you love all things wine this is the place to go. They have unique bottles you can purchase and friendly staff to help you with selecting your wines. Will definitely be back to try other glasses of wine in the future!

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    Grape Witches
    Grape Witches
    Grape Witches

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    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Frittata

    Piccolo Caffe E Vino

    4.3(19 reviews)
    1.2 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Went here for dinner on a Saturday night / great location and cute spot! I love the branding and…read morethe inside + feels very trendy. This is a wine bar - the house lager was bad (maybe my own bad decision) and the red I got was fine ... nothing to write home about. However place fell apart with the food - the shrimp came with 5 medium sized shrimp with the tails, legs and shells on and were under seasoned. The artichokes were mediocre (loved the sauce they came with). Worst of all was the "Ontario peaches" with the burrata were totally canned peaches - could've even been dole brand! This place has amazing potential with the location and vibe - but the food just was not it. Small portions and the price didn't match what was served. The service was friendly but nothing too crazy. Go here for the drinks, but maybe not for the dinner!

    Went with a friend on a Saturday night and it was pretty easy to get a seat, but they do take…read morereservations. Our server was great at helping us pick our wine, he mentioned that their wines are all on the dry side which is perfect for me, I'm not one for sweet wines. We also had two of their small plates the mussels and the burrata. The mussels tasted great with the sauce, a little garlicky which I prefer. The combination of the peach and mint went really well with the burrata. Light and easy to eat. The patio at night is one of the highlights. The only small complaint was it did take a while to get our wine after we ordered it and a little while to get our check. Otherwise cute spot.

    Photos
    Piccolo Caffe E Vino
    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Smoked salmon bagel

    Smoked salmon bagel

    Piccolo Caffe E Vino - Fried Artichoke, shrimp and peach burrata

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    Fried Artichoke, shrimp and peach burrata

    Beso by Patria - Paella Patria

    Beso by Patria

    3.9(570 reviews)
    1.7 km
    $$$$

    Beso by Patria offers a really enjoyable Spanish dining experience…read more The Paella Patria was fragrant and flavorful, with fresh Argentinian shrimp and purple mussels. The saffron-infused rice soaked up the rich seafood broth perfectly. You can ask the staff to remove the shells if you want to eat more elegantly. The Spanish Octopus was tender and meaty--so fresh, I could have eaten more! I also tried the 36-month aged Joselito Iberico ham. Even though it's not my usual favorite, it was rich, flavorful, and paired nicely with the optional little crisp toasts. The baked white asparagus was a highlight, fresh and flavorful with a touch of minced meat that elevated the dish. The 16oz beef rib steak was cooked well done but still tender and juicy, and the accompanying little peppers added a subtle kick without being overwhelming. The restaurant's atmosphere is dim and cozy, perfect for dates or small gatherings. The staff were enthusiastic, checking in frequently, and even the management stopped by to make sure everything was going smoothly. Overall, a very satisfying meal with a good mix of flavors and textures.

    This place had been on my list for a while, and it definitely lived up to the hype…read more The interior is stunning--very upscale, with gold accents and a bit of that "John Wick" vibe. The atmosphere feels elegant yet lively, perfect for a night out or a special occasion. We came mainly for the paella, and it did not disappoint. There are a few topping options, and it takes about 45 minutes to prepare, so I'd recommend ordering it early. The seafood was the highlight--shrimp were tender and bouncy, with mussels, clams, and even green beans. The flavors together with the rice were perfectly balanced. The Iberico pork shoulder was tender and flavorful, with a sauce that had a subtle savory depth--absolutely delicious. The fried eggplant was a bit on the salty side, and surprisingly didn't taste much like eggplant (more like fried potato slices), but still enjoyable. Overall, every dish had its highlights, and the dining experience was very satisfying. With the combination of great food, attentive service, and stunning ambiance, I'll definitely be coming back to try more dishes.

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    Beso by Patria
    Beso by Patria
    Beso by Patria - Interior design is very interesting

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    Interior design is very interesting

    Sommelier Factory - Avocado toast - vegetarian and vegan option.

