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    The Saga

    3.7 (59 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    The Saga Photos

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    THE SAGA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Saga

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    Gambas al Ajillo
    Rebecca H.

    I enjoyed the food here and the way it was presented. The Manhattan and New Fashioned cocktails were good. The Gambas al ajillo was flavorful and tasty. The arroz amarillo came with duck confit, pan seared rice cake, mushrooms, radishes and baby tomatoes. I thought the duck was really good and so were the flavors. The arroz rojo came with bomba rice, prawns, lobster, mussels, and pearl onions. This was also good but I thought it was a bit salty. The New York strip was decent but it wasn't particularly interesting like the other dishes. It came with potatoes, shishito peppers and cremini mushrooms. The Branzino was good. For dessert, I thought the crema catalana had a cool presentation but I liked the chocolate tart better. Overall, the food here was delicious and visually appealing. The service was great and I liked the modern vibe of the restaurant.

    Gambas al ajillo
    Sydney C.

    Came here for my mom's birthday dinner and it was amazing. The restaurant is cozy and welcoming. Ephrata, our server, was so helpful and sweet. When the restaurant was out of the tomahawk, she was able to source one from the hotel so we could still have it. The drinks were amazing and the mocktails were tasty. We also had the paella - and while there was one strong spice in it we couldn't really identify - everything was awesome. Definitely would come back.

    Eggplant hummus
    Carmen L.

    We visited in late January during Restaurant Week. The restaurant was buzzing in the early evening, which only increased as night fell. Staff was very welcoming and sat us at a table for two. We order our first and second courses. I and my companion had eggplant hummus (delicious). It was smooth and served with flat (think no yeast) crackers. Perfectly light if you want to enjoy multiple courses. For my main I had the seafood paella. Given the eggplant hummus was really good, I was expected to be blown away. Unfortunately, I was not. The paella didn't have any one flavor stand out. The rice also felt different, so perhaps that also had something to do with it. My companion had the Branzino filet and that was served on a bed of red fumet, the color presumably from red bell peppers. That was quite tasty. For my dessert I had the crema catalana sorbet, which was light and full of flavor that felt very tropical. Overall, this was a good experience but I was not necessarily blown away. I believe they have sister restaurants, so I would opt to branch out before returning to The Saga.

    Wonderful chocolate dessert
    Michelle C.

    Great little bar/restaurant in the Ritz Hotel. They offer happy hour drink specials till 8pm. Wonderful bartenders, even provided a sweet treat for the birthday girl in our party.

    Sanchita G.

    I would say that the service was extremely good. That's why I give it three stars. I got the fluffy margarita, which is super Duper good that was probably my favorite thing and then we got the croquet balls which I appreciated that they were actually vegetarian because usually they have some sort of meat in them . I was super disappointed by paella I felt like the quantity was sparse and it was not as good as it was hoping it would be. They were trying to almost be too high-end with it. Also, the dessert menu was not what it was hoping. Therefore, it didn't get that. The ambience was super high end. It is in the Ritz Carlton!

    Austin G.

    Inside the Ritz-Carlton in West End, The Saga is a full restaurant that combines flavors from Spain, Central America, and South America. Meeting a friend for dinner at 7:30 p.m., here's our experience. 1) Food: The menu is large and to feed us both, we each got an appetizer, main, and dessert. I ordered the croquettes of the day, the scallops, and the torta de Santiago. The croquettes come in two kinds that change daily- six in total. The winner of the meal was the scallops. They were cooked well and the flavors of the bacon and peas worked well. The cake was fancy, but having hiked the Camino de Santiago, it was NOTHING like the cake found on the hike. 2) Drinks: Wines reign on the menu, but a generous cocktail list comes with drawings. The fluffy margarita and red sangria were unique and tasty if you have a sweet tooth. 3) Service: It was spot on- friendly and attentive. 4) Space: It's in a hotel so it's a little more sterile, but I like that look. It's a great place to go with work friends. 5) Neighborhood: Street parking is usually easier to find in this part of town compared to Georgetown and Dupont Circle.

