Disclaimer: I only ordered one drink off their actual menu. The rest were bartender's choice in accordance with my tastes. Not all bars or bartenders do this, especially on busy nights, and my experience is not necessarily common. On to the review. Some evenings are just dinner and drinks. Some are experiences. Thanks to Tony, Grandam was an experience. Had a 5:30 Monday reservation at Grandam, which was easy to snag on Opentable. Had time to wait before my reservation, so I sat at the bar and ordered Rosemary Sol Margarita (blanco tequila, rosemary agave, apricot liqueur, tajin). The drink wasn't bad, but despite the bartender's attempts at making the recipe less sweet, it was still pretty cloying. That's when the bartender introduced himself as Tony and we began to discuss margaritas and our personal tastes, which led to Tony making me his own personal brand of margarita, which was much more palatable. Then it was time for my reservation and I bid Tony adieu until later (more on the bar to come). The restaurant, decorated in moody velvets and leathers, was empty, but that could have been due to the snowy weather. My server was wonderful and prompt, and took pride in explaining how Grandam is part of a farm collective that prioritizes local farmers and vendors, though she did explain their oysters were from Chesapeake Bay (of course). While the appetizer menu contained pork belly, corvina dishes, oysters, Jamaican crawfish, yuca fritters, and deviled eggs, I opted for the wood fired mushrooms. This dish, made with foraged mushrooms, salsa mocha, goat cheese spread, and cornbread was earthy and complex. Loved the goat cheese's added creaminess. I am not a cornbread fan, but this cornbread was light and tasted as cornbread should. Once other tables started arriving, several remarked how much they enjoyed it. I almost considered the tri-tip, made with bourbon braised tri-tip, 12 year white cheddar, grits, and mustard chimichurri, but the server told me it's a larger dish meant for sharing and I didn't want to ruin my main dish. For my entree I couldn't pass up the venison Wellington, deer meat wrapped in a flaky puff pastry, accompanied by pumpkin miso Demi glaze, country ham, foraged mushrooms, butternut squash, broccolini and fennel salad, and a tart cherry vinaigrette. The venison was moist and fall apart tender, medium to rare, and the dish came together like a symphony. And even though it might be a little trashy, even in the nicest restaurants I order their fries. These fries were crisp and hot and well seasoned. Grandam has signature entrees that are always available. The Wellington changes depending on which meat is seasonal. Pan seared trout, fried chicken, and a filet are also on the old and faithful list. The seasonal menu included another corvina dish (a mild white fish), creole lamb curry, clams asada and corn pasta, more steak, and cabbage and chana. The dessert menu offered pecans and coconut, miso chess pie, a chocolate torte, ice cream, and nightcap sweet drinks. I was so full I had to pass. Of note, the chef of Grandam is Ecuadorean, so expect that to influence most, if not all, of the food (in a fantastic way). Once I finished my meal, it was back to the bar, which is part of Grandam as well as the Manchester Hotel Lobby, where Tony awaited. Tony used to be the manager of the bar before leaving for other opportunities, and told me he still worked Mondays to "fill his cup." He and I bonded over the fact that I am adventurous and like to let bartenders have their way with the spirits. I don't order off the menu if I don't have to. First I had a cocktail made of my favorite spirit, gin-- the last word, a prohibition cocktail made with gin, green chartreuse, maraschino, and fresh lime juice. Simple, refreshing. Then Tony introduced me to a vodka I've never seen before called Blacklion, made with a rare type of sheep's milk. While I know it sounds crazy, and I'm not even a vodka person, it was incredibly smooth. He made me a reverse vesper martini, a lighter, aperitif style drink. It was my favorite drink of the night probably, and I'm not even a martini person. We finished the night with what he called the best American whiskey in the world, stating, "If I could draw whiskey as a picture, this is what it would look like." It's not often bartenders wax poetic. This was not cheap, and he warned me, but I had ended up sitting next to a guy who had helped design several of the whiskey labels at the bar, and that's what he was having, so with all that, how could I say no? That had to be the last drink of the night because it was very deep and smoky and a knockout. Tony agreed that it was a nightcap type of beverage and not much could follow it. Tony has a true passion. This whole evening was a vibe. I can't wait to go back again. But if you want the Tony experience, you have to go on a Monday! I can't be held responsible for any other day. read more

