Convivo was a delightful way to end our Santa Barbara vacation. It's located in the Santa Barbara Inn, and it has free valet if you're visiting the restaurant. Sit on the patio, which overlooks the beach. I'm sure at night, it's just beautiful. - Avocado toast: My dad had this, and it was filled with ripe avocados. - Furikake eggs: I really enjoyed this dish. It was light, and not heavy like most brunch foods. The brioche bread was delicious. - Chorizo and egg scramble piadina: Wow this was unexpectedly the best dish of the morning. Hearty, flavorful and the crust was perfect. I'd order this the next time I'm in town. read more

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We attended a small private event and were given a curated selection menu to choose from. Both entree options were great. I ordered the roasted chicken and loved every element of it. The presentation was beautiful, the farro was a great pairing, and it was cooked perfectly. The salad was refreshing and one of my favorite parts of the meal. The focaccia was a nice touch for the table, though not my personal favorite. The panna cotta was a wonderful finish. Service was remarkable. The staff were attentive, helpful, and made the experience feel effortless. The ambiance was lovely, with a perfect view of the water, a nice breeze, and heaters to keep things comfortable. Overall a wonderful experience!! read more

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We were looking for a lunch spot on the way to the Santa Barbara Zoo and came upon this restaurant. Located in the Santa Barbara Inn, a beautiful Spanish style hotel. Service was great and our waiter was friendly and gave great suggestions. Food came out pretty quickly. Kids pizza was fresh and quite big, they probably could have shared one. Comes with juice or milk and a gelato desert. My bolognese pasta was delicious. Nice and meaty sauce with wide fresh pasta. Hubby had the bucatini and was just as good. It was done in a spicy tomato sauce with pancetta and cheese. Very cute place with great food, would come here again if I'm in the area. read more

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We went to Convivo Restaurant & Bar yesterday, Friday afternoon. It was a windy day, so we requested that we sit in the patio that had glass to shield us from the wind. There were plenty of empty tables, but we were told they were all reserved, so they put us in a windy spot next to an umbrella that was blowing against us in the wind. All the time we were there, no one was seated in the empty tables that were out of the wind. They brought my wife's order and the wrong pizza for me, too quickly, about four minutes after ordering. When I mentioned that they gave me the wrong pizza, the waiter wanted to argue with me. After a long 15 minutes, they brought me the correct pizza, so my wife and I were not able to eat at the same time. When we mentioned our seating issues, the manager came over and he had no explanation for why we were not seated where we requested. read more

My friends and I came here for dinner on a Friday night. Convivo was able to accommodate a 12 person table for us last minute in their patio area. It was a warm night out, so the patio was great! Food: I ordered the seaweed mafaldine pasta. It was very good. I wish it had just a bit more mushrooms. Service: Our service was friendly and decently quick for a 12-top. The servers came out regularly to check on our table. They managed the food and drink order for the 12 of us well. TL;DR - Wonderful service for our large party. read more

Convivo Restaurant and Bar - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Update time since my last review here was 8 years ago! The world has changed, prices are much higher and and it took awhile for restaurants to recover. I am thrilled that Convivo has finally brought back their happy hour! This was my go to spot after a day at the beach specifically for happy hour. They used to have $5 cocktails and $8 pizzas. But prices have risen since then. Ahhh the good ol' days, but you can still find a great deal here and the views alone are worth it! Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 2 - 5pm. Unfortunately no weekends. Think $9 libations in hand, ocean breeze in the air, and the kind of setting that screams paradise. For Provisions, start with the Coxinhas. They are crispy fried crocchette filled with chicken and fontina, perfectly golden on the outside and creamy inside. Also condimenti, a light refreshing fare of pickled veggies, spicy kimchi and Roman artichokes. Of course, the spicy Soppressata pizza is not to be missed and one of my favorites here but now $18 *sigh. The size is very generous for the price though. And the best part? You're right across from the beach. Palm trees, coastal views, and a space that feels like your own little tropical paradise. What more could you ask for! This isn't just happy hour... it's a whole mood that makes you feel transported to Hawaii. I've never been, but the lush tropical landscape takes me there whenever I come here. read more

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Lunch by the beach with a nice cool breeze and sunshine. Problem is the table rocks. Friendly staff although I believe we were forgotten about at one point. Avocado salad was easily a 9.1/10for me. Forcaccia bread was also delicious 9.2/10. Fungi pizza was 9.2/10. The meat balls were... ok. 7.5/10. A bit grainy texture with the hummus and wish there was more fat. read more

