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    Uptown Cafe

    3.7 (96 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea, Delis, Soup
    Open 6:00 am - 2:30 pm

    Uptown Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    UPTOWN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Uptown Cafe

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    Pancakes Platter
    Keilon L.

    This is the kind of easy, no frills, pleasant service, good price point, good food, establishment that I, in my non-expert, Yelp Elitist opinion is kind of lacking in key Washington DC neighborhoods. Sometimes you don't need a plant/flower wall or cutting edge espresso makers or vivid artist commissioned works on the wall. Sometimes you just need a grill and somebody behind it making good pancakes and bacon egg and cheese sandwiches. Throw some tabletops in there that someone actually cleans every so often and let the space live and breath. If you want sides and drinks, there's chips, soda, and many of the bottled beverages you'd find in your local service station. Keep it simple and focus and making good food quickly and consistently. Once again, the pancakes are phenomenal. The bacon is good. I asked specific for cheddar cheese to be scrambled into my eggs and you can never miss with that. $11 well spent. I'm glad I found myself over here when the craving for late breakfast hit.

    A $6.55 grilled ham and cheese.  From UPSELL cafe.
    Sean M.

    Should be called UPSELL Cafe. Ordered a grilled ham and cheese. Go to pay and owner says $6.55. I ask isn't meat and cheese $4.95? He says that for toasted sandwich. I say what's the difference. If a "Grilled" Cheese is $4.55 why adding ham at $2.50 is any difference. On the menus meat and cheese is right below grilled cheese and right below that is Egg meat and cheese. He said because it has to go on grill. I asked does the grilled cheese go on the grill? He said yes but this different the ham on grill also. I asked okay if I got the Jane egg and cheese on toast which was like $5 something does the egg and ham go get cooked on the grill? He said yes of course. I said okay why is this different. All he could say because grilled bread or toasted bread. This place should be called UPSELL Cafe. Damn grilled cheese and ham wasn't worth $6.55. Look at it. Owner should be ashamed of himself. Fried egged fried bacon fried ham it all goes on the grill No more UPSALE Cafe for me. We go there at least twice a week. Nope not anymore.

    Bacon Meat, Egg & Cheese Croissant
    Samet D.

    Located right next to NoMa metro station, Uptown Cafe is like our local Dunkin' Donuts-- unhealthy, delicious, cheap, amazing employees. I didn't feel like cooking and this was the closest breakfast restaurant to give it a try. It was not a disappointment at all, it was extremely delicious. I have gotten two croissants with bacon, cheese, and eggs as well as a homemade fries which costed me nearly $13 including taxes. Could not get any cheaper than that in our neighborhood. The croissant was, ohh! so good! My wife loved hers as well. Also, my wife said this taste is very similar to the coffee she used to go to at her work and it turns out they are the same people. Originally their shop was located in the government building and it was called as "NoMa Cafe." Like many other businesses, Covid-19 negatively effected their business as well and they had to close it. Now they are reopened as Uptown Cafe. Highly recommended!

    Breakfast burrito with sausage.  Excellent!

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    5 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Got better. Orders are now accurate. Concerns addressed. Despite them being short staff service is great and efficient

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    10 months ago

    Get the bacon, egg and cheese croissant. Yum. The bacon, egg and cheese bagel wasn't the same as NYC for me. But the croissant was fire .

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    11 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    8 months ago

    The food was very good , the service was good and cleanliness was also good. I would go back , I went two times.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Good and fast breakfast food. Staff is helpful and quick with orders. They have lunch options as well

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    My favorite place for French toast! Reasonably priced and very delicious. Friendly staff

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great sandwiches and bagels, great coffee, very friendly staff. I come here for my lunch break all the time.

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    10 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    My go-to place in NoMa for coffee, breakfast, you name it. Their hazelnut coffee is incredible. The owners and the employees are very sweet.