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A lovely dining salon with a private alcove room. Excellent food and service. Weekdays seem to be relatively quiet. The parking lot across the street charges after 6:00. You use a QR code to add payment 3-6 hours is $10.00. There is also the option of valet parking. 94 read more

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Our family had a fantastic brunch at Granddam. The ambience is elegant but comfortable and the food was unusual and delicious. Our waitress, Jill, went out of her way to make it special for us. We will definitely go back. read more

Attended the Garden & Gun Event yesterday with friends. The food and drinks were very good. They had food and specialty cocktails for the event and we tried a few of them. We had the Pimento & Labna as well as the Deviled Eggs. The service was excellent. The Granddam dining area was closed, but the seating in the bar area was just fine. read more

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Wait time: no wait with reservations Sunday morning Atmosphere: small, quiet place, not crowded, loved the decor Service: quick, accommodating Food: decent size meal, menu is small Price: $$ a little pricey Cleanliness: 9/10 read more

Granddam - Desserts Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Recently enjoyed a lovely group dinner here with excellent service and wonderful food. It was a weeknight, and there seemed to be plenty of tables. I started with an Aperol Spritz and enjoyed the braised tri tip and a chess pie for dessert (pictured.) Atmosphere was top notch and I did see they have a private room off to the side which can be closed off with a curtain for privacy. The menu prices seemed more reasonable from when they first opened. read more

Granddam - Chess Pie - Desserts Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Amazing decor, amazing service, and absolutely delicious food and drink! I'm so grateful I got to try Chef Paula Endara's food. Loved the tomato carpaccio appetizer and clam encocadas entree especially. This would be a great place to visit when you're celebrating a special occasion or want to impress your dinner date. read more

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First time coming lunch here and loved it! Excellent menu and everything is so tasty. Got pimento cheese and labna appetizer that was very large and more to split for 4 people probably. Chili sorghum salad is delicious but has some heat to it if don't like spicy food don't get it. And tri tip sandwich is very tender and delicious with the mustard chimichurri. Great place for elevated food and drinks. The coconut lime drink it out of this world tasty. I could drink a gallon of that everyday! Service was great and very nice dining area. Highly recommend. read more

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The Granddam is located inside The Manchester hotel. There's parking around, but valet is worth it. The restaurant is on the bottom floor of the hotel, beautiful decor surrounds the entire area. Service was excellent, super friendly staff. We had drinks and appetizers, both were excellent. If you're in town, it's a beautiful hotel with plenty of amenities and local distilleries near by, don't miss out on this place even for to stop by for a quick drink at their rooftop. read more

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I'm in Lexington for work and was told about this place and was really impressed by the food was great seafood awesome NO fish smell.And the server AJ was awesome service was great always had a smile on his face and it just wasn't our table.Everyone table was talking about him.Had a great smile and made us girls feel very comfortable there 10 stars read more

This bar/restaurant is beautiful. Service is outstanding and food and drinks are top-notch! They have an absolutely amazing Chef who is from Ecuador. We experienced drinks and appetizers in the bar one night. And also a full five course meal in the restaurant. If you are lucky enough to have Katelyn as your Server you will be rewarded with impeccable service and a gorgeous smile. Their Sommelier is new. She is charming and knows her stuff. Favorite food for both of us was the Trout entree. Husband loved the foraged mushrooms. And I loved the pork roulade. In the bar area, one of our favorite things was simply the beer cheese that was served warm with celery, apple slices and a warm tasty pretzel. The only dish that was a slight disappointment was the Clams that we had at the bar. Three of our clams hadn't opened, and the bread that was served with it would have been so much better had it been grilled. It's probably a moot point anyway cause Bartender told us they are changing up the menu soon anyway. Note: the smoked fried chicken meal that we saw come out looked and smelled amazing. Also, it's good that their desserts are not overly sweet. We tried both the pecan cake with coconut ice cream and the chocolate cake with Maker's Mark ice cream and they were both surprisingly light and not too sweet. Sadly we didn't make it for brunch, as I'm sure that would have been fabulous as well. This restaurant is a real gem! read more