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We got a table on their beautiful patio, overlooking the ocean, palm trees, and bougainvillea. We arrived a little after 2 PM, so were able to order a few dishes and drink off the happy hour menu (M-F, 2-5 pm). The sausage Pizza and lamb meatballs were really good. We also had their beet and cauliflower salad, which was a bit unusual, but delicious! Avocado salad looked amazing too. We ordered one cocktail, one cocktail and a glass of rosé, all pink and lovely! Great lunch and will definitely return. read more

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The food at Convivo was delicious--at least the Frutti di Mare, which is what I ordered. I didn't try any of the other dishes, so I can't comment on those. The staff was attentive, and my meal arrived promptly. Even though it was a Wednesday evening, the restaurant was surprisingly busy. I had reserved outdoor seating, but when I arrived, I was told the patio wasn't available. The hostess initially explained that outdoor seating couldn't be accommodated. However, after I mentioned that I had a voicemail confirming both my reservation time and patio seating, she checked again and found us a table outside. That was the only disappointing part of an otherwise enjoyable experience. Aside from that, the waitstaff was polite and helpful, and they ensured everyone's orders were correct. Overall, I had a great experience. Although I hadn't expected the restaurant to be so busy on a Wednesday night, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and would definitely return. read more

Convivo Restaurant and Bar - Frutti Di Mare - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

After a beautiful day at East Beach, my boyfriend and I finally made it to Convivo. We arrived around 3:00 PM ready to order specific items I'd seen on Yelp, but I was sadly informed that they change menus daily and the dishes I wanted were only on their '5 o'clock menu.' Thankfully, I realized it was still happy hour, so we got excited and ordered a bunch of drinks and appetizers! The Bucatini, Lamb Meatballs, and Quadrati Rigati were all wonderful. However, the layout is a bit strange. I found it a bit odd they would put the hotel swimming pool right next to the patio dining area. There were a gaggle of overweight half nude guests flaunting their new tan lines which made me a little sick, so I decided to move further away from that area. If you need the restroom, they are a bit of a trek: walk past the bar area, make a right, and follow the long hallway to the very end. It's a great spot for food, just be mindful of the menu timing and where you choose to sit! read more

[Food] - Margherita Pizza ($21): Balanced sweet & tart red sauce with yummy melted cheese. Basil was also really fresh. - Lemon Ricotta ($32): I wanted to like this but the ricotta was a bit too heavy for me and the lemon flavor was too subtle. - Jiji Spritz ($15): Love the yuzu notes! Would order again [Service] - Friendly, helpful, fast [Ambiance] - Casual, fun, slightly dimmed [Overall] - Would come back again to explore their other dishes! read more

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This is a review specifically a review for the bar. Convivo is lucky to have an unassuming rockstar mixologist in Devin. We sat at Devin's bar for over 2 hours drinking and eating and running up a decent tab after arriving at the Santa Barbara Inn. Espresso Martinis, Old Fashions, and more were expertly crafted and creatively presented. I suspect we will be back at SBI's restaurant and bar again based upon the great experience we had earlier today. Thank you Devin for the great work and service! read more

Great spot to celebrate a friends birthday today outdoors under the shade canopies with the sun shining! Service was great and thank you Jose for taking care of us! Food was amazing all around. I enjoyed brunch and the cocktails including the mimosa and the GiGi!! All was delicious I'll definitely be back for a happy hour! read more

