While staying at The Portofino Hotel & Resort for a little R&R. I opted for room service during my stay, so this review is based solely on the meals delivered to my room. I did not dine in the restaurants, so I can't speak to the in-person dining experience. Overall, I was impressed with the room service. Every meal arrived fresh, hot, and well-presented, and each staff member who delivered my food was friendly and courteous. Here are my thoughts on the items I ordered: Cali Burrito - Generous chunks of steak and shrimp made this a yummy with the portion size just right, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Clam Chowder - Good flavor and enjoyable overall. While I've had better clam chowder elsewhere, I would definitely order this again. Truffle Fries - I was craving ties so this hit the spot. Both the ketchup and black garlic sauce complemented them perfectly. Brussels Sprouts - Unfortunately, this dish missed the mark for me. There was too much sauce, which made it soggy and mushy, and the overall flavor was overly salty. Chocolate cake - this was a miss. It was dry. Cornmeal Pancakes - Absolutely delicious. The blueberry butter elevated the dish, and it was easily one of my favorite items during my stay. Overall, I was very pleased with my room service experience. The quality of the food and the excellent service left a positive impression, and I would be happy to dine at the restaurant itself the next time I'm in town. read more

BALEENkitchen - Brussels Sprouts: too salty and saucy which made it mushy - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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Another wonderful visit to Baleen. We did stay at the Portofino for a number of nights (we come here a few times a year now). Room service is always wonderful and the food comes from Baleen Kitchen. So I can attest to great coffee, fresh pastries and almost all of the breakfast choices. This day we enjoyed brunch outside at Baleen's. It was a beautiful setting with excellent service and very comfortable. We enjoyed the crabcake benedict, Huevos 'Redondos', Chia Pudding, and American Breakfast with bacon. The benedict was absolutely delicious and a special treat, the Huevos 'Redondos' was so very flavorful, and the American Breakfast is always a fan favorite. The breakfast potatoes are some of the best you will find. The portions are perfect, enough to fill your tummy. Enjoy the food, enjoy the scenery, enjoy the service! Sometimes food and service will be second when seeking out a marina type restaurant, but not here. They all three will put a smile on your face. Get out of the city, get to the beach for some ocean therapy and good food! read more

BALEENkitchen - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

(+) American Breakfast (+) The Cali burrito (+) Great coffee (Americano, cappuccino) (+) Service BALEEN kitchen is a restaurant on the marina apart of the Portofino Hotel dining options. This restaurant is opened for breakfast/brunch and then reopen at 4 for their dinner menu. The views of the ocean and ambiance are what attract people here, but the food is what will bring me back. Parking is validated by the restaurant if you're not staying at the hotel. Food/Drinks: My wife and brother loved the American breakfast. Without holding expectations, they were thoroughly surprised with each aspect of the meal. The new potatoes had a crispy exterior but warm and steamy interior. The arugula salad was sprinkled with lemon and tasted great with the eggs. The lemon pancakes and cali burrito were also a hit. Great tasting American options were brought to life! We also loved their coffee and how well prepared the drinks were served. My latte was delicious and also had great milk latte art. We appreciate those small things. Service/Ambiance: Talk about no better view than the one here. The ocean is beautiful and can be enjoyed here. The servers are great and helped us each step of the way. I don't expect much quality and taste from a hotel breakfast spot, but BALEEN kitchen has set my expectations high. It was a nice surprise and excited to return one day. read more

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Our server was extremely nice, he gave us menu recommendations along with information on what was around the area. The food was great. The ambiance was beautiful, you see boats out the window as you eat. They also offer valet parking. read more

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Had a really good breakfast at Baleen Kitchen inside the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach. The marina views are hard to beat, especially on a nice morning, and the whole place has a relaxed vibe. We had the Coffee-Rubbed Skirt Steak & Eggs and it was excellent. The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare, super flavorful, and paired great with the over easy eggs and potatoes. Definitely something I'd order again. We also had the Smoked Salmon & Bagel, and that was just as good. Quality smoked salmon with chive cream cheese, caper berries, red onion, arugula, and shaved cucumber. Really fresh flavors and everything worked well together. Service was friendly and attentive without being over the top. Baleen is one of those spots that's great for a laid-back breakfast with a view. Always a solid choice in Redondo Beach. read more

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I am always happy to come by Baleens for a girls brunch. It's just a cute vibe really. I love the colors and the oceanic theme. The food is also good- but the portions have been way cut down for the prices they're charging. Service was good. He did everything we asked for but I wouldn't necessarily say they were super friendly. read more