    Amuse Bouche
    Ken S.

    KenScale: 7.5/10 Visit: July 2023 Enrique Limardo is at the moment one of the busiest chefs in DC, opening restaurants all around the city in the last several years. Imperfecto, where chef Enrique used to personally cook the multi-course tasting menu himself at the degustation counter table on Friday and Saturday, is the crown jewel and absolutely a worthy destination to explore his Latin American-accented cooking at its best and other places that my wife Jun and I had been to like Seven Reasons and its Joy sister restaurant in Chevy Chase also had delicious dishes. Last year, chef Enrique went in a slightly different direction from his existing restaurants and decided to open a modern Spanish restaurant inside the Ritz-Carlton. We finally got to visit The Saga a few months after its opening, and it was somewhat a challenging experience to quite pinpoint. What would Spanish food with Latin American twist look like? The playful display of the dishes with chef Enrique's touch immediately caught our attention at first. For its version of pan con tomate, The Saga has multiple layers of different kinds of tomatoes on top of house-made sourdough (you can also add jamon ibérico on top for extra charges). For "not traditional" patata brava, you get to try a deconstructed version with thin circular layers of potatoes over romesco sauce. The popular gambas al ajillo also gets a new Latin American treatment with gulf shrimps from Mexico and dried Calabrian peppers. The starter dishes Jun and I shared together were mostly solid, save for perhaps croquetas (one with cheese and another with cod instead) which I thought were surprisingly pedestrian. I just wish the restaurant brought these dishes one at a time instead of bringing them altogether; by the time we were more or less done with one dish and ready to move onto the next, the temperature of the latter was already past its optimal level. Perhaps a bit of a kink in the execution that the kitchen should fix going forward? For the main dish, we shared arroz Amarillo with duck confit, which was a rather unusual food item (instead of, say, seafood or pork) for a Spanish rice dish, but turned out to the right choice. Jun was very appreciative of the rustic flavor of the duck confit that blended very nicely with baby radishes, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes as well as bomba rice. If there is one dish at The Saga you absolutely must order, the arroz Amarillo gets our vote of confidence. The desserts at The Saga could also use some work. The chocolate mousse with EVOO caviar was just OK, and we were surprised that the porcini churros with chocolate sauce on the side didn't have quite the crispy texture we were expecting. The Saga's dining room is relatively spacious so you probably won't have much trouble getting a table without advance reservations so long as you avoid prime time dinner (we went in for early dinner and by the time we were finished, the restaurant quickly filled up). The bright, upscale décor of the dining space makes the restaurant a good option for casual dinners with friends and family in a fun setting. The Spain-focused wine list is another strength at The Saga; unlike other Spanish restaurants that typically skew heavily toward Rioja, I was impressed with the breadth of the diverse regions in the country that the wine list covered. The Saga is a solid dining destination, but knowing what chef Enrique can do at his best, I couldn't help escape the feeling that the restaurant wasn't quite up to the high standard that he set at other restaurants. More importantly, it didn't quite feel like an establishment with chef Enrique's imprint all over it. Perhaps that is the limitation of a hotel restaurant and perhaps the chef wasn't as involved in this project as his other flagship places. In any event, Jun and I will wait and see how The Saga evolves before we decide on another visit.

    Lamb Loin
    Tania A.

