This restaurant has been here since 2007 and I really should have gone in sooner, since they have perfected the art of steak. I believe they can give House of Prime Rib a run for their money, especially with their larger portion sizes for about the same price. Their dinner menu has a few options, but their steaks are really well cooked with just enough red without being bloody. Their jus is divine and each bite of steak tastes heavenly with enough flavor and fat that melts in your mouth. They do offer two types of horseradish, as well as salt and pepper on the table. All their entrees come with 2 sides (we really enjoyed the mashed potatoes and cream spinach), a popover (which is good but not as good as their complementary, freshly baked bread), and a house salad which had a lovely dressing that I can't name. We also had two glasses of wine, both bursting with flavor. I'd recommend the Unshackled wine if you want a blended red wine with a fruitier taste or a Merlot for a drier one. While we were too full for dessert, they had delicuous sounding options in creme brulee, tiramisu, and cheesecake. The staff were very friendly, easy to make reservations through a phone call, and we certainly will be dining here again in the future. read more

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This is a belated review, mid June 2026. Visited here for my father's birthday dinner celebration with the intention of a special restaurant for a special night out. The restaurant wasn't busy as we were there mid-week. Unfortunately, our experience was quite disappointing. We had a party of 8 and I had asked for a quiet location. Upon arrival, we were directed to a table behind the bar with a few of us in front of the entry doors. After showing us our table, I had suggested we be moved to a table of same size and accommodations to distance ourselves from the door draft, but was told the table was reserved - that party didn't arrive until ~30 later. Sharing some constructive criticism, here are some suggestions: the manager and staff should be more friendly and welcoming, they should check-in with their tables from time (see how things are going) and provide sharp knives. The food was okay, and the plate presentation was lacking - a bit messy, thrown together. If the ownership's intent is be a special / upscale dining establishment, it will not be on name alone. For the price and quality of our meals, and our overall dining experience, I would not recommend this restaurant. Unfortunately, one can only know..............until you know. Still, I wish you good luck. read more

My boyfriend and I came here again for dinner, and it definitely did not disappoint. We absolutely love the food, service, and atmosphere here. It's such a great spot to enjoy good food, great vibes, and even conversations with the staff. We ordered the Avenue Cut and the San Mateo Prime Rib Cut, both with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach on the side. SO good and super filling. The last time we came, we were with a big party, but this visit was just the two of us and it was still amazing. The owner, Shaw, and his staff are always so kind, welcoming, and friendly. When we walked in, the restaurant was pretty busy with large parties, but Shaw kept reassuring us that our food was coming and continued checking in to make sure we were doing okay. That level of hospitality really stands out. I also ordered the margarita and let me tell you... the bartender does not play around with the pours. Definitely not complaining because it was delicious. I also love the horseradish sauce they serve on the side. It's the perfect complement to the prime rib and helps cut through the richness so the meal doesn't feel too heavy. This has honestly become one of our go-to spots for prime rib. It's hard for us to try other places because we love the food and atmosphere here so much. read more

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My boyfriend took me here for a surprise date cuz he knows how much I love prime rib. Turns out he knows me very well and knew this would not disappoint. Portions were perfect and healthy. Loved all the side options they offered. I got the creamed corn and the loaded baked potato with my (not so) petite cut served medium rare. I stole some of my boyfriend's creamed spinach which was also delicious. Oh and cannot forget the airy lil breads you gotta make sure they don't forget to give you! Lastly, the perfect ending to a perfect meal...tiramisu for dessert. All in all it was a 10 out of 10. read more