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I thought I already wrote a review for Convivo but I did not! Shame on me! Because dining at Conivo was one of my best diner experiences in a while! My bf and I came here to celebrate our anniversary couple weeks ago.. actually during the Santa Barbara 100 race, and he booked a table online. The venue is beautiful and it's the restaurant for Santa Barbara Inn. Parking is valet if you are hotel guests, but the valet is complimentary if you dine at the restaurant, just tip them! Our whole dinner experience was so wonderful! We got a table next to the glass door looking outside to their courtyard. The outdoor dining was not available that night (Friday night) because there was a private event going on. Dodgers game was on, it was the one where Dodgers beat Brewers to go into World Series. Anyway, our server was wonderful and super thorough with explaining the menu and special items to us. We ordered few of his recommendations and they were very delicious, such as the grilled seafood plate and the seaweed mafaldine, which was the first time I see it on the menu anyway, usually there is seafood mafaldine, not seaweed.. But, this was SOOOOO GOOD! There was a hint of seaweed but not overwhelming so much that if you're not into seaweed you would dislike. But if you love mushroom, the mushroom in the pasta pairs perfectly with all the umami of the dish, which was marinated in their miso butter sauce..wow! I don't think I ever had miso butter sauce but it was bomb! I used the flatbread to scoop up any left over sauce! Then, the grilled seafood, oh so fresh and such high quality! Each seafood piece did not overwhelm any flavor with each other and the grilled veggies also complimented each bite so much! This was also the highlight! Then the grilled avocado (charcoal) salad, wow!!!! I think I would start trying to grill my avocado like this, this takes the avocado to a whole new level! We also really love all three of the dipping sauce for the flatbread, each has a unique and wonderful flavor to it. Lastly, because of our anniversary, they brought us a lemon tart, and we also ordered the pistachio cheesecake. By this time, we were super full already but we still killed the delicious and yummy desserts! The whole time, our server was very attentive and there was always someone filling our drinks or checking on us. The manager also came twice to see how we doing and we loved that she was also a Dodgers' fan! Overall, this small but intimate and beautiful restaurant was just what we were looking for! Such high quality and delicious dishes, which I did not expect much from a restaurant hotel, I'm skeptical, but Convivo delivered! I would highly recommend you check them out if you stay in SB and either dine here for dinner or lunch or brunch or any time because I'm sure their food and service are great at any time of the day! Would def come back, this is one of our fav places in SB now! read more

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This place is really nice, I would return for the steak alone. We came for brunch and it was pretty quiet. Octopus appetizer: the thicker end of the octopus was slightly overcooked, but seasoned well. We found that the pork belly was also a little overcooked and under seasoned. We enjoyed the salad underneath. Bone in rib eye: our favorite dish of the day. The steak is pre cut. The steak was perfectly cooked - soooooo tender! The chimichurri sauce wasn't as acidic as others that I've had, however it worked well with the steak . Lemon ricotta cappellacci - this was good but I don't think I'd order it again. The lemon flavor was apparent but the inside filling of just ricotta was a little bland. The dish needed something bright or acidic to cut through like sundried tomatoes etc. Lemon tarte meringue- soooo yummy and we loved the huckleberry sauce. A perfect dessert. Pistachio cheesecake - my personal favorite! The pistachio is just in the crust. It is a delicate crust that crumbles easy. The flavor was true pistachio and the cheesecake itself was delightful. Staff was great! We loved our server - she was nice and had great attention to detail. The coffee here is delicious as well. Overall a solid place. Great portions and quality ingredients. read more

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Convivo comes across a little better online than in person. The first impression was that it's too bright and noisy to count as fine dining. The appetizers were fine, burrata and chicken liver pate, but the main dishes missed the mark. There were the short ribs that were fine by themselves but served with offensively spicy vegetables, and then the barbecue ribs that were served dry, no sauce, and the tiniest cup of pickled veggies. Service was fine, no complaints, it's just that the food needs a little bit of an adjustment to deserve the full 4 stars here. read more

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Really amazing food and staff here. Devin and her crew are the best and most competent bartenders out there, they are creative and humorous and just bring a fun vibe. They have made me the best mocktails, kind of like a mojito but with coconut cream, easily the best NA drink I've had in SB. The food is also so vibrant and colorful-- if it's true that you eat with your eyes first, this place wins, the plating is great. One of the best outdoor seating areas in SB, also. We loved the grilled avocado salad and bucatini best of what we ordered in this particular meal, but, I have never had anything bad there, they really have it dialed. read more

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Called 5 minutes before to see if there was any availability and the lady that answered was completely rude. Told she was very busy and couldn't help me at the moment. Then proceeded to hang up on me. Went in to see if there was any available tables and saw that there was at least 7-8 tables available but the hostess told me and my fiancé that there was no available tables. Found that to be very weird. Guess you have to be white to be able to eat at this establishment. So if anyone that isn't white is planning on eating prejudice establishment, be prepared for horrible customer service. I would give a zero stars but one is the lowest I could go. read more

Very hospitable Service, and to-die-for food. After dining here, my husband, Robert, told me that he would like to come back here again this week. He said this is the best Italian food he have ever had. That is a very high pray for my husband. read more

Convivo