    I definitely chose a very busy evening to dine at Saga by Seven Reasons -- it was Valentine's Day. And understandably because they knew that they had a lot of reservations, there were several calls made to confirm reservations and also remind customers of the 90 min time-limit. This unfortunately was not exercised day of; which I guess is a good and bad thing, depending on who you ask . Reservations were all 30-40 mins behind, which as you can imagine, left a lot of people hungry and not best pleased. After we were finally seated, I quickly forgot about the long wait because the service, food and ambiance was absolutely fantastic! I would expect nothing less from a restaurant under Chef Enrique Limardo's culinary talents. The Valentine's Day menu showcased their most popular items from the dinner menu... Branzino Filet, Roasted Lamb Loin, Roasted Baby Carrots and their infamous Spicy Devilled Churros. The cocktail menu had a good number of options with different components from various liquor bases. I tend to lean towards cocktails that are more boozy or botanical, and throughly enjoyed the two cocktails I tried. One of which was 'Somewhere In Manhattan'. I was absolutely amazed by all the flavours with the Roasted Baby Carrots! I literally will make sure to order that the next time I visit... If you're a fan of habanero and labne -- You've GOT to try it !!

    Lobster sliders
    Aubrie H.

    Stopped in for happy hour and oh my, is this place amazing. We sat at the bar but there was plenty of open seating when we arrived around 5pm. We ordered a gin and tonic and the best coffee cocktail we've ever tasted. So creamy and delicious. We also ordered the lobster sliders and the bread with tomatoes. Both were so so delicious. Definitely a place to visit if you're looking for delicious food and drinks. The happy hour pricing was very reasonable and only available at the bar

    Roasted Lamb loin
    Jackie N.

    We went here for the first time for a Valentine's Day dinner. It is located next to the Ritz- Carlton and across the street from the fire station. There is public parking connected to the hotel and street parking as well. The restaurant was pretty packed, and all reservations were behind. However, the service was immaculate. The staff did come around to apologize, and after a while, they started to hand out complimentary champagne and roses for the ladies. The restaurant has an intimate feel, with low casting music. We were finally shown to our seats. Nice window seating. The menu was a fixed menu for Valentine's Day. Drinks 2x The Saga for my date Fluffy Margarita for me Food First: 5/5 Patatas Bravas Roasted Baby Carrots Second: 3.5/5 Arroz Amarillo Arroz Morado Third: 2/5 Roasted Lamb Loin Branzino filet a la Veracruzana Desserts: 4/5 Carajillo Flan Spicy Deviled Churros Overall, the experience was beautiful 3.5/5. The wait, due to it being v day , was long. However, the staff understood and tried their best to accommodate everyone, as best to my knowledge. They have coat check-in and restrooms on the right of the entrance. Cons: Don't come on a night that is a holiday or something of an event. If so, reserve early because that wait will drive you away. Pros: the service! The staff is prepared as best as they can for such days.

    Lamb shank and guava
    Marilyn C.

    My friend brought me here for my birthday and everything was absolutely perfect! The staff was very nice and attentive and really made this experience a delight. We started off with drinks, a couple of cocktails, which were recommended by our server. The ambiance is elegant and romantic. I dressed up a bit for the occasion but I don't think it's necessary. I also saw folks at the bar having a glass of wine, so definitely elegant but approachable. We had the Gazpacho, a nice way to prime our experience into the rest of the meal. Very light and tasty! The Octopus Carpaccio was definitely a favorite. It's super thinly sliced pieces of octopus with a delicious sauce. I really enjoyed it. Next we has the Gambas Al Ajillo, the Arroz Amarillo which includes duck, and for protein we had the lamb shank with guava. All of those were a 10/10! The arroz Amarillo was very savory and flavorful and the duck was moist and cooked so well, seasoned, and just delicious. I would go back for the rice itself. The lamb shank is very good and was the heavier part of the meal as it was also served with a potato and sweet potato gratin. We were so stuffed but it was SO good. This was more than enough food for two people but we enjoyed it all.

    Chevalier S.

    While we were eating, the good music being playing was such a focal point. The manager was stopped. By and talked to us about the menu and let us know about yhe spicy peppers in our dish. I we absolutely enjoyed everything about this restaurant. So much many tasty choices to choose from.

    New Fashioned
    Dania J.