    Sommelier Factory

    4.3(12 reviews)
    1.2 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core

    Debated long and hard between a 4 and 5 star, and wanted to give a 4.5... unfortunately, Yelp…read moredoesn't do half stars, and I didn't feel that the mains justified a 5 star rating (they were good, but didn't blow me away nor wow me), so I settled on a 4 star. Overall, Grand Cru Deli serves fantastic food (the apps and desserts were out of this world!) and the place is super cute. A friend mentioned that the colour and decor resembles something from a Wes Anderson film, and he was right - I could see the Grand Budapest reflected in the interior design! We came here for the Winterlicious menu, and since we had three people, we decided to try the entire menu. Brace yourselves for a long and lengthy review! I've organized everything from most to least favourite within each category. Appetizers Broccoli Falafel Salad This was a nice and fresh app, and my favourite of the bunch. You can taste the broccoli bits in the falafel, but it's a lovely flavour. I never thought it could work together like this! The sunflower tahini and smoked labneh were a pleasant and nice touch, and I loved the microplaned / spiralized cucumbers. Seasonal Country Pate This was definitely bang for your buck! A hefty chunk of pate was served on a plate with baguette and crusty bread pieces. Since it's pate, the app was on the heavier side, but still an enjoyable light bite. Matzah Ball Soup This was my first time having matzah, and it was quite interesting! To be honest, this was my least favourite... the schmaltz / chicken fat with dough highly resembled a Chinese fatty fish ball of sorts. The chicken broth was lightly flavoured, filled with celery and carrot pieces. Mains Trout Amandine This trout was so buttery and flaky, tender and moist! Topped with thin slices of almond slivers, there was a nice juxtaposition with the juicy filet and the crunchy bits. As the fish was lightly seasoned, the fried capers added a great punch of salty flavour. The pomme puree (mashed potatoes) was also very hearty and rich; it was a nice consistency and felt so comforting. We unanimously voted this to be the best main. Eggplant Parmesan I was pleasantly surprised at this dish; despite being vegetarian, it had such a rich flavour! It was likely attributed to the mozzarella and the arugula pesto - when eaten together, the entire dish tasted like a lighter lasagna. The side of arugula helped balance the flavours. Braised Beef Short Rib While good, this dish was quite standard. The braised beef was melt-in-your-mouth-tender, but wasn't very seasoned. I found the creamed spinach a little heavy, and the white beans a little bland. Dessert Chocolate Chip Cookie This chocolate chip and miso cookie with salted caramel served in a hot, petite cast iron and topped with vanilla ice cream was the perfect contrast of all that you can think of. Sweet and salty, hot and cold, crunchy and soft, hard and runny, etc. It was such a hearty and comforting dessert! We all raved at this dish. Creme Brulee I'm not typically a fan of creme brulee as I find them to be a little too rich. However, the light, floral taste of the earl grey really stood out and made this dish! I kept scooping bite after bite. Very well executed, and not too sweet at all! Chess Pie This cornmeal-based dessert was my least favourite, although I must say that it had a fantastic and crunchy crust. The custard filling was nice, but I found it too sweet - in fact, the fino sherry cream made it even more sweet. Overall, I really liked Grand Cru Deli. The food was very well executed, and I was pleasantly surprised at the calibre and taste of the dishes. I'd definitely come again to try their regular menu, and have a glass of wine or two!

    Wine and Deli Sandwich is great for a light lunch…read more Bagel and Lox ($14) Ketchup Curly Fried ($9) Chicken Liver Mousse ($15) Their bread baked in house tasted fresh. I love the bagels! The liver mousse was smooth and velvety. Thanks for the wine recommendation. It is nice to have restaurant owners that are passionate and knowledgeable about their wine lists. Eating here does feel like I packed a nice picnic basket and have a nice casual lunch in the park. There are 3 "hot" entrée items which are available for dinner only. IMHO which is quite limit in choices. A high end deli sandwich bar might be a hard sell especially at this price point. Maybe some lunch special feature offering and additional items for the dinner menu might brings in more business?!