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    4 years ago

    Good prices, decent food and good quantity for breakfast. Staff was friendly. 5 minute walk from metro station.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

    The owner/manager is very rude. Won't be returning. It's not worth dealing with her rude behavior.

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Place used to have great service now the servers just stare at you and talk amongst themselves until you ask them where to order.

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    3 years ago

    Kind fast service, lots of option. Nice local option in NoMA. Highly recommended for a quick lunch option!

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    3 years ago

    Great place for hot breakfast. Service was quick and efficient. Uptown cafe had many places to sit and enjoy your meal.

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    54 Restaurant - Vermicelli noodles

    54 Restaurant

    4.4(243 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    The food was great. The service was decent. The restaurant was neat and clean. It was a little…read morepricey, I paid $30 for a banh mi sandwich, 2 fresh shrimp summer rolls, and a strawberry tea. I loved the tea. And it was crowd but I got my food fast. This was a Vietnamese restaurant

    I came here with my girlfriend for a casual meal while we were visiting from out of state and…read morecraving some Vietnamese food. Before we even walked into the restaurant, we were informed that the left entrance door had been broken for quite some time. Since we had a double baby stroller with us, getting inside was a bit of a challenge and not exactly the best first impression. Overall Ratings Atmosphere - 3/5 Service - 3/5 Food - 3/5 Parking - Street Parking Atmosphere - The restaurant feels a bit old and dated and could probably use some updating. Interestingly, while the dining room definitely shows its age, the ordering system is modern and up to date. The contrast between the two was pretty noticeable. Service - Service was just okay. This is more of a casual setup where customers place their orders at the counter and the staff bring the food out when it's ready. There wasn't really anything memorable, either good or bad, about the service experience. What We Ordered - -Spring Rolls (Good) -Pho Dac Biet (Special Beef Pho) - The flavor was good overall, but the broth was only lukewarm when it arrived. A bowl of pho really needs to be piping hot, so this took away from the experience. -Grilled Pork Rice Plate - The pork was a bit too salty for my taste and was just okay overall. Final Thoughts - This was an average dining experience. The food was decent, the service was adequate, and the atmosphere was nothing particularly special. Nothing stood out enough to make me want to go out of my way to return, but I also wouldn't discourage others from trying it if they're already in the area. There are simply other Vietnamese restaurants nearby that I would be more inclined to visit first.

    Photos
    54 Restaurant - Cafeteria style interior

    Cafeteria style interior

    54 Restaurant - Vietnamese coffee, crispy tofu, chicken wings.

    Vietnamese coffee, crispy tofu, chicken wings.

    54 Restaurant - Inside

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    Inside

    Umaya Izakaya

    Umaya Izakaya

    3.7(807 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    We had a pleasant early dinner here with my toddler. I asked for a nice table where she would be…read moreaway from other tables and somewhat free to move around after being in her stroller all day and they easily accommodated us as a corner table with soft seating on one side like a bench and two chairs on the other. This allowed her to freely wander a bit and entertain herself leaning on the bench and playing. We tried several things and all were very good and fresh and fast out of the kitchen. Our server was efficient and friendly and running around like crazy - she probably had more than 10 tables from what we could see! We tried the cold Sake, Chicken Gyoza, Shrimp and Veggie Tempura, Chicken fried rice, and chicken noodles. Portions weren't huge, but were fair and enough to share with all the other items we got. Enjoyed our meal and would def. come back. Great location - close to everything downtown and easily walkable from Dupont and the Capital area.

    I visited Umaya Izakaya earlier in the month before going to the Caps hockey game. It was walking…read moredistance from the stadium with a chill vibe. We were immediately seated upon entering. It was a pleasant experience and tasty food. I ordered spicy chicken ramen and it was perfect. It was the perfect amount of spice. I would definitely come back for it!