    Recently went to The Saga for the first time and I can honestly say I had a top notch experience. We went on a Wednesday evening and as a result, it wasn't crowded at all. I loved the minimalistic and contemporary design. The ambiance helped enhance the entire culinary experience. The service was top notch!! Our server was knowledgeable, extremely attentive and really personable. At times when I didn't know what to order, he pointed me in the right direction. The New Fashioned cocktails were so good, I had 2. We then received a complimentary savory cocktail which includes butternut squash, coconut and ginger which was absolutely delicious. Next we had the mofongo and cheese croquettes which bursted with flavor. For my dinner, I had the branzino and arroz amarillo. The combination of both dishes together was a culinary masterpiece. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I finished off the evening with the It's Not Crema Catalana dessert which included crema catalana foam, tomate de árbol ice cream, orange-hibiscus couli, honey comb and cotton candy. It was such an interesting combination but all the flavors complemented each other so well. The Saga is another gem to add to my list of restaurants I would love to revisit again. Keep in mind there is 22% gratuity that is automatically included, but in my opinion it is well worth it!

    The Fluffy Margarita

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    Terrible experience the food was frozen and this restaurant made me question the whole Michelin system. It's not worth it at all

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Saga

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    dLeña - Pork Belly** and Short Rib**

    dLeña

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    1.7 mi
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    I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at dLena. I shared the brunch special where you get the entire…read moremenu in tapas style and bottomless drinks. It was a lot of food for two people to share and there was only the option to decline food, which was hard to do considering you pay for everything on the menu. I wish that the drinks were flowing a bit more. The vibes were good and the service was adequate and attentive. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu and had great recommendations to offer. Would only do the brunch special again with a larger group, but since I've tasted the entire menu already, there's no rush to come back.

    Second visit, brought my parents in celebration of dads birthday. I did the ostiones again (really…read moregreat, ill probably get these every visit lol) and the branzino (zarendeado?)- wow that was one of the best fish dishes ive had recently. From the sauces on top to the smoked flavor of the fish meat, truly top tier! Mom loved her kale salad and fish tacos, dad loved the kale salad as well and said the seafood enchiladas were pretty good. Manager came out to greet us and we chatted for a while, nice touch! We went down to Roja Lounge- no live music that night but the ambiance was inviting and the drinks were expertly done- dad is a margarita fan and said that was probably the best one he's had! They will have repeat customers in ALL of us!

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    Chicatana Fine Mexican Cuisine

    Chicatana Fine Mexican Cuisine

    4.7(97 reviews)
    2.1 miColumbia Heights

    Had a great time and dinner! Chicatana is unassuming and unpretentious, staffed with attentive…read moreservers who do an amazing job (water was always filled and empty plates removed quite efficiently). The decor is simple, no table clothes or frills but it does live up to 'fine cuisine' with excellent food and presentation (another subtle touch is if you leave the table, you return to a nicely folded napkin). We got nearly everything on the menu including all the desserts and Mexican hot chocolate (yum, lightly spicy and piping hot!) . As others have said their guacamole is excellent...do check the charges though bc they added salsa and chips to the tab which we did not order (they removed). Also, the first order of guac came with big bowl of chips, but none with the second order of guac- not a problem though because you do not go hungry. Portions are quite generous. We even tried the ants which was a fun novelty

    This was the valentine's day 2026 stop. I had no idea it was in the area it was, but alas, we made…read morethe trek from lowly ballston anyway. After parking in the Giant parking garage (decent price), we walked the few blocks to the restaurant. We spotted it with the poster sign hanging up on the outer walls. Inside you head up the stairs and you're greeted by the host stand. We checked in and got our table, right at the window (hellya). There was a rose and a candle on the table (vday vibes) and we also received a vday specials menu. We landed on queso fundido to start and a cocktail each: prickly pear marg for her, a viva mexico for me. After fundido'ing it up, we ordered our entrees. We're simple folks it was a 2 carne asada tacos, 1 al pastor taco, 1 pescado taco, and 1 chicken quesadilla. Unfortunately we weren't bold enough to try the insectos. Food was great, drinks were great, service was great. You can pay your tab via Toast for no additional fee which was convenient. There are two, single use bathrooms in there too. Overall, solid spot.