San Mateo Prime - The Petite Cut - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is my first time dining here, and I heard all the things of "not as good as hopr" or "you come here if you can't get a hopr reservation". Honestly, all true. I would say 3.5 but I'm very generously rounding up. We made a Friday night reservation a week out but honestly I'd say you can very easily walk in. There were only maybe about 6 or 7 tables seated. Service is very attentive and very friendly, no points deducted. Their bar island drinks aren't the best so minus points. They can't make an espresso martini and my friends old fashioned seemed like it was more of a mixed drink made with seltzer? It was good but def not an old fashioned. There wasn't a dedicated bartender, the host made the drinks. To be clear, the prime rib was very good. I think it was really tasty and really tender. I finished my 16oz! The sides are where they are lacking. The salad tasted a little too sweet, the popover was a little too eggy, the creamed corn wasn't creamy enough. The free bread in the beginning was very good tho lol and they kept it coming! If you're craving prime rib last minute I'd say San Mateo prime will die just to scratch the itch. read more

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We had a large celebration dinner with 25 folks and they were able to accommodate us on a few weeks notice, offering the upper private space. Unfortunately the staircase didn't work with the elderly folks so we ate in the main dining room, which was still great. Service was on point! Constantly checking to make sure all our guests had full drinks and that we were happy with the food. Many of our guests complimented the food and were excited to take some home too! The ambiance felt nice/casual and not overly stuffy/formal so that worked really well for our gathering. Would def host another dinner here again! read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Sometimes being a HOPR snob can keep you away from experiencing other prime rib restaurants. Well, I put my snobby self to bed because I didn't want to drive into the city and hunt for parking, nor did I want to wait 6-12 months to get reservations. I'm happy to say, we are glad we came here to get our big slab of meat fix for dinner. We walked right in and got seated right away. The prime rib is a set meal, similar to HOPR, all served with warm bread w/butter, salad w/eggs n' beets, 2 sides, and fresh popover. My medium rare 16oz prime rib was juicy, tender, and it was very satisfying. I always get the biggest slice because I love eating leftovers the next day! I ordered the garlic mash and cream of corn... omg, so, good, so salty, and so I ate a second helping! Service was great. Only 1 server but I guess that's all you needed for a small restaurant w/slow flow of patrons coming in to eat. The owner (I assume), checked on us a few times, in which we told him we were very happy with our meal. I'm sold and you bet I'll be back! Perhaps, I can bring my star rating to a 5 IFF the food is consistent. Consistency is very key to getting that perfect rating. read more

San Mateo Prime - Medium rare 16oz - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

Of course I'd have to compare this place to HOPR and San Mateo Prime is not at that high level but it doesn't mean it's not good! Prime rib is good, really juicy. Salad was just okay, nothing special. Popover in my opinion was too eggy for me if that makes sense. The sides portion size is on the smaller size. I ate all my sides and had none to take home with my leftover prime rib so that was sad haha. If you want a basic prime rib, easy to make reservation, easy parking in the nearby structure, then def go here! You will leave full! But if you care about ambiance, good size cocktails, and little more bang for your buck, then go to HOPR. Service I had no complaints. read more

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The crab dip is soooooo good. Must get. We went on a Friday night and it was pretty quiet. We didn't need to wait for a table of 6, which was nice. read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came back for a nice dinner recently and found that it's gone down a bit. The restaurant is never very busy but the lack of service was pretty disappointing. My mom asked for her prime rib to be cooked medium and it was closer to well. All of us could tell without eating it that it looked very dry and she barely ate half of it. Our popovers didn't come until most of us were almost finished with our meals and they were very flat and overcooked compared to everyone else in the restaurant which was very disappointing, as those are always are favorite. My boyfriend had the prime cut and anyone who ordered that in the past would always receive an offer for an extra small cut when they finish, however that wasn't offered. Our server also seemed to have a bit of an attitude when we were finishing off our meal which left a bad taste in our mouth after experiencing what we did read more