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Cute classy with a view. Very helpful service with great recommendations. Servers are on it with everything we need. Didn't have to ask for a thing. The food looks just like the online photos. Beautifully plated and great portion sizes. Very rich and fresh flavor. We'll be back. This would be a great place to take a first date, anniversary, or romantic birthday dinner. read more

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Alex's breakfast burrito isn't half as good as the old Cali burrito they had, which was the best breakfast burrito I'd found in So Cal. The bloody Mary was still OK but the loud musician in the lounge made brunch conversation all but impossible. I asked our server if he could help, to no avail. A longtime fave, I hope Baleen bounces back. At least it still has the pleasing marina views. read more

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Located next to Redondo beach, this is a nice spot to have drinks, catch up with friends, eat some nice food, and soak in the views Parking There is free valet parking! Ambiance/Service (5/5) Gorgeous views, great cozy atmosphere, and attentive service Food Rock Shrimp Tacos (2.5/5) Served with 2 heaping tempura shrimp tacos and a large slab of avocado,cabbage, slightly spicy salsa, and chips This was definitely a ok choice. I couldn't really taste the freshness of the shrimp taco, and I wouldn't say this was a pretty decent portion for the price of it. Overall, underwhelming but did the job. Pancakes with a blueberry cream (3.5/5) 2 stacks of pancakes with a nice cream and syrup. Can't go wrong! Very decent. Overall, the views and service made this experience. read more

BALEENkitchen - Interior - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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BALEEN kitchen is amazing! I cancelled my Friday dinner reservation and decided to eat somewhere else. However, Saturday night we decided to have dinner here (with no prior reservation) they seated us in the lounge/ bar area where there was live entertainment! I celebrated my birthday early and they gave us complimentary champagne for a toast, like how friggin cute! Ethan and Carla were so attentive and made sure everything was perfect through the night. Sunday morning, we had breakfast/ brunch here also and the Lemon mascarpone pancakes were DELISH! My husband got the Cali Burrito (forgive me if that was wrong) but we kept telling each how perfectly cooked that burrito was! Literally one of the BEST we've ever had! Overall, the entire experience for both dinner and brunch were sooo good! We cannot wait to come back for more meals! read more

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It's always an amazing experience here. The service is always great. The food is always good. You can't beat the view of the Marina and it is reasonably priced for the portions you get. Looking forward to going back. read more

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We ate here because AmEx benefits gave us $100 credit for staying at the Portofino Hotel. We enjoyed this place because they had a warm inviting space with breezy relaxing decor and a great view of the marina, both a warm host and friendly and accommodating server. And lastly, the food was super enjoyable. I asked the host what she liked and the salmon bagel was one of her picks. I don't usually order a bagel for brunch but I was curious and boy was I ever happy with my choice! A platter of yummy veggies, fresh salmon, very tasty cream cheese and a tasty bagel! I was pretty satisfied with this choice! See pic below! Hubs got the lemon pistachio pancakes which were very fluffy and yummy and kiddo got eggs Benedict. All three of us enjoyed our meals! And since it was pie day we ordered a pie of key lime pie! Very tasty, not overly sweet. A great, relaxing experience and when we walked by at night the previous night a lively, hopping place with music. read more

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The Baleen Kitchen is a hidden gem. Tucked away in the King Harbor Marina near The Portofino Hotel this iconic restaurant is a definite treat. While it is a little off the beaten path, it's definitely worth the trip. My wife and I have stayed at the Portofino Hotel on multiple occasions and this is always our go to breakfast spot when we stay there. Service is always friendly and the restaurant has beautiful views of the harbor. Because it's tucked away it's nice and quiet in the area and can easily make you forget that you're just minutes away from bustling LA. They have a modest menu that feels like it's just the right size for the establishment. I'm a fan of the more modest menus that are well executed rather than large exhaustive menus of mediocre food. This place hits the mark. I do also like that because it's further off the beaten path ice never seen it extremely busy the way one would expect a restaurant of that caliber to be in a place like LA. Overall a great experience and a must try. Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Total: 5/5 Price: $ Rating Criteria: 1/5: Terrible, would not recommend 2/5: Might be worth it depending on price and other factors. 3/5: Solid option. Average in this category for the area. 4/5: Above average and excels in this area. 5/5: Excellent, needs no improvement Pricing Criteria: $: $0 - $50 per person $$: $50 - $100 per person $$$: $100 - $200 per person $$$$: $200 - $500 per person $$$$$: $500+ per person *Please keep in mind that reviews are based on personal experience which may differ from person to person based upon a multitude of factors (individual/specific workers, time of day, personal preferences, etc). Pricing may also differ and is reflected here based on what we paid for our meal. We usually enjoy multiple courses with our meals including appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts, and sometimes drinks or tasting menus when available. Please do your own research if concerned about potential pricing.* read more