    Photos
    Umaya Izakaya
    Umaya Izakaya - Spicy Chicken Ramen with a creamy broth, not sweet from the from the coconut milk, delicious and tender$18

    Spicy Chicken Ramen with a creamy broth, not sweet from the from the coconut milk, delicious and tender$18

    Umaya Izakaya - Hot tea

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    Hot tea

    The Hamilton - District Wings

    The Hamilton

    3.9(4k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    The Hamilton - Live…read more Being a fan of both the Grateful Dead and Steely Dan, I paid $40 for general seated admission to see Steeley Dead, performing at The Hamilton - Live. The music venue is located below the Hamilton, a storied dining experience in the 600 block of 14th Street in D.C. Doors would open at 6:30 p.m. for a performance that would begin, right on time, at 8 p.m. I travel alone, and prefer not to join tables, opting instead to sit where single seats are available. The Hamilton - Live offers both: most of the seating is in groups of 4- or 6-seat benches where groups gather, and there are rows of single seats on a slight rise above the forward seating, offering a great view of the stage and the screens above the stage. I arrived around 7 p.m. Within minutes Marie greeted me with a menu and instructions to post a card on a holder at my place, signaling her to stop by to take my order. The menu was eclectic, with sushi, pizza, tacos, salads, wings, cheeseburger sliders, and nachos. There are robust vegetarian and gluten-free selections, and a fully licensed bar. I placed the card in the holder at my seat and Marie returned to take my order: sushi - shrimp tempura ($14), with a can of Nutrl Pineapple ($8) and a double G&T ($23.18). The crowd was gathering, and the attending wait staff were moving with speed, filling orders. My meal arrived in great shape about 15 minutes after I placed the order. Nicely executed sushi! Sound quality in the venue is great, and the restroom was clean and well lit. And as the catalogues of both the Dead and Steely Dan inspire dancing, the dance floor was filled right from the start. The band's vibe was low key and spontaneous, with lots of smiling on the dance floor. Total with a 22% tip was $79 (which included a white Russian nightcap). Reasonable fare for the DMV. Taxi, Uber, and Lyft are readily available from the venue.

    So happy I was finally able to check out the Hamilton!…read more Came here on a solo date and had a great experience. When I walked in, I was greeted by the wonderful staff. The time I came in was when they were getting ready for dinner so I promptly sat at the bar. The menu for the Hamilton is extensive and I was presently surprised at all the options I had. I loved that the sushi was half off and vowed to come back to try it. For this visit, I had the pork chop and the crab fried rice. For an appetizer, I had the crab soup. Everything was delicious and came out promptly. The flavoring of the food was amazing and I had leftovers to take home. I will definitely be back!

    Photos
    The Hamilton - The bar and partial dining area.

    The bar and partial dining area.

    The Hamilton - Ragu Americana & Rigatoni - delicious, fresh pasta

    Ragu Americana & Rigatoni - delicious, fresh pasta

    The Hamilton - RAGU AMERICANA & RIGATONI

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    RAGU AMERICANA & RIGATONI

    Baan Siam

    Baan Siam

    4.5(726 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    This Thai restaurant is the best in the city. Their food is consistently flavorful, fresh, and…read moredelicious. The service is timely and effective. Plus, the ambience is a mix of relaxation and class. I ordered the Lychee Martini to start, followed by the Tom Yum Fried Rice with Shrimp. It was cold, fresh, and so flavorful. Plus, it packed a punch. Although I normally eat the pork belly with fried rice, I decided to go with the Tom Yum Fried Rice with Shrimp, which did not disappoint. The freshness and spicy/sour flavors really delight the pallet. Plus, the pepper tray provides vinegar and hot sauces to supplement, if needed. The owner not only cares about the quality of the food in this restaurant, but about his customers and the community. I haven't visited for a while, and the staff still remembered my standard order. That attention to detail is something that makes people feel appreciated and want to come back again and again. Kudos to Baan Siam for their success year over year!