Always a great time when we visit here! The owner is great and remembers us every time we visit no matter how far apart that is. The petite cut is flavorful and my go to it's the perfect size! For sides I did cream of corn and cream of spinach. Ambiance is nice since it's in downtown San Mateo where the street is closed off so you can walk around and enjoy downtown after. They have a tv at the bar if you want to watch the game too. People compare to HOPR. To me it's a close call! Recommend if you're in town read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Ambiance: we were there early for dinner, the first to be seated. The restaurant is decorated nicely. Service: we were seated right away, and we chose our table, which is always nice. The busser came by with water right away. Hot bread & butter followed promptly. Great sour dough bread! Our drinks arrive timely and our salad came next. We weren't rushed and we enjoyed that. Food: the food was ok, I've had better, the prime rib was cooked perfectly and the portion was generous, the au jus was seasoned to my taste. I had a baked potato, but I think it didn't have real bacon, which was disappointing. The creamed spinach had a tad too much flour and the consistency wasn't right. My drink was not good. I will go back to see if this day was just an off day and hopefully they are better next time. read more

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Never had a bad meal here. Been coming here since they opened! I come here probably about once a month practically these days. Celebrated Father's Day here. Typically, I always get the prime rib. Finally decided to try something different. Had the rack of lamb. It was sooooo good and cook perfectly medium rare!! Don't like the mint sauce though! The only thing that has changed during this visit is the bread. They downgraded from the typical french bread to some type soft loaf. Still not bad though but please bring back the sourdough french bread. Probably be back some time in July again. read more

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It was my first time trying this place and it did not disappoint. Ordered: The Avenue Cut 12 oz medium The San Mateo Prime Cut 16 oz medium rare Creamed Corn Creamed Spinach Baked Potato House Salad Popover Both cuts of steaks were delicious and cooked perfectly. The knife cut thru flawlessly and the au jus that was poured over was flavored well and not overly salty. I didn't need to add any extra seasonings which is a good thing. The baked potato and creamed corn paired well with my overall dish. I enjoyed the creaminess of the corn and it wasn't too sweet. My fiancé ordered the creamed spinach which he enjoyed as well. Our meal also came with a popover which was nice and airy and complimentary sourdough bread which was warm, had crispy edges, and a soft center. The only thing we didn't really care for was the salad--it was kind of bland. Service was kind of slow since there were multiple parties going on, but other than that--our server and I believe manager who greeted us at the front were both welcoming and friendly. I'd definitely come back here if I'm craving a nice cut of prime rib without having to reserve months in advance. read more

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San Mateo Prime is a ok alternative to House of Prime Rib. You can definitely walk in and get seated. The restaurant is large with plenty of seating. After being seated, it took about 5 minutes for server to come by to take drink orders. Though no one else was in the restaurant. The food came out quickly. I ordered the San Mateo prime 16 oz cut and it was ok. I liked that it was tender but lacked flavor/seasoning. The creamed spinach and mash potatoes were again ok not great. The popover and sourdough bread were really good. The service was not great and definitely not up to HOPR standards. If you're craving prime rib and don't want to wait for HOPR reservations it's an aright alternative. Next time, I'll just wait for reservations to open up at HOPR. read more

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People will always say this is the alternate place for Prime Rib if you can't get RSVP at HOPR. San Mateo Prime was always operating in the shadow of HOPR but in my opinion, no more! Been here many times over the years, and this place consistently improve and developed it's own personality. Parking in this area is always challenging even with a few public parking lot especially during peak hours so allow yourself ample time. The restaurant itself can seat about 100 people and had a nice bar. It's well lit and the ambiance recreates a nice relaxing atmosphere. In addition to their Prime Rib, they do have other choices, include Filet Mignon, Salmon, Portobello and a Rack of Lamb. We opted for the Prime Rib. The crab dip starters was excellent with garlic-taste toasted bread. Even their starter bread was toasted just right; crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The salad was refreshing and the dressing is not a HOPR copy cat, San Mateo Prime salad dressing has it's own signature taste that pairs equally well with the salad. You get two side (potato, cream of corn and cream spinach), or you can pay extras for the third side. Whichever two of the three, you can't go wrong. The Yorkshire pudding is fairy standard but use it to soak the Au Jus. The temperature (medium rare) was perfect and was glistening in front of our eyes. The seasoning used was exceptional without the typical overpowering of salt. For dessert, the Tiramisu with a cup of coffee was a perfect match. The owners are also the servers and their attention to details only shows their dedication in providing a memorable meal. Price for the meal was extremely reasonable (it's meat), and this place is a definite repeat. read more

