Literally in awe of this place. I've been to Barbuzzo before COVID and I remember it being a small, but great restaurant with high quality ingredients and flavors. Visiting a second time during COVID, I cannot recommend it enough. Their indoor dining remains adorable and quaint. However, if you're feeling hesitant to dine indoors, their outdoor space is amazing. They have a special built outdoor dining space that is covered and separated individually per table, which makes diners feel much more comfortable. Service was also outstanding; I had a reservation but was a little late due to difficulty finding parking and they were very accommodating and able to seat us outdoors, although our reservation was originally for indoor. The food is out of this world. If you love Mediterranean flavors, this is the place for you. The ingredients were all fresh and high quality, and the unique combinations of flavors can't be missed. My personal favorites were the squid ink pasta and the head-on prawns (that salsa verde on the shrimp was INCREDIBLE). The pizza crust was also the perfect amount of crunch and chew. I could go on and on about this, but let's just say, I went with my parents who have a pickier palate, and they were speechless and already plan to be back. That's all you gotta know. Make your reservation for Barbuzzo today (you'll certainly need one, they're BUSY) and you will not be sorry!! :) much love for this restaurant and I will be back soon! read more

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Very cute spot. However, I don't think any of the dishes lived up to the hype of 5-stars on yelp. In fact, I think every dish earned 3-stars in my book, except for our last dish (the PAN SEARED GNOCCHI, ~4 star rating on its own) which helped push my review for 3.5-stars... The other dishes we had were really just okay. You could tell they were made with quality ingredients... however, I felt each was missing an element... The ROASTED MUSHROOM ARANCINI for example, I felt needed some acidity (perhaps in the form of tomato, or red sauce). The ROASTED BEET SALAD wasn't well mixed. A lot of the whipped goat cheese (which made the dish) was sitting at the bottom, as well as the pistachio pesto. As a result, some bites were really solid... And others were lacking. Lastly, the CACIOCAVALLO STUFFED MEATBALLS were moist, but I did not think they were anything special. And I felt the big block of cheese in the middle was a bit unnecessary. Overall, I think this location is cute, but pretty over-rated. And the open kitchen smells like industrial cleaner (bleach-esque?) at the beginning of dinner rush. read more

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For whom it may concern: parking was tough. Service was solid. Beet salad was as good as a beet salad is going to get. The ratios were on point. There was no feeling like I needed to ration out a particular component of a dish to go along with the rest. The same goes for the whipped ricotta dish, it was creamy and the bread it came with had everything you want in your carbohydrate eating experience. The pizza was solid. Great chewy crust and an appropriate amount of cheese. The desserts were good but I especially liked the salted caramel budino, but be warned that it is really salty. I might pass on the tiramisu next time and try the orange sorbet. read more

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Love this place each time I've gone! I've been here a few times for dinner & once for brunch. The ambiance is so good for a good date night and the service is always excellent! I will have to say, we were seated upstairs for the first time tonight, which wasn't bad but would definitely prefer the downstairs ambiance (upstairs is great for a larger party that wants to chat in my opinion) read more

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This was truly a wonderful dinning experience. I had the pan seared gnocchi and the salted caramel bundino, which were both absolutely incredible. I might have dreams about that gnocchi. I also had a glass of red wine (Nebbiolo 2022), which was very smooth. Wonderful bar service. Good hostess. Quite the fabulous dinner. read more

It's a bit pretentious (front end), but the food and service is amazing!!! Pear salad, octopus, and pizza! read more

Food, atmosphere and prices were great esp. for Center City Philly. Loved the small plate concept allowing you to sample2-3 items for the normal price of an entree. Pizzas and desserts were outstanding as well. Make a reservation as their dining room is small and fills up quickly. read more

Not your typical Italian spot, it has a very American flair but done right. The menu is created family style so the food comes out as it's prepared. The portion sizes are small to medium so feel free to order at least 2 1/2 plates per person. We ordered Caciocavallo Stuffed Meatballs, Whipped Ricotta, charcuterie board and the Polenta. Everything we tried was delicious. read more

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Great food, service and ambiance. Have been here multiple times and it never dissappoints.

First time here and the food and staff were great. Would recommend and will be back again. Very happy to have come and try it out.