    Amazing Thai food at this restaurant. Got the green mango Salad, chicken wings, khao soi, and beef…read morecurry. The mango salad was delicious, I could eat that all day. The khao soi had good flavor, and it came with rice. The chicken wings were for my son, he said they were the best wings he's ever had. The beef curry had good flavor, but the beef was a bit overcooked. Service was a little bit of a miss. When the waiter first came, he asked us for our food order. However, we wanted to order drinks first. I was able to order my cocktail, however, the waiter left before anyone else at my table could speak to order a beverage. Food came out very quickly. This is not the type of place where you would want to enjoy drinks and food over a period of time. However, if you are super hungry, your food will definitely get to you quickly. Restaurant was crowded, but not super loud. Overall, I would come back for the food, I just wish that I could have more time to enjoy my restaurant experience.

    Photos
    Baan Siam - Bar seating

    Bar seating

    Baan Siam - Coconut soup- divine!

    Coconut soup- divine!

    Baan Siam - Kitchen

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    Kitchen

    The Smith - Chicken

    The Smith

    3.9(1.8k reviews)
    1.2 miPenn Quarter
    $$

    We stopped in for Happy Hour. Or as they call it "Martini Happy Hour."…read moreWe enjoyed a dirty vodka martini and a dirty blue Martini - made with bleu cheese stuffed olives and a bleu cheese vermouth. Nicely priced at $12 each. Also served with the cocktails were a bottle of still and a bottle of sparkling water - very welcomed on our August 20,000 step sight-seeing tour. We ordered the $12 shrimp cocktail - 5 decent shrimp with two sauces. The $7 fries were insane! If we're in the area again on this trip, we'll definitely stop in again for Martini Happy Hour.

    Dined in restaurant on a Saturday around 8pm. When I approached the hostess table, she asked "table…read morefor 2?" even though I was by myself. She was most likely on auto pilot and appeared embarrassed when she realized it. I politely smiled and said (confidently), table for 1. We solo diners need to be loud and proud! I digress... Before being seated I found the restroom. I found it odd that it was extremely dim. The main dining room was brighter than the restroom! I also saw the Photo Booth. Interesting addition. $5 for pictures. I was seated at a small round table with two chairs by the window. The restaurant was plenty busy, and I'm just glad I wasn't asked if I wanted to sit at the bar (I didn't). My server Noel brought two bottles of water: still and sparkling. I requested lemon slices, which he brought. And I proceeded to finish the entire bottle of sparkling by the end of the meal...guess I was thirsty! But I appreciated the option of both. I forgot to ask for a straw, but saw them in a container at the register right behind my table, so I got one myself. After ordering I noticed a nearby table had some bread so I asked Noel if they served complimentary bread. He said yes and apologized for not bringing it initially. Not that I needed it, but I don't eat bread with butter often and this was a night out to indulge a bit. There were two slices, nothing special. My food arrived within about 10-15 minutes and looked so scrumptious. I ordered the lamb and short rib meatballs and Brussels sprouts. The meatballs were pretty good, but what made them even better was the tzatziki sauce. I didn't realize the green rice was on one side of the plate until I was almost done. That tzatziki sauce was really all I needed to go with the meatballs. It was cool and creamy to go with the dry, meatiness of the meatballs. I honestly wish there had been more of it! I did not finish the rice, which didn't look super appetizing because of the intense green color. I will say though, I'm not a fan of spicy food but the tzatziki had a kick. I think perhaps due to chopped jalapeños. I tried to avoid them once I realized. The Brussels were delicious! Roasted to perfection, not too charred and not too mushy. I requested the green goddess sauce on the side because I'm not a huge sauce person, but once I tried it, I couldn't stop. Again, the combination of the creaminess of the sauce with the flakiness of the Brussels was a genius pairing. During the meal the beverage manager stopped by. I didn't have any drinks with the meal, but perhaps I will return to see what they have. Noel brought the bill at my request, then brought over the portable device so I could pay at the table. While that process is efficient, it's always awkward leaving a tip when the server is standing right there. Anyhow, overall it was a good experience and a delicious meal!

    Photos
    The Smith - 3/27/25 At the bar!

    3/27/25 At the bar!