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We've been coming here for years. Consistently good food, excellent prime rib, mashed and baked potato, creamed spinach and corn. I've tried other sides and other main courses but I always come back to the prime rib. Excellent service and ambiance. Why deal with parking issues in SF? I always get parking here and C what's get in! My only Wish is that they offered the child's prime rib for seniors. I never finish the smallest cut, bring half my meal home, such a waste read more

I've had better experiences in the past! The cuts of meat were delicious as always, and the atmosphere was comfortable and quiet, but what was different this time was that when we checked the receipt, they had added a 20% tip even though there were only four of us. I thought it was excessive because it's supposed to be voluntary unless it's a service for eight people. I just ask that they be a little more considerate because it didn't seem fair. read more

San Mateo Prime - The San Mateo Prime Cut The San Mateo Prime Cut - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

I was here for a birthday party and pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. Everything that I ate was good. I am used to eating at the House of Prime Rib, but found this to be an excellent alternative. Parking is better, the location is safer, the decor is brighter and the staff were very friendly. I would recommend giving this place a try if you are looking for a good prime rib dinner. read more

It's been a while since we last hit up San Mateo Prime--so long that the kids claim they were in middle and elementary school. They're probably right. House of Prime Rib is usually our go-to for prime rib, and for steaks, we like to mix it up with spots like Porterhouse and Town. But since it had been ages, and this place serves both steak and prime rib, we figured--why not? Plus, it's close to home and super easy to snag a same-day reservation. In fact, we booked on a Saturday night just two hours beforehand. To our surprise, the place was packed! Service was top-notch--friendly and attentive. We ordered two New York steaks, two filet mignons, and one prime rib, all cooked perfectly to order. Nothing too rare, nothing overdone. The star for me? The popover. Hands down the best I've had--even better than Rotunda's. I wanted a second, but let's be real, I would've exploded. At about $90 per person (without alcohol), it's not cheap--but hey, that's California for you! read more

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Wonderful service from Nelson and Josua tonight~ we were delighted with the San Mateo 16 oz cut of prime rib that came with warmly baked sourdough bread, a large salad, fresh popover with two sides (we chose the baked potato w/ all the fixings and cream of spinach.) Beyond our expectations~ We will be back for more~! read more

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Always wanted to try this restaurant to compare it with Broadway Prime (Burlingame) and House of Prime Rib (SF). I found it much better than Broadway Prime because the last time I dined there I was really disappointed. So, when I'm in the mood for Prime Rib (I'm going to try their Rack of Lamb next time), San Mateo Prime is now my new go to without the hassle of waiting for months for a reservation & going into the City for House of Prime Rib. Great food, pleasant service and nice enough interiors. read more

A solid place for a group dinner. The place was easy to get reservations and parking was fast and easy. The service here was attentive and good. The food was excellent. The salad, sides, and prime rib were all good. its not hopr in sf but its damn close and easy to access so i will definitely be back and would recommend this place. read more

I came here with a reservation and got seated right away. My partner and I already knew what we wanted to order since we looked at the menu prior to coming to this place. Once I made the order the food took a while to come out. The server realized that it's been about 15 to 20 minutes since we ordered. Eventually, the food came out and it was phenomenal. I thought a petite cut made me pretty full since it comes with a side of salad and bread. read more