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My review is on a Monday lunch hour. I don't know if they are better. Pretty rough service and slow coming, lots of items forgotten, even though most of the restaurant was empty. I got the classic burger, which was a small patty way overcooked with little to no fixins, grocery store quality bun. Various items ordered by my party that weren't very good. One highlight, I'll absolutely recommend is the truffle fries, those were absolutely bangin. Also, the children's vegetable pasta was quite good. So some random things were pretty good here! read more

We were staying at the hotel and decided to have dinner at the restaurant. We enjoyed a few fun cocktails with some flatbreads, but our dinners were the star of the show! I opted for the shrimp tacos. They were crispy and the combo of guacamole and slaw on top added to the flavor burst the tacos provided. My husband ordered the pork chop and he said it was cooked to perfection! The view was nice and the staff were great! If you are staying at the hotel...or not... check this place out! You will not be disappointed! read more

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I stayed at the hotel and came here for breakfast two mornings in a row and had fairly different experiences. I ordered the Cali burrito the first morning and it was flavorful and the meat tender, but I would have preferred it without shrimp. Our server was attentive and quick, and we never had to ask for anything or wait to get our server's attention. The second morning was the opposite. It was difficult to get our server's attention to get an additional utensil, a refill, and eventually the bill. It was so slow we decided it wasn't worth going our third and last morning at the hotel and would go elsewhere. read more

BALEENkitchen - The 'Cali' Burrito - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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Baleen Kitchen is part of the Portofino Hotel so I highly recommend checking it out if you are staying there. The restaurant is beautiful and has a very modern seaside vibe to it. There is indoor and outdoor seating but the outdoor seating was closed during our stay. My partner and I went there for breakfast and dinner during our stay and both meals were just fantastic! I wish I had got some pictures in but we ordered the mushroom flatbread, baleen burger, black & blue steak tacos for dinner and for breakfast the next day we ordered the scrambled egg plate, breakfast burrito and lemon pancake. I was surprised by the portions here because they weren't huge, LOL! The service was great each time and our waitress on Sunday was the nicest. If we're ever back in the area, I already told my partner we're coming back here! read more

This place doesn't deserve such a low rating. Food is decent, not great, but decent. Service is generally good. Sometimes they have cool music in the background. It'll be better than a chain restaurant, but won't know your socks off. It punches above its rating though. So, I have a new rating system......I will be write what I feel honestly about an establishment. The only ratings I will give are 5 stars, which is enjoyable, or 3 stars which is "needs work." read more

A perfect getaway from busy LA, especially if you are staying at the Portofino. I highly recommend it. The service was great, the staff were friendly, and our order came out quickly. The food was delicious and the picture speaks for itself. They also had local artists playing indie music, which my partner and I really enjoyed. There is nice indoor seating, though there was no outdoor seating available when we went, so that may be seasonal. You still get a great view of the dock with all the boats, making it a nice and low key spot. read more

BALEENkitchen - "Black & Blue" Steak Tacos BALEEN Burger Wild Mushroom Flatbreadmushroom - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

My friend and I stumbled across BALEEN kitchen on a Sunday morning. After looking through the menu, and talking with Barbie, the hostess we definitely wanted to relax and enjoy a meal after our walk along the waterfront. We were seated in a beautiful blue velvet tufted booth ( I would recommend making reservations for this booth). Alex was our server who has a great personality with a smile! I ordered the NOBLE CHOPPED SALAD, which was delicious, but it wasn't chopped. I think my salad was missing the roasted beets, but I didn't mention it, because it wad delicious and beautifully presented. My friend ordered the egg toast and added cherry tomatoes. She enjoyed it. Weekends there is endless mimosas, but I am trying to be healthy so I opted for ice tea. The staff here are all very friendly. The decor reminded me of Cape Cod, casual elegance. I felt like I was on vacation. I will definitely return here again! Thank you Barbie and Alex for the great service! read more

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I don't hand out compliments often, but Baleen Kitchen earned this one. They were out of the risotto (86'd), but the team went out of their way to make it for me anyway. That's service you don't see very often. It was absolutely delicious. The swordfish was one of the best I've ever had--perfectly cooked--and Carlita is every bit the mixologist everyone says she is. Her cocktails are outstanding and she made the whole experience even better. Chef Robbie is the man and went out of his way for me. Thank you. With the Fourth of July around the corner, do yourself a favor and check out Baleen Kitchen. Great food, incredible drinks, and a team that truly cares about their guests. Jony Rok Approved. And if you know me, you know I don't hand out compliments very often. read more