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Tasty, special occasion spot in the cool and growing Manchester district. I found parking in a lot across the street and had a reservation for brunch with my family. The interior is absolutely stunning, and I'm sure the rest of the hotel and rooftop bar Lost Palm are equally beautiful, I'd love to try the rooftop sometime. The brunch menu was pricy but tasty and the service was friendly, with a fair wait time, given the crowded Sunday morning time slot. I'd be happy to return. read more

Granddam - Morning Grace plate - Desserts Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Recently went to Lost Palm, but was unable to get in due to all the (empty) tables being reserved. The hostess at Lost Palm definitely enjoyed her power trip gatekeeping and was pretty snide and rude to the parties in front of us that walked in. She offered us two seats at the bar, but when we walked in there were no seats available. Lost Palm is incredibly beautiful and unique - think vintage Miami or Palm Springs with ultra glam art deco influences. We hope to visit again but next time we will be sure and make reservations. As a result, we went back down to Granddam and had a fabulous experience with the much friendlier bar and waitstaff there. Our sazerac (off menu) and peachy old-fashioned (don't remember the name but it was a seasonal specialty) were both delicious and we enjoyed drinking them in the shady outdoor courtyard. Prices were definitely upscale (over $80 for 4 cocktails and tip); you also have to factor in the parking situation - we paid $20 for valet and tip for the valet team (valet is $11). We did not order food, but I will be back to try the fried grits! Both the male bartender with black hair and the burly male red headed server (didn't get names) both really shined in their service! Note that your only options for parking are a smallish paid lot across from the hotel ($2.25/hour I think is what the valet said) or the $11 valet. There is also a larger paid lot a short walk away and limited street parking in the surrounding area. Overall, $100 for a special cocktail date in Lexington is a bit high, but the unique design and level of luxury you feel in the space makes it worth it. The cocktail program was solid. I'd recommend maybe coaching the hostess at Lost Palm to be a bit friendlier to all clients - our experience was definitely not something we've experience even at much snootier Michelin Star restaurants around the world, and I felt really bad for the people and how she spoke to them. Pro tips: consider parking and make reservations before going to the Manchester. read more