We needed dinner on a busy weekend night without a reservation, and they accommodated us immediately at the bar. We received prompt and friendly service and ordered some Italian classics off the menu, including pizza and arancini. Everything was delicious and ready so quickly! Prices were fair and the drink menu was extensive - we enjoyed prosecco and a beer. We enjoyed the neighborhood Italian vibe and would definitely return for a more planned out and proper meal. read more

Traveling from out of town for a date, this place was highly recommended as it's right by Center City. With the cold weather, it was just the right ambiance, cozy and warm; and the food selection was great despite having a small menu. They were willing to customize to our dietary preference, which was welcome! For a place that serves pizzas, the tables are small and the restaurant was a bit cramped in my opinion, but our server, Rebecca, was excellent in providing suggestions and even checking with the chef. We were served delicious hot bread with ricotta cheese to start off, and ended up ordering the Beet Salad and Margherita Pizza, along with some savory wine. Everything was excellent! read more

Barbuzzo - Margarita Pizza - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Excellent service! All servers were super nice and friendly. I love the brunch menu selections. We ordered crab benedict and margarita pizza. Fresh ingredients combined with good flavors. I would love to come back for another brunch or dinner. read more

Barbuzzo - Margarita Pizza - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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As a lover of Italian food, I cannot stress how amazing this place is!! I was in Philly for work and noticed the amazing reviews this place had so I quickly made a reservation for 1. My server was absolutely amazing from beginning to end. He was super knowledgeable and made great practical recommendations based on what I like. I started with the Whipped Ricotta (and absolute must). The bread is so warm and perfectly crunchy on the out side and melt in your mouth on the inside. The flavors were so authentic and it's a good size portion. Next, I tried the stuffed meatballs... knockout flavor! I can't remember the last time I had a meatball so good! I swear someone's Nona was in the back making all this delicious food. I was too stuffed to try the gnocchi but I can tell from my neighbor it was amazing. The vibe and atmosphere is dark and intimate. Tables are close together and it feels like you've been transported to Italy. I had their version on an old fashioned but next time I would definitely opt for a glass of red wine. Tried the sorbet for dessert and it was the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Very light and delicious! read more

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Came here for dinner at it was great. Sat at the bar and was given great service and conversation with the bartender. I had the meat ball and also pizza and it was great. Great location and the inside is really cool. read more

Barbuzzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I had a reservation for two on a friday night, at 6PM. We got seated promptly and there is a QR code to scan for the menu. We ordered lobster croquettes, salsiccia pizza (wood-roasted fennel, san marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, house-made garlic sausage, basil, parmesan), and caciocavallo stuffed meatballs. I really enjoyed the lobster croquettes, as it was very creamy inside. The gnocchi was delicious as well, although I am not a huge pasta fan. I do wish the pizza was less burnt and more crispier on the bottom. I have read some reviews saying the exact same thing -- that would be my only critique. The meatballs were way bigger than expected but was very tasty and filling. In all, we left extremely full and the prices were very reasonable for dinner. The staff was also friendly and the food came out at a good pace. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very busy and lively, as it is right in the center of the city. read more

I love this place. I come here about once a month. The food is absolutely delicious and mouth watering. The gnocchi is a must. The balance of flavors and texture of the gnocchi is perfect. Recently the gnocchi doesn't have pine nuts and there are some other subtle changes but it's still good. The other dishes here are all pretty solid choices, but I have to rave about the gnocchi. In my opinion it's the best thing here. The cocktail drinks are alright nothing special. Draft selection is good, and I typically dislike beer. Both outside and inside seating atmosphere is fantastic with their own vibe. Indoors is very moody and intimate, so it's good for date nights. I must warn that going during valentines day was an L because they were quite busy and I noticed a dip in the quality. read more

Barbuzzo - Pan Seared Gnocchi, pesto pasta, Beef Shortrib - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

cute place, we were packed in and sat extremely close to the table next to us and it was a little warm inside. it was very loud but the food was great. we had the branzino 10/10, pizza was 7/10, meatballs 10/10, and the arancini was delicious 8/10 read more

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If anywhere deserves a 5 star when it comes to food, service and ambiance it is Barbuzzo. Wonderful experience especially for being a walk in on a Saturday night. Food: It was mentioned to us that it was a recent spring menu change and I forgot to take a picture of the menu so that is my mistake. The items that we got as appetizers were very good if I had to just pick one it would be the smoked trout toast. The flavors of fresh dill, zesty lemon and the smoked fish work wonderfully together and really made a great little appetizer. The pasta I left a picture of was absolutely delicious! I want to say it was refreshing but it's a pasta so maybe light is a better description. That being said, if you are a texture person definitely order this- very nice mix of crunch and softness. We got the pizza to-go so didn't get to eat it fresh but the smell was absolutely amazing and was still so satisfying heated up later when home! Salted caramel budino is a must to finish your meal off. I'm not usually a salted caramel fan but it was excellent and I will get every time now. Experience: I absolutely loved sitting right at the kitchen, I think it's a really fun experience and was super entertaining as well. Everyone cooking was very kind and you can tell that they are passionate about what they do, which was so wonderful to witness. Don't be afraid to talk to them, they were very caring, talkative, and friendly!! I cannot wait to go back, such a wonderful gem in Philly. read more