We come to this hidden gem for brunch at least twice a month. Well, it's not really hidden. It's part of the Portofino hotel in Redondo Beach. Depending on what time you arrive, you can get seats next to the window that look out to the harbor but plenty of seating throughout. Lots of good choices on their brunch menu. My favorite dishes are the soft scrambled eggs with goat cheese on artisan toast, the classic eggs benedict, and the Baleen burger but if you have a sweet tooth the lemon marscapone pancakes with blueberry butter is amazing. Be sure to request Jordan or Alex as your server, they are friendly and provide exceptional service. What most don't know is they have a great happy hour and live music on Fri and Sat read more

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Definitely a mixed experience at Baleeen Kitchen. On the plus side: I had the cod reuben with fries which was a fabulous take on the traditional Reuben. The fish was well cooked and flavorful, and the crispy French fries were an absolutely appropriate and delicious addition to the sandwich. BaleenKitchen also have a very nice wine selection. Unfortunately, it was exactly 40 minutes from the time I sat down at my table to when my meal was delivered. And while I understand, that kitchens can get busy during the lunch rush, I was one of three tables in the dining room, so it's hard to imagine that the kitchen was overwhelmed. My "quick" lunch took almost an hour and a half from start to finish with no apology or explanation from the wait staff as to why things were taking so long. The food was delicious, and I will give them the benefit of the doubt that the pace of the meal was an anomaly! Edit; yes, I know it says card instead of cod in my review, despite changing it to cod and even trying fish instead of cod, for some reason, Yelp continues to use the incorrect spelling ‍ read more

BALEENkitchen - Cod Reuben - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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My husband and I hold this restaurant close because we were married at Portofino Hotel 12 years ago. Tonight he reserved a table for Valentine's Day and we were seated around 5:45. The service was non-existent. We've never been ignored in a restaurant before. We sat for nearly 20 minutes, utterly ignored before we got up and walked out. 3 different servers waited on every table around us attentively and repeatedly. Each server passed our table multiple times. Every time, they said absolutely nothing and avoided eye contact. We were stunned, as was the host who was surprised we hadn't been served. Not sure what happened tonight but that was a first for us. We're still making the most of our holiday and that was a big L for Baleen. And on Valentine's Day no less. Not sure if we'll ever go back. At least we had sweet memories from the past. read more

We stayed at the hotel and went to the hotel restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised with the ambiance overlooking the marina from all tables. On the weekends they play live music in the lounge, we were loving the band that they chose. For dinner we had the pork chop, mushroom pizza and salad. Everything was great. The pork chop was cooked to perfection. We were also able to have breakfast there as well and the food was great. read more

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Trigg was awesome. He provided great service. He made a couple of food suggestions. And they were great. We tried the crab dip, the grandson had the kids salmon plate, I had the bottomless mimosas, my sis had the fries, I also ordered the clam chowder which was good. The hubby ordered the old fashioned. The view is nice. We wanted to sit by the fire but it was a bit too cold. We still sat in the patio area but closer to all the heaters. Bring a sweater or jacket. It can get cold out. Parking can be hard to find. read more

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We had reservations on. Saturday morning for brunch. When we arrived, the hostess wasn't around. We waited for about five minutes or so. The waiters and mangers saw us standing there but didn't acknowledge us. Finally, we got a hold of the manager and said we had reservations. The hostess finally came out and took us to our table. The food was great and the kids enjoyed their food. The ambiance is very charming and the view is spectacular. read more

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Kayla and Jordan are the best! Jordan was friendly, quick, attentive and accommodating to our child. Karla's margaritas are phenomenal and her smile shines brightly as she pours. We will definitely keep coming back for more. read more

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Gorgeous place; but That's about it. The online menu showed plenty of either vegan, or gluten free items; however that was not the case when we made a 40 minute drive and I ended up with the most expensive and bland potatoes I've ever had and the server upsold a basic beer to us for $19 for one bottle after a sales pitch that didn't match what was served. I wanted to love this place so much, but the only thing I really enjoyed was the view. read more

The food, the service, the ambience excellent The waitresses and the waiters were excellent. I went for Thanksgiving and the food was delicious. read more