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This was from the December 2025 menu. Truly Unbelievable!!! A true symphony of flavors that will have your tastebuds dancing, praising, and even singing for more. My absolutely amazing girlfriend surprised me by bringing me here for my birthday and the Granddam did not disappoint. From the ambiance, service, cocktails, starters, mains, and dessert this is one restaurant I encourage everyone to enjoy. Admittedly, this place had been on my radar for a while and especially since Chef Paula was on Top Chef. Now having been there, I will definitely be finding reasons to go back when I can. For disclosure for when you dine here, like other top end restaurants around town, you can make an experience at The Granddam as reasonable or as decadent as you want. The bottom line, this is one restaurant you will certainly enjoy as there's something for everyone and of course if there are any sort of allergens or dietary restrictions check beforehand. For our experience, Francesca was an absolutely amazing waiter. She was informative and made you feel like you were the most important guests there. With her help on top of the exquisite craftsmanship of Chef Paula and her crew, we experienced a truly remarkable meal. The menu features local ingredients and dishes that I would classify as redefined southern classics that have deep flavors and flairs of the likes you won't find anywhere else in Lexington. I haven't had true Ecuadorian dishes but of what we tasted I feel like I received insight into how spectacular it can be. Throughout the year you'll see changes in the menu to the seasons so be on the look out for new and surprising dishes along with some staples that do get some updates as well. I highly recommend trying the Pork Belly & Llapinagacho! Do not sleep on this dish! For cocktails, I got the Smokin' Saddles (brown butter fat washed old fashioned) and my girlfriend got the Midnight Rain (a dream of flavors that combines rye, campari, aperol, & coffee liqueur), both are very delicious. For mains we both picked up a seasonal dish: the Corvina Maito & the Creole Lamb Curry. We also split an accoutrement of the Pork Chili Honey Brussel Sprouts that will literally make you melt in your seat with how delicious they are. Additionally, we were both head over heels with our main dishes. The curry is full of flavor, tender lamb meat, and hominy dumplings that, as my girlfriend said "are amazing" despite how they're not something she goes for outside this dish. The Corvina Maito is a rich tropical fish dish paired with delicious jollof rice that packs so much flavor while still feeling familiar. The meal ended with a surprise dessert of a chocolate tort with cookie crumbles and Maker's Mark Ice Cream. Y'ALL, this was incredible!!! A rich decadent chocolate cake and mousse that pairs so well with the only bourbon ice cream I've had where I could still taste the bourbon. This was one experience I will be thinking about for a while and I can't wait to go back. Food may be ephemeral, but the experience lasts a lifetime and The Granddam (and all of those who work there) are making that possible. read more

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When in Lexington this is a must. There's a beautiful bar in the lobby of the hotel so you can grab drinks before dinner. The restaurant has a large open space with lots of larger tables. Mix of booth seating and regular. Our waitress was so nice and explained their menu for us. Tons of local ingredients and KY favorites. Make sure to try the Tri tip appetizer and the fried chicken. Wow! Both were so good I'm still thinking about them. The presentation makes it all even better. Chicken had a bit of a kick and was a huge piece. Everyone who ordered had to take half of it home We were so full we didn't get a chance to order dessert. read more

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Delicious food, good ambience and great service! I had the seasonal pancakes and a side of scrambled eggs which were all fantastic. The pancake was more hearty like cornbread. My husband had the Morning Grace and said it had the best sausage he's ever had. The scrambled eggs were perfect. The biscuits and strawberry jelly were phenomenal. Our server, AJ, was outstanding and very attentive! Definitely coming back! read more

The Granddam at The Manchester Hotel is a standout among hotel restaurants. If you're like me, you might assume that hotel restaurants have a reputation for being overpriced with mediocre food. This is not the case here. The Granddam elevates the standard with exceptional food and service that goes far beyond expectations. Side bar: We might be a little biased, though--we enjoyed the food so much that we hired Chef Paula and The Granddam to host lunch for our wedding, but that should speak for itself! This is our first time back in almost 11 months because life has been so busy. The ambiance is beautiful, like stepping into a scene from The Great Gatsby. It's elegant, timeless, and sets the perfect tone for a memorable dining experience. The rotating seasonal menu keeps things fresh and exciting. We loved the surprise! Our picks were the Hog Hornado & Mussels, Wood-Fired Mushrooms, Caesar Salad, and Sweet Potato Raviolon--each dish full of flavor and creativity. For drinks, I had a perfectly balanced Paper Plane, while my wife enjoyed a delicious Espresso Martini. (I tried the PB&J Old Fashioned and it wasn't for me - too much J not enough PB) Todd, our server, was fantastic--personable, knowledgeable, and attentive without being overbearing. He made sure our drinks and water were always topped off and even noted from our reservation that we had a concert to catch next door at Manchester Music Hall. He went above and beyond by remembering our upcoming one-year wedding anniversary and surprised us with a dessert, which made the night even more special. Highly recommend dining here, whether you're staying at the hotel or just stopping in for an exceptional meal! read more