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Food was good. Everything else did not impress. Place is so dark. I had to use my phone light just to read the menu. Branzino was cooked perfectly. Flavor was so good. Tufoli pasta was eh. Hearty but taste didn't hit the right notes. Broccoli rabe in there was weird. Pizza. Yuck. On the surface, it looked good. Taste and texture was something different. No, I'm not a NY snob. It was like pizza sauce on pancakes. Chicken was amazing. Desserts were okay. Mainly the atmosphere got the table yearning for more to desire. read more

So I will start with the negatives first - Parking sucks and we ended up having to pay $28 in the garage for only an hour and a half on a Saturday. Although it is Philly so I guess that is to be expected. The hostess was rude and not friendly at all. This place is small and cramped. I kept bumping elbows with the person next to me and people kept bumping my husband's drink as they walked by. You definitely won't have any privacy! The food also comes out as it's done so I felt like I never got a break in between apps, food, and desserts it all came out boom boom boom which is too quick for me. The positives - Making a reservation is very easy and trust me you need one because it is very busy! The decor is awesome we love the rustic farmhouse design! Our waiter was great and service was excellent! The Meatballs are AMAZING, get them trust me! I will dream about them until I can have them again. The food was very delicious. The drinks were pretty good. The Salted caramel budino is delicious and very creamy but it has a lot of salt. The whipped ricotta was creamy and the bread had the perfect combo of crunchy and soft. read more

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let me just start by saying the salted chocolate bundino is one of the best bites i've ever had at a restaurant! i have a major sweet tooth and it hit every note needed for a dessert as far as i'm concerned. i plan to come back sometime soon specifically for that delicious little treat. everything my friend and i got from barbuzzo was yum! we shared the whipped ricotta (a bit pricey imo but the bread was fantastic so i'll let that slide), i got the pesto bucatini which i thought was great! i love when a pesto dish has pine nuts as a garnish. i think a different pasta shape would be better suited for the sauce, but still delicious and i would get again. she got the lobster pappardelle which she also loved. my friend and i were planning on meeting up with other friends after our meal, and the waitstaff here was super attentive and able to get us in and out at our desired speed! it's definitely a little cramped inside, but also not the worst offender of close quarters i've seen. i look forward to coming back to try some pizza!! and of course get the bundino that i've been dreaming of read more

Barbuzzo - broccoli pesto bucatini - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Loved our late night dinner here. I can't stop thinking about those mussels with lamb merguez sausage, and the pizza was large, thin and tasty. The night was a blur of food moans and joy. It's all you really want in a restaurant. Also online resos are my fave, and you'll definitely want to use that here. Come! Enjoy!! read more

Restaurant Review Haiku ... amazing service whipped ricotta for sure open kitchen dreams read more

Barbuzzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Saw this place when researching local eateries in Philadelphia, and saw it had a lot of hype, so wanted to check it out. So glad we did...even on a super RAINY night! The vibe was very low key, dark and low lit...lots of groups and couples there. All their popular dishes were good: whipped ricotta starter, meatballs, gnocchi, grilled octopus, and of course, the salted caramel budino. Christopher, our server, was super nice and professional. It is worth the hype. Enjoy! read more

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Went here once for happy hour (Center City Sips) and again last week for dinner. Love the decor and ambience created by the candlelight. Would make for a great date spot, though it's a bit noisy when full. The meatballs are a good size and flavorful. For the price ($14) I figured they could have given a second piece of bread with the plate to make it more filling. On my first visit during happy hour, I tried the salted caramel budino dessert the place is well known for. It was just ok. The salt took away from the flavor for me. During my second visit, I had the tiramisu, which I would definitely order again. It looked like ice cream when served. The flavor was very light--not heavy on the coffee flavor. I also liked the chocolate crisps garnish. read more

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came here back in november...really great place for mediterranean food in philly! The seafood paella was really the star of the show - it was so warm, extremely flavorful, and the scorched rice on the bottom was really out of this world. The butternut squash arancini was also too DIE for and super cheesy with a crisp exterior. You really can never go wrong with arancini! The roasted beet salad was surprisingly SUPER yummy, and made me realize that I actually liked beets... the pistachio pesto on top was also immaculate. The conchigle negro (squid ink pasta), however, was a little disappointing. Not that flavorful with a bit of a strange flavored after cooling. For dessert though, the bread pudding was PERFECTION. So flavorful, decadent, the perfect texture and paired extremely well with the ice cream-- 10000/10 read more