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    Lauriol Plaza - Chicken Fajitas

    Lauriol Plaza

    3.4(2.4k reviews)
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    I remember a few months ago, my makeup artist recommended I check out Lauriol Plaza and that they…read morehave really good food. When she first said the name, I actually thought it was a some short of shopping plaza and never would have associated it as a Mexican restaurant. I'm not sure it's history, but seems like a staple in the neighborhood as every time I drive by since that conversation with her, I notice how packed and busy it is. I recommended to my friends who were in town that we check it out and we were able to get seated outside relatively quickly for a Saturday evening. Our table started with their drinks. Half of us got the pina colada and the other half had the margarita swirl. I'd say the pina coloda was pretty good; not too strong and the ones who ordered the margarita seemed to enjoy it. We all had eaten before arriving, so we didn't order too much. They also served complimentary tortilla chips with salsa so that was pretty good and gave us something to nibble on. I ended up getting the shrimp tacos and their tortilla soup. The shrimp tacos were good, but the tortilla soup was the highlight for me. It was very flavorful, and full of vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and corn. It also had shredded chicken and cheese in it, and was so delicious. I would definitely order it again. Our server was also very friendly and regularly checked in on us. The reason for one star off is just due to the cleanliness of the cups and plates on our table. I noticed food residue still on it, and although I personally didn't use the cup or plate, I didn't care to see it on the table.

    I havent been here in over 15 years. When I came it was a good experience…read more Service is attentive. The food is good....I had the mariscada saltado. Cery good and delicious. the drinks? A Casa Amigos Margarita in a beer mug with no salted rim or garnish? WTF!!!!

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    Seven Reasons - Half Dozen Oyster

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    4.1(587 reviews)
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    I am a huge DC restaurant week fan as it truly provides an opportunity to experience different…read morecuisines in the area. I haven't heard of Seven Reasons before but now was as good a time as any to check them out. To start, our hostess Ayana - fantastic and she took great care of us the whole evening! A few standouts: Hamachi tiradito - bananas!!! So good we ordered it twice Bread - could miss it but the Brazilian bread was interesting Snapper ceviche - 8/10 Cauliflower peru peri - 9/10 -I didnt know where this dish was going and as a cauliflower lover, I had to try it. Perfectly fried and sauces were so good. Yellow curry rockfish - 9.5/10. I love that they arent afraid to actually use curry! The tenderloin was so tender too!! And the taro cake very interesting, in a good way. A true stand out was the guava cheesecake - absolutely incredible and nothing like you'd think it would be. I love it when restaurants are super creative with food and the play on flavors were top tier during this meail. We also ordered a bottle of the Chilean sauvignon blanc, which paired perfectly with the food and stood on its own with the tenderloin. Our meal was a pleasure and I look forward to returning to this restaurant.

    I'm sure food and ambiance is awesome here. But staff competence is poor based on a simple request…read morethat went badly awry. Again I must preface by saying I didn't dine here or experience the place. I was invited to a dinner here that I couldn't attend, and as a birthday surprise I wanted to send that table a bottle of champagne. I intended to order a Dom Perignon (for which they charge ~$400 per bottle). But the staff was on amateur hour -- instead of taking my order, they altered the reservation, then alerted the birthday person who made the reservation (ruining any potential for a nice surprise gift), and said they would have to cancel the original reservation because the number of people changed. Birthday person had to call them and me to smooth it all over. Then, another person called me to get my email address to send me a PDF to fill out (which I had to then send them on WhatsApp) for my order - a comically silly added bureaucratic/administrative load. Just take the credit card over the phone on the first call/request, like 99% of businesses around the world. This place takes 3-4 steps just to order something... This person had absolutely zero idea that I made the request as a surprise, so it suggests there is pretty poor coordination and communication amongst staff. I'm sure people come here regularly and have great meals and great times. But at their prices, wine/champagne mark-ups, and promise of an 'elevated' experience -- staff need to get their act together.