    Photos
    Sommelier Factory - This was delicious

    This was delicious

    Sommelier Factory - Cheese and Charcuterie platters.

    Cheese and Charcuterie platters.

    Sommelier Factory - Cozy window table

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    Cozy window table

    Same Same

    Same Same

    4.3(10 reviews)
    1.3 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core

    Same Same serves contemporary, modern, and fusion Thai and Lao dishes in Toronto's entertainment…read moredistrict (on King West). The location was ideal for theatre-goers, as it was right across from the TIFF building and a stone's throw away from a lot of theatres in the area. The interior was spacious and modern, with a lot of tables and seatings extending to the back of the restaurant. It was quite empty when we went on a weekend afternoon, so service was prompt. The food was excellent!! They put creative spins on classic Thai dishes that turned out very well. Review of the dishes: 1) Raw Oysters (fresh raw BC oysters with roasted chili jam, fried shallots, and house nam jim seafood sauce) - They were like raw oysters in typical Western seafood restaurants, but with a Thai twist. "House Nam Jim Seafood" is a Thai dipping sauce commonly used for steamed or grilled seafood, made of garlic, chilies, lime juice, fish sauce, and cilantro. This sauce, in addition to the roasted chili jam, created a mouthful burst of flavour when the oyster was eaten in one go. The roasted chili jam created a heat effect in the throat, which made it warming. The fried shallots added a nice crunch, in contrast to the smooth raw oyster. This was definitely a unique spin to the plain raw oysters. 2) Larb Crispy Brussels Sprouts (fried Brussels sprouts with lemongrass, cilantro, lime juice, chili flakes, toasted rice powder, fried shallots, and coriander) - I was excited to see a vegetarian version of larb on the menu! Larb is a Lao dish typically made with minced meat, fresh herbs, lime juice, fish sauce, and toasted ground rice. Instead of using meat, they subbed it with crispy Brussels sprouts. I liked the crunch of the Brussels sprouts, but found the dish to be too salty. 3) Eggplant Salad (fried eggplant with black tiger prawns, mint, shallots, Thai chili-garlic lime dressing, and sliced medium soft-boiled egg) - This reminded me of the Filipino dish of tortang talong, except the egg was served on the side instead of being pan-fried and coating the eggplant. The eggplant in this dish was fried and quite sweet & spicy, which I didn't really like. I liked the pieces of black tiger prawns, shallots, and sliced medium soft-boiled egg surrounding it though. The egg especially was perfectly soft with a bit of a gooey egg yolk. What surprised me was the presence of pomegranates in the Eggplant Salad. I always see pomegranates as a common ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, but never in Thai dishes. It was a pleasant surprise, and it showed that the creative fusion of Thai, Filipino, and Middle Eastern / Mediterranean elements and ingredients worked well here. 4) SS Egg Fried Rice (jasmine riceberry stir-fried with eggs, green onion, and garlic) + jumbo lump crab meat add-on - This was the dish that made me come to Same Same, and it did not disappoint! I thought the fried rice tasted unique compared to the fried rice I've had at other Thai and Chinese restaurants. It had a strong wok-char look and flavour, and they used jasmine riceberry, which made it taste more chewy and nutty. They did not skimp on the jumbo lump crab meat, and there were "jumbo" pieces of real crab. It seems rare to get real crab (and a lot of it) in fried rice in Thai and Chinese restaurants, so this fried rice was a winner for me. 5) SS Pad Thai (fresh rice noodles, tofu, eggs, peanuts, tamarind, chives, bean sprouts, banana blossom, lime) + black tiger prawns add-on - The tofu and bean sprouts were the stars in this dish. Although the black tiger prawns that we chose as an add-on were really big, for some reason I really liked the tofu in this pad thai more (more flavourful). They used fresh instead of dry rice noodles, which we could tell because the noodles clumped together quickly as soon as it cooled down. 6) Wok Vegetables (stir-fried yu choy sum and green beans) - As simple as this "side dish" was, this was my favourite. We asked for it to be cooked without any sauce because that's how I like my veggies (not a fan of vegetables doused in so much oyster sauce / any thick sauce). They were able to accommodate our customization request, and the dish came out perfect. The green veggies (yu choy sum and green beans) were also still quite crisp and not overcooked, which earned them extra points.