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*This review is for Barbuzzo amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic* Barbuzzo is currently offering takeout only from 4:30pm-8:30pm through their website Tuesday's through Saturdays. That being said if you need to reach them for any reason, don't even bother. Once you place your order their is no way to edit anything or get in contact with their staff, which is super annoying. I had placed an order on Sunday for 4:30pm thinking they were open, only to get down there and realize they weren't open until Tuesday. I found it kind of weird that aside from the date change, their website didn't really alert me in any way that they were going to be closed that day, nevertheless that my order would be fulfilled two days later. I tried to call them on Tuesday thinking that there was probably someone around to either edit or cancel my order but .... no answer. Emailed them, no answer. Messaged them on Instagram, no answer. Understandably I totally screwed up, but what if I was no longer able able to pick something up? I had placed the order for 4:30pm, and wasn't able to get down there until 6:00pm on Tuesday because I work and wasn't able to reach anyone. It was really bizarre. I decided to try the Salted Caramel Dalgona Coffee which a twist on the viral Dalgona Coffee and their famous Budino dessert and if I'm being honest... it was okay at absolute best. I think the hype was too big to transfer the legendary aspect of the Budino to a coffee drink. If they crushed the ice versus left it in large cubes I think it would've been better, but it was gone in about 3 sips and mostly ice chunks. I would definitely suggest that (after you get your pictures of course) you mix it up so that the salted caramel isn't just sitting in top, rather, evenly distributed. Overall experience with the restaurant was lacking as well as the drink. When I arrived for the pickup, the guy even noted that it said 4:30pm and when I explained that I had tried to call and couldn't get ahold of anyone he half chuckled and said "oh yeah, sounds about right." Like what? That's so weird. I've only ever eaten at Barbuzzo once, just for dessert so obviously this experience does not compare. Maybe pick up the phone though. read more

Barbuzzo - Salted Caramel Dalgona Coffee - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Went there for dinner on a summer night. We ordered the Whipped Ricotta and Arancini for appetizers. They both were absolutely delicious! For main course we ordered 2 pizzas - the Funghi and Margherita. They were so delicious! 10/10 We also ordered the salted caramel budino for dessert and OMG it was amazing. If you get one thing get the dessert!! We loved everything we ordered & can't wait to go back! read more

Big fan of this place. Service was good. Food was served QUICK. great prices and vibes. I think next time I would skip the pizza and the arancini. If you're going to do a carb, stick with their pastas. Tiramisu was incredible but not traditional. Great small plates. Easily made a reservation day of. read more

AMBIANCE A cute industrial/farm-house style restaurant that had a big open space on the second floor for a large group. I liked their plates and presentation! FOOD The greek salad was a bit too salty, but I liked the whipped ricotta, mushroom arancini, and barbuzzo meatballs. For mains I ordered the shortrib huevos rancheros which was... just okay. I generally finish my entrees, but didn't this time. DRINKS I had the sangria at first, which was good and not watered down. They didn't have an espresso machine, so when I asked for iced coffee I got a weird watered down lukewarm coffee. Thankfully, the second iced coffee I had was fine! SERVICE Everyone was very attentive, warm, and friendly. We were a large group and I believe some orders got mixed, but the servers were also very accommodating for those of us who had to leave early or had food restrictions. All in all - this place was fine but unremarkable. I enjoyed my meal but not enough to go back again. read more

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My mom and I came here for the first time on a whim and the hostess regretted to tell us that she only had seats available at the bar and the Chef's Table. Intrigued, I asked what the Chef's Table was and she said it was similar to the bar, but in front of the open kitchen. We took bar seats at the Chef's Table and it's the only way I want to dine from here on out. We were served by a fabulous waiter and got to watch our food as it was made. I would have loved to add pictures, but we were too busy enjoying our food. We shared the Papas Fritas and Whipped Ricotta. Our waiter suggested we end with dessert and I'm so glad he did. The tiramisu was the best I've ever had. SO creamy, soft and delicious. Looking forward to coming back and dining at the chef's table again! read more

I loved the butternut squash arancini ($5 on happy hour) with house white (Pinot Grigio, $8 on happy hour) read more

Barbuzzo - Butternut Squash Arancini - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

First time visiting in many years. Brought back by a private event on their 2nd floor event space. Everything was great, especially the delicious food & excellent service. read more