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    El Cielo

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    4.2(168 reviews)
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    We came to El Cielo to celebrate my wife's birthday and chose the Journey tasting menu. It was a…read morememorable evening, though not without some reservations. El Cielo is located in the vibrant Union Market neighborhood, surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops and clothing stores. The restaurant itself is elegant without being opulent, with comfortable chairs spaced generously apart. A large garage door next to the entrance looks like it opens to the outside in warmer weather -- a nice touch we didn't get to experience. El Cielo holds the distinction of being the first Colombian restaurant in the world to earn a Michelin star. That alone makes it worth a visit for anyone who follows the culinary world. Our server Carla was excellent. She took her time explaining each dish carefully and patiently answered every question. The meal is a journey in every sense -- nine courses, each a small surprise. We began with cocktails. The Don't Give Papaya was fruit forward and satisfyingly alcohol forward. The passion fruit toddy that opened the tasting menu was not too sweet, with fresh fruit juice added to the spirit already in the glass. The truffle buñuelo was the first revelation -- a warm liquid center encased in a delicate corn vessel, eaten in one bite. The texture alone was remarkable. The caviarmañola followed, a delicate crispy croquette, beautifully presented with caviar and sauces. The Tree of Life, a pull-apart bread baked around mild melted cheese, was warm, satisfying and genuinely fun to eat. The tuna was exceptionally fresh and fatty, its sauce a perfect complement. The hiramasa, a kingfish new to me, was served with quinoa that added texture and visual beauty. The Hanami dessert closed the meal with just the right touch of sweetness. The birthday experience -- an edible white chocolate candle with a surprise filling -- was a delightful gesture. And the rose petal hand cream that ended the meal was an elegant final touch. Two caveats worth mentioning. The ambience leans pretentious -- El Cielo takes itself too seriously. And at $600 for two with service included, the price is steep even for a Michelin one-star. I've had equally memorable meals elsewhere for considerably less.

    Michelin Star me PLEASE!…read more I'm a foodie and when I told my friend I was one, he asked how many Michelin Star restaurants I'd been to. I chuckled, because honestly I'm not a foodie snob but perhaps I need to be. Pre Bday dinner before heading out of the country he chose El Cielo to celebrate me first! Located in Union Market, El Cielo hides in plain sight on the corner. Parking is always a win at Union Market hence why I am always there! Ambiance: dimly lit, reservations only, couples galore, and definitely an intimate atmosphere. Service: TOP NOTCH this is why you pay the big bucks! Nothing was amiss! My friend has experience with high‑end restaurants, Michelin star restaurants to be exact so his perspective added a helpful benchmark with what to order. He took the lead and ensured I tried all the top favorites! *They do offer an À la Carte Menu, or traditional Pre-Fixe menu* Let's get into it! Tree of Life - Yucca bread, Brown butter, Cilantro sauce - Such a cute presentation! Butter is amazing! Ensaladita Caliente - Grilled Romaine letuce, Parmigiano, Hearts of Palms, Kumquats - Soooooo Good! Yes to this dish! Catch of the day - SeaBass Buttermilk reduction, Green oil, Chontaduro - Perfectly cooked! Loved it! Yucca Gnocchi Pecorino cheese, Shitake mushrooms, Sweet plantain, Added Truffle - VERY YUMMY! Flan - Vanilla, Salted caramel - Fantastic! Mucholate - Rum Ice Cream - I mixed both this and the Flan! Loved it!

    Photos
    El Cielo - Birthday Behavior - Pisces Season is among us!

    Birthday Behavior - Pisces Season is among us!

    El Cielo - Tree of life

    Tree of life

    El Cielo - Cholao

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    Cholao

    The Saga - spanish - Updated June 2026

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