    The Smith - Potato Chips

    Potato Chips

    The Smith - Restaurant space

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    Restaurant space

    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea - 5. Spicy Wonton In Chili Oil

    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea

    4.5(132 reviews)
    1.5 miLogan Circle, Downtown
    $$

    I found this place on tiktok and I love soup dumplings, soup and boba. This place has it all!…read more Coming inside there's a counter where you can order drinks and food to go but if you plan to dine in, you just sit down at any available table and order from the QR code. The restaurant I very clean and the decorations are really pretty. We ordered soup dumplings and noodles and our food was ready really fast. I ordered the veg spicy and sour noodles and they come with an egg and crispy pieces of corn and a lot of boi hot which I love. The flavor was spicy with a hint of lime for the sour flavor. My husband ordered the beef noodle soup and he said it tasted amazing. Our chicken soup dumplings were full of flavor and a lot of broth inside. This place is really similar to Yu noodles which is one of my favorite places so if I'm ever in the area again I would go to this place for soup dumplings. Our server was really sweet as well.

    Stopped by for dinner and had a good time overall. Seat yourself at an open table and place your…read moreorder using the QR code. Our order was brought out faster than I expected, with our mains coming up before the apps. Although not as spicy as I was hoping for, the spicy mapo tofu with noodles was really good. Of course I had to add ground pork for a few dollars more! To drink I had the strawberry fruit tea (50% sugar), which was good and refreshing. I also tried the pan fried dumplings and spicy wontons in chili oil. Both were just okay. I'll be back when I'm in the area to try out additional items.

    Photos
    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea - Inside

    Inside

    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea - 1. Spicy Beef Noodles

    1. Spicy Beef Noodles

    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea

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    Unconventional Diner - Lebanese Fried Rice

    Unconventional Diner

    4.4(3.5k reviews)
    1.0 miShaw, Downtown
    $$

    Yep. If you're reading this, you should just make that reservation and go... and yes, I would…read morerecommend a reservation because this place is pop-u-lar, and I see why. The space itself is bright and airy and a bit on the noisy side. But the service was very good, and the food was served quite quickly. I've been on a shakshuka kick lately, so I opted for the the Sweet Potato Shakshuka, which is described as: Sweet Potato Curry, with Chickpeas and Sunny Eggs with a the chicken add-on - gotta get that protein in, after all. This was one of the most unique shakshukas I'd ever had... It literally tasted like a curry dish you might get at your local Indian restaurant, with a bit of a brunch flair to it. The curry itself had a wee bit of spice and was a bit sweet - but that could have been from the sweet potatoes. The chicken was served in a bowl on the side, which felt a bit... odd... I would've expected it to be incorporated into the main dish. It was kind of bland and a bit lukewarm, so I don't know that I'd order that again... but I would definitely order this again!

    True to its name, Unconventional Diner is not your average brunch spot - it delivers on fun and…read moreunique dishes (available until 3:45pm). The Tikka dish with fried egg was tasty, but wish paneer or larger protein option was built-in (not an upcharge)! The creamy red Tikka curry sauce, caramelized onions, crispy brussel sprouts, and fried ere tasty and paired well, the dish felt incomplete and something was missing, maybe some paneer or naan? I paid $5 for a side of zesty naan topped with different spices and really wish it came with the dish just came with it. While I was tempted to order the falafel, I couldn't justify shelling out another $5 for another upcharge and spend $10 on them for a total of $26 for just an entree - when these 2 upcharges should have been included in the entree by default. Wish there were more fun vegetarian dishes on the menu. Might come back for drinks and to explore the menu!

    Photos
    Unconventional Diner - Space is large, bright, and contemporary.  Reservations recommended.

    Space is large, bright, and contemporary. Reservations recommended.

    Unconventional Diner - Tip-Top Chop

    Tip-Top Chop

    Unconventional Diner - Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

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    Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

    Uptown Cafe - coffee - Updated August 2026

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