Meh dining experience. The restaurant is small, cozy (not in a nice way) dark & LOUD environment with free flow kitchen (food doesn't come out together). It was hard to have a dinner conversation. We ordered Butternut Arancini, Whipped Ricotta, Beet Salad, Grilled Mediterranean Bronzino, Hangar Steak and Duck Confit Pappardelle. The starters were mediocre. The whipped ricotta was bland. The Beet Salad had very little beets and was mostly kale and needed more whipped goat cheese for flavoring. The main entrees are smaller portions with great flavors & more enjoyable, but we were ready to get out of there because it was not a dining atmosphere we enjoyed. The service was acceptable. read more

Barbuzzo - Grilled Mediterranean Bronzino - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Every bite here was amazing, we got the whipped ricotta, a pizza, mussels, and the Bronzino. With a pitcher of sangria to top it off. Our table was wobbly but the waitress was very attentive in putting a wedge in right away. She took our order by memory and gave great recommendations. Would definitely dine here again! read more

Let's start with the good. The good is really. really. really darn good - the espresso tiramisu was to die for. I'm not even a tiramisu kinda gal, but this... this was exquisite. It was the best dessert I've had in a long time and I regret that I shared this with my husband and did not order my own. If my review was solely based on this, Barbuzzo would've gotten a 5 star rating, hands down. Since we started with dessert, let's go backwards here. For our entree, we went for the classic margherita, which felt quite underwhelming. It was too soggy (even though we asked for it well done) and the cheese was too thick and chewy in certain areas along the pie. The side of marinara sauce we used to dip our crust was too tangy for our liking. We did however enjoy the side of fresh oregano they offered! The sheeps milk ricotta was a great starter, and paired well with the Malbec. The cheese was rich and the fig condimento added a delicious zest. 3.5 stars being rounded down because Barbuzzo fell very short of my high expectations after seeing it's stellar reviews. read more

Barbuzzo - Sheeps Milk Ricotta - Mediterranean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Very intimate dining with two person seating that is about a foot apart from each other. ( This might be a place for private conversations). Also has a open kitchen so you can watch your food be made (p.s food is made to order). The lighting creates a warm ambiance, great for date nights or catching up with old friends. What we ordered : - Whipped Ricotta the restaurants most recommended appetizer. While its presentation is well done the taste is a bit underwhelming. The bread that's included has a nice crunch but the whipped ricotta adds little flavor without the balsamic glaze. If you want it to be a bit more savory ask for more oil. - Papa frites- Could have been better, many of the potato crisps were burned and there was not enough sauce, we ended up asking for more which they were generous about. -Gnocchi- This was Maheens Favorite, sauce was neutral and paired well with soft gnocchi pieces, did not have a problem finishing this. - Tonnarelli Nero (Squid Ink Pasta)- This was Omi's favorite dish, for me the pasta was over cooked and the sauce substantial but Omi really enjoyed it. Finding it to have a zesty and creamy taste that paired well with shrimp. - French Farmer (drink)- St german elderflower, Omi's drink which I ended up taking because I made us switch drinks. Sweet, smooth and refreshing. -Queen Bee (drink) -gin with honey and lemon. This was Maheens drink but it was too strong so I gave it to Omi. Phenomenal taste though I think the flavors worked well read more

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If you live in Philly or just visiting, Barbuzzo is a must stop for excellent food served in a casual atmosphere. The service is accommodating and professional. Just be aware that the items you order, regardless of the category, will be served when the chef has prepared the item. It's also possible that many items may come at once. Other than that, enjoy some of the best food served in Philly. read more

Really enjoyed my meal at Barbuzzo after catching a show at a local theater. The highlights of the small plate selections we tried were the Butternut Squash Arancini (smoked mozzarella stuffed risotto, cranberry mostarda, parmesan), the Winter Farro and Cabbage Salad (castle valley farro, nappa cabbage, local apples, walnuts, royer mountain, flax seed, burnt honey dressing), Margherita pizza (san marzanos, house stretched fior di latte, parmesan, basil & extra virgin olive oil), and the Tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe (roasted cauliflower, pecorino, parsley, cauliflower crema, black pepper, garlic bread crumbs. If I was forced to pick a favorite, it would be the Butternut Squash Arancini , it was the lightest non-oily Arancini I have had at any restaurant. A must try on your visit. The Mediterranean-inspired Barbuzzo is a small space with intimate dining and an outdoor seating during warm weather. That said, if you are not a fan of small places and dining close to other patrons, you might not enjoy. The only recommendation I have for the team at Barbuzzo would be to turn up the lighting just a bit, it was way too dark. Outside of that it was fantastic, food was excellent and service was on point, definitely a restaurant to return to in the future. read more

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