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Came here with a party of 11. Good location on San Mateo's restaurant row with a city parking lot 1 block away. Made reservations months ago - the owner was real nice as I made changes along the away. We reserved a "private room" which is kind of an upstairs storage room. No decorations but was very private and perfect for our party. Despite being upstairs from the main floor and kitchen the service was spot on. Very nice and efficient servers. Most people ordered the prime rib (of course). Prime rib was perfectly cooked, juicy and flavorful. The sides (creamed corn and creamed spinach), salad and baked potato were just OK. The popover and sourdough bread were good. Overall, a great experience and would recommend the private room for a large party. Service was great, prices very reasonable on the food was very good. Would definitely return, especially for a large party. read more

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Whoever said this place is on par or better than House of Prime Rib simply does not have patience to wait for a table. They are delulu. San Mateo Prime is incomparable to House of Prime Rib. If you come here, don't try to compare this with house of prime rib. If you want a good overall prime rib experience, go to house of prime rib. If you just want a nice dinner with prime rib, no wait, and okay sides, this is the spot for you. Let's start with the good stuff. What was decent here was the prime rib, garlic mash potato, and creamed corn. The crème brûlée dessert was also good. Overall, nothing to brag about, but it was decent. Now what makes me not want to come back would be the salad and popover. The salad was served poorly. It's tasted like lettuce drowned in heavy thousand island dressing, all made in bulk in the morning. What we got was a sad soggy salad. The popover tasted like undercooked pound cake. Crispy on the outside, mushy and raw in the inside. Creamed spinach was too heavy for me, but I'd say this is an acquired taste and I'm not going to neg on it. But it was not for me. I also got the garlic noodle and it was good, but nothing to go crazy over. Overall, the meal was okay, service was attentive, and the atmosphere was good for a nice date. read more

Definitely comparable to HOPR, really no need to drive all the way up there now that I've discovered this spot. Ordered the medium sized prime rib and it was delicious. The sides were great too. I finished everything even though I thought I wouldn't be able to - it was a lot of food. Lastly, service was great and very attentive. Easy 5 stars. read more

This place is awesome! The food, the ambience, the quality of service! You will enjoy this place! Every employee, every inch of this place, every bite you take screams 5 Star! You won't regret it! If you're looking for an amazing experience with excellent food, this is the place to be!!!! read more

San Mateo Prime - San Mateo Prime Cut!!! - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

The owner?/manager and servers were all very nice and accommodating. Ambiance was just ok - no real feeling of being a special place. Servers do not wear any uniform , just their own casual clothes. Not a big deal to me if the food is good. Prime Rib - 7 out of 10. Tender and juicy but lacked the depth of flavor of aged prime rib like what House of Prime Rib serves. Salad - 5 out of 10. A little overdressed and lettuce was not very crisp and fresh tasting. Dressing was tasty though. Popover - 3 out of 10. It came out almost completely deflated, not crispy at all, and the inside of it was a little soggy. On the other hand, the house french bread was very good. Loaded baked potato - 9 out of 10. Hard to mess up a baked potato. Creamed spinach - 7 out of 10. Tasted ok, nothing special about it. Everything was served from the kitchen. They do not slice to order from a silver cart even though they feature a picture of the cart loaded with meat on their website. The server brought out plates of salad with some plates resting on top of each other when he had a large party to serve. No problem with parking but maybe it was because we got there just after they opened. I didn't have a terrible experience but not sure if I'd ever go back. read more

Great food, good service. The timing of the popovers should be close to the serving of the meat.

San Mateo Prime delivered a classic steakhouse experience with solid flavors and great service. I ordered the San Mateo Prime Cut (16oz bone-in), and it came out beautifully cooked. Tender, juicy, and full of that rich, beefy flavor you want from a proper prime rib. The loaded baked potato was hearty and satisfying, and the creamed corn added a nice touch of sweetness to the plate. The meal starts off strong with a house salad with their house dressing, fresh and simple, and the warm baked popover is a fun, delicious touch you don't get everywhere. Overall, a dependable and enjoyable dinner. A great spot when you're craving a classic steakhouse meal in San Mateo. read more