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Totally mismanaged wait. We were told 45 minutes even though they had wide availability online for reservations. After 45 minutes, they were clearly unready to seat us. None of the tables had turned over and several people were looking for their servers. We were seated anyway and waited ten more minutes for nothing. Not a waitress in sight. No water. No coffee. We were very hungry at this point and left. Maybe the food and drink here are amazing. Without competent service, we will never know. read more

I stayed at the Manchester and went there for a quick lunch. It was a holiday and service was slow. If you are there on a leisure day, not a bad place to chill, but if you have a full day ahead after checking out, maybe try other places. read more

Granddam - Fried chicken sandwich, decent - Desserts Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

My wife and I went for the second time and enjoyed it just as much as the first. Our first visit was on Valentine's Day 2024. They were full. It was dark inside because it was dark outside. But the ambiance was electric. There was a din of diners discussing stuff but it wasn't distracting. The food was fantastic in presentation and flavor. From the pork belly starter to the the entrees to the special dessert. And the servers and backs were attentive and fun to talk to. We chatted up the patrons seated beside us and they enjoyed themselves, too. We went back last night, a random Saturday in June. Busy but not full, bright inside because it was light outside. Lots of natural light. Good cocktails, fine starters, more delicious entrees, and a nice selection of desserts. THEN, go upstairs to Lost Palm, the rooftop bar, for a cocktail. Sit outside if you can. It's loud inside with music and chatter. But lots of folks like that vibe. The views of Lexington are pretty at night. It's a pricey night but a fun experience and great food. When they first opened, the prices were stupid high. Someone talked sense into them and while still on the higher end, are reasonable for the type of establishment. Parking is valet only for $11. Or park nearby and walk. It's a fine dining hotel restaurant with a beautiful decor in the lobby bar and the rooftop. It's fun. Go. read more

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First time eating here and we were here for Fathers Day Brunch. The place is beautiful inside and out! The food was fantastic and the service was a little slow but still good. I look forward to going back! read more

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Celebrated my birthday here. The restaurant is lovely, has a live band in the hotel lobby and you can hear it in the restaurant. There is also a beautiful outdoor garden area. The food was fabulous, sourced from KY farms (except the seafood, haha), the chef infuses excellent spice blends. The server was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and provided suggestions. I had the trout, which so yummy. The wine list is expansive and mixed drinks were very good. And lastly the rooftop bar provides a nice view of the distillery district and good music. It's a great celebratory, treat yourself place. I will return! Kinda loud though, however I went on a Saturday night, so not surprising. read more

Granddam - Seabass special. - Desserts Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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We had a late Valentines outing at the Manchester Hotel including drinks and an app at Lost Palm followed by a drink in the lobby area bar and then dinner at Granddam restaurant. The overall experience was fantastic and I highly recommend checking out all of these places. I had been to Granddam one time previously and it was a good meal but this time it was seriously one of the best meals we've had. The specially featured veal chop was what sealed the deal but everything from the seared ahi tuna to the freshly flown in oysters to the pork belly app to each and every curated cocktail... was amazing all around. I wouldn't har ever ordered the veal chop without the comments from our server who said it was the best thing he's ever eaten there. He was spot on with his recommendations. The cocktails were all so perfectly created as well. This evening was truly a great experience. read more

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The food was excellent. Service was great and ambiance was nice. We have gone several times and it's been great. Looking forward to a dinner meal. read more

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Went to sunday brunch, ordered the steak and egg biscuit special. It was especialy disappoiting. A tiny thin tough piece of shoe leather was in place of what I had expected to see a ni e little medallion of beef. Seriously ? Lexington deserves better. The live music almost made up for it. read more

Met friends for cocktails at the bar....it is beautiful and very busy. Amazing cocktails, atmosphere, and service. Definitely will visit again. read more

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Y'all the interior design is so nice with cozy corners to settle into. Full bar, coffee & delish menu. I ordered the creamy cauliflower soup which was amazing along with a tomato pie (more like a galette). With tomatoes not in season, I was skeptical but it was really good! Very attentive service. read more

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Everything! The food was unique and delicious! Wonderful atmosphere! Los valet parking!