    Was so excited to try Same Same and their Samemer-delicious menu for July!…read more Came today with my plus one and we ordered: Appetizers: - deep fried wingette with ma kwen jeaw sauce: I felt the sauce was a bit too sour and salty yet addicting! I kept coming back to it. It came with 10 wings and it was deep fried really nicely, didn't feel too oily. - shrimp toast: house made brioche with cucumber relish and added the peanut sauce espuma. I love bread at baseline and this brioche was so nice and crispy. The cucumber relish was refreshing and slightly sweet. Mains - same same pad thai (vegetarian): now that I'm reading the menu it looks like they use fresh rice noodle but I found that the noodles were SUPER chewy, more chewy than other thai places I had. I appreciate the freshness of the noodles but would also liked if it were a bit easier to chew. Would also have liked if there was more veg in the meal. - ngowpochana chicken cashew: this came with crispy chicken thigh stir fried with (really SPICY) dried chilis and cashew nuts with a side of mixed purple? rice. The rice was tasty and the chicken was really crispy! Came out in small pieces and it was good but was not blown away. Desserts - mango sticky rice: so so good, love how they put butterfly pea in the sticky rice. Mango was ripe and soft, coconut cream was strong, and the jasmine riceberry puff added a great crunch to the dessert. - pandanas kaya toasted brioche: I would return for this dessert. My partner and I LOVED this dessert and how carmelized the toast was, it was divine. Final thoughts We loved the desserts and appetizers but felt the mains weren't super special. Staff were friendly. It did take us a while to get our food- appetizers came quick but took more than half an hour for our mains to come and waited more for our dessert. It was pretty busy but maybe they're still getting their groove as the Samemer delicious promotion brought in an influx of customers.

    Photos
    Same Same
    Same Same
    Same Same

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    Grey Gardens - Scallop crudo with white kimchi, cucumber and green onions

    Grey Gardens

    4.3(154 reviews)
    1.5 kmKensington Market
    $$$

    We were group of 6 dining for a special occasion. When we made our reservation, the staff offered…read moreus the semi-private table by the window. It was nice to have a more secluded spot, but the seating was quite drafty/chilly and dark, so didn't quite capture the warm ambiance of the rest of the restaurant. We were also offered a wonderful family style tasting menu for $90 per person. Overall, the food was fantastic, especially the seafood options. The dishes were innovative and fresh. Stand-out dishes: - Smoked Fish - chips n' dip - Scallop (raw) - chicken fat, green strawberry, serrano pepper - Tomato - feta, green olive, red onion - Sea Bream - peas, cumin, scallion - soooo good I would re-order all of the above in a heartbeat. So delicious. The following dishes were good but not amazing: - Bread - cultured butter - Ravioli - cheese curd, potato, leek - Crumb Cake - coffee, pumpkin - Quince - foie gras, sponge toffee And the following dishes had some flaws (though still enjoyable): - Spaghetti - chorizo, peppers, stracciateila (way too salty) - Half Chicken - truffle, green bean, gravy (chicken was quite dry) The portion sizes were sufficient. And the service was really attentive and quick. I wish they had more non-alcoholic drink options.

    Everything we ordered at Grey Gardens was well done. The meal was perfectly paced and permitted…read moreconversation between dishes. The menu has a number of options that have good variety and still pair well no matter what you decide to order. My personal favourite was the smoked fish. We made a last minute reservation, and we were meant to head out by a certain time, but the host told us that she was able to make some adjustments for us to keep the table for longer. The interior is cohesive and is a surprising change from the Kensington neighbourhood outside.

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    Grey Gardens - Dining room.

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    Grey Gardens - Lamb shoulder with za'atar, charred escarole and eggplants

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    Lamb shoulder with za'atar, charred escarole and eggplants

    Donatello Restaurant - italian - Updated May 2026

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