For the nearby restaurants that consistently serve prime rib (not as a special), I've tried Kincaid's, San Mateo Prime, and Broadway Prime. FOOD I think San Mateo Prime and Broadway Prime taste pretty much the same, including sides. Their creamed spinach is really weird - like cream cheese goop with spinach, and both places taste the same. The baked potato at San Mateo Prime slightly edged out Broadway's because it came nice and hot. Overall, for both prime rib and sides, I prefer Kincaid's (but no popover at Kincaid's). SERVICE Broadway Prime had hands down the best service. Probably the best service I've had in awhile. The server was attentive and helpful, offering things before I could even vocalize the request, and never took long to return with whatever I needed. I was really impressed. San Mateo Prime was OK, I have no complaints. Kincaid's had pretty slow service, we had to hunt for our server multiple times and it also took forever and multiple asks to get whatever was requested. AMBIANCE Kincaid's had the best vibe and you get a view. It's a large restaurant and feels contemporary. Broadway Prime has an old school steakhouse vibe, and worn in - in a good way, like a neighborhood mainstay. San Mateo felt like a slightly more formal steakhouse than Broadway. TL;DR I wouldn't go back because the prime rib is so so. You're better off going to Kincaid's nearby (ish). read more

San Mateo Prime - Prime rib - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

You can't come here without making the comparison to House of Prime Rib. The menu is very similar. The food is good. Great for a special occasion. If you're a carnivore, this is the place for you. You will not leave hungry. Finished your slice of prime rib and still hungry? They'll hook you up with another slice until you're full. read more

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Our 1st time here. My San Mateo Prime cut was good but lacked flavor. The pop over and creamed corn was ok. My baked potato was served warm. I have had better tasting Prime Rib. Our friend ordered lamb and it was quite tasty. The pre-made salad was ok did not care for dressing. The service was a bit slow. Nicely decorated in doors. Quite expensive. read more

Prime rib was very tough to eat. The calamari was different with garlic. The salad was average and the filet looked like a hockey puck. Everything was over priced. read more

We went to SMP last night for a birthday dinner.. The service was excellent and the foods were delicious. Everything is great and we have a wonderful time with friends and families. We definitely will come back again. read more

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Almost as good as House of Prime Rib! I was able to make reservations with no issues and no wait. The restaurant is located in downtown San Mateo. Parking can be difficult depending on timing of the evening. I think it was the Owner that constantly checked on us during dinner. He was very friendly. It was my birthday and they offered a complimentary tiramisu. My husband and I enjoyed the food. The only difference between this place and HOPR is the entertainment from servers mixing salad and etc. Overall I will definitely come back! read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great place for prime rib for the holidays outside of San Francisco. Nothing can beat house of prime rib though. But this will be the second best option. The salad is identical to house of prime rib. The bread pop over was perfect and actually the best one I had at San Mateo prime was this year where I had to ask for seconds. The prime rib was a nice thick cut which was perfect. But i noticed that it was a little tough in certain parts as that area was medium well. But the top half was medium rare as I asked and like. The bake potato is delicious. The cream of spinach could use a little less salt. The service was great. The team took care of us for the holiday. Easy to find parking and you don't need to worry about all those sf junk fees in your bill. Truth this place for holiday parties. Come hungry leave rolling out the door. read more

San Mateo Prime - Steakhouses Near Me - San Mateo, California

The prime rib was superb. Other restaurants' prime rib was apparently roasted to a too rare stage and then reheated in a steam table tray with a 1/4" of bouillon-based "au jus". Yuck! Service friendly attentive prompt. Pleasant ambience but not as first class as it could be for whom a prime rib dinner is a special occasion. read more

Still my favorite location to eat prime rib. Service is awesome as usual. We ordered: San Mateo prime and sides : linguine and cream of corn.. I couldn't finish my prime rib. I was already full from salad, linguine, cream of corn and their pop over.i only ate a little bit of my prime rib. read more

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