Came back to grandam for a birthday dinner. Nothing short of excellent. Kat was our server and her recommendations were spot on. We started with the tuna tiradito with a cherry miso puree that was to die for. We got the tri tip appetizer that was smoked table side with creamy grits. And we got grilled oysters, absolutely stunning. For our entree we shared the duck cassoulet. Succulent duck with sour cherries on a bed of perfectly stewed beans and ham. Couldn't be happier! Will always come back! read more

Ambiance was good food was a 5. Service was pretty slow. Would definitely go again for the food. read more

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Review is not for service or food...that was great. If you are going for anything brunch or breakfast, maybe call first. Seems to be iffy when that is served. Ended up only having coffee. The rest of my party settled for lunch which they said was outstanding. I'll return when they have a better handle on advertising correct hours for breakfast options. read more

Fresh takes on the food options, definitely a vibe. I like the list palm a bit more, but overall a pleasant experience.

Food and drinks were fabulous! The tri tip and sweet corn side for the filet dish were the table favorites. Our waiter was also wonderful and meeting Chef Paula was so fun- we loved her and are rooting for her on Top Chef ‍ read more

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Ambiance and general decor was great, whoever designed the space did really good work. Service was also great. Food...massively overpriced and unexciting. Elk Wellington at $69 should have been exceptional, it was very ordinary. Bread was stale, mock tail tasted like battery acid. Chef needs to try a bit harder, food not matching pricing. read more

Brunch. Recommend reservations. It's good. Well planned menu. Something for everyone without being overwhelming. Beautiful setting (although the sun blazes through some windows). Attentive yet unobtrusive service. Solid cocktails. Everything we ordered was delish. High end for Lex and we'll definitely be back. read more

Just NO, other than their service, the food sucks tastes like Factor meals! Tasted frozen and microwaved. Staff was friendly and couteous.

Outstanding food and service. We are from out of town and did not expect to be wowed at the hotel restaurant. It was impressive from the drinks to dessert. We loved the style of the room with gorgeously cool couch seating that wrapped the room. We had no disappointing dishes and wished we were staying another night to eat there again. Highly recommend the deviled eggs, clams, fried chicken, tritip, bussel sprouts, chocolate cake with makers mark ice cream, and coconut dessert. Just wowww! And Abby was a darling server with a wonderful personality. read more

First opening was Railbird weekend and I've heard excellent things! Visited here on a Wednesday night with my mom & friend. Our server shared that it was his 2nd training night, but he did wonderful! - food delivered warm & savory & fresh - interior design stunning - you'd eat your whole plate, and not fill full / bloated.. it's insane how freshly cooked every single dish was. read more

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Fantastic dining experience. We commented several times on the beautiful space. The lighting was comforting and set the perfect mood. We started with oysters on the half shell and deviled eggs with shrimp. The oysters were small but fresh and delicious, and the mignonette in particular was a standout. The eggs were a perfect combination of ingredients. Loved both! My partner had the trout, and I the New York Strip. Both were delicious, and the steak was among the best I've ever had, which is saying something! The green apple vanilla mousse for dessert had an adorable presentation, and our server proclaimed it the most underrated thing on the menu. It was the perfect end to our evening! Can't say enough about how thrilled we were with nearly every detail. It's expensive for Lexington, but I would never complain about a meal like the one we enjoyed at Granddam. read more

I would give this 10/5 stars if I could!! Ask for Tony at the bar and TRUST your bartenders! Even though menu crafted cocktails were wonderful, the intentional custom cocktails made off menu were the highlight. Started with "what spirits do you like? Refreshing or spirit-forward?" and a custom drink would appear specific to your preferences. Best bartender and incredible space. Friend ordered the $110 Wagyu Ribeye and worth every dollar- best steak ever. Wonderful space to wait at if in line for Lost Palm or worth any trip out for this unique bar. Food, drinks, vibe, service- all exceptional. read more

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