I've been living in Redondo Beach for more than forty years and never crossed that little road between Harbor Drive and Potifino Rd!!! This Thursday I did... I tried Baleen kitchen at the Portofino Hotel. What? We enter the experience with their Hot Crab Dip and their Calamari Ajillo WOW!!! Looking for new flavors, order that, then we had the 12 onz Grilled Rib Eye soft and tender with Chinese broccoli and other Asian vegetables!!! Monica our handsome attender gave us a personal service that is difficult to find... she even gave us some time to explain us about the hotel stays... the place is between the Marina and the beach... what more can you expect! read more

BALEENkitchen - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Came with a party of 13 and the service was very slow. While are waitress was sweet, it seemed like no one else was working. The AC was blasting for no reason so it was freezing. Terrible lighting Drinks took forever and gave us a maritini in a wine glass Food was sub bar - burgers came out looking like a kids meal. Will never go back read more

We visited Baleen today and it was such a great experience! I went with my 3-year-old, and it ended up being the perfect spot for us. He was thrilled to see the seals and completely fascinated by the view of the sailboats--it definitely kept him entertained while we ate. Food-wise, everything was solid with some definite standouts. My little one had a hamburger and fries--about a 7/10, a bit bland but that's typical for a kids' burger. I had a hamburger too, also a 7/10, but it paired really well with their ranch (which was actually really good). We did remove the tomato since it was too thick and not very ripe. The real star of the meal was the crunchy shrimp tacos--honestly a 10/10, probably the best shrimp tacos I've ever had. Perfectly cooked shrimp with just the right amount of slaw. The fries were also excellent, crispy and flavorful--9/10. The only letdown was the Caesar salad (5/10). It's highly rated, but for me, it just didn't live up to the hype and I wouldn't order it again. The service, though, was absolutely phenomenal. Alex was our server and he was amazing, super attentive and kind. Barbie, the host, was also incredibly sweet. They even surprised my son with a complimentary scoop of ice cream to celebrate his birthday, which made the whole experience even more special. Oh my and how can I forget about the lemon crème brûlée 10000/10 must get! One note on parking: close-by spots are reserved for hotel guests. They do offer valet right in front, which is super convenient, but if you'd rather park yourself and not pay, there's public parking a short walk away. Overall, great vibe, amazing service, and those shrimp tacos alone are worth the visit! We also found the prices to be great for a lunch with a view! read more

BALEENkitchen - BALEEN Burger 7/10 make sure to ask for their ranch. - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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My friend and I have been exploring Redondo area more bc it's a really cool area. A friend of a friend recommended this place, so we checked it out. Place is really cute, they have a fireplace which is super cozy, really good drinks. Servers are nice. Food was ok. We really loved the live music, and the girl who was singing, Erin, was fantastic. Good live music is hard to come by these days, and it hit the spot. We'll be back next time she plays for sure. read more

Food was ok. Service was behind. Views Amazing!!! Appetizer showed up with the meal. Items on menu need better explanation.

Went to Baleen to celebrate Valentine's Day. The service was great, the restaurant aesthetics were nice, clean and classy and food was delicious! There's valet parking only BUT it's validated for 2 hours! Definitely new date night spot. read more

BALEENkitchen - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

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Ambiance is relaxing with the view of the boats in the marina. Service was very friendly and attentive. The food was tasty and good. serving size was more than enough. Dog friendly in the lower level is a great option. Live music performance on Friday and Saturday nights makes it a chill night well spent. read more

BALEENkitchen - Seasonal Fruit, Fresh Pastries Basket and Mimosa - Seafood Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

Went on a Thursday night for their $8 burger special and happy hour. The burger itself was good, but the real highlight of the evening was the drinks definitely worth coming for happy hour. The view of the marina added a nice touch to the whole experience. Our server, Maria, was the best friendly, attentive, and made the night even better. read more

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Burger and fries were soggy and barely cooked. I was super hungry so I ate it anyhow. Just returned from the bathroom where I hurled the entire meal!! I told the waiter and he just gave me a blank stare, no empathy, no sorry, no nothing!! This place is just lipstick on a pig!! I highly recommend eating somewhere else!! read more

Gorgeous fine dining and delicious food with excellent service. It's a nice place for a celebratory meal like a bday or anniversary, but also appropriate for just an elegant low key dinner. There's a Beautiful dining room upstairs for an elegant dinner, plus an area downstairs that overlooks the marina that's great for breakfast. I've had both dinner and breakfast here, plus gotten room service from Baleen and it's always a great experience. Portions are good for the price, and the food is delicious, fresh and chef crafted, providing a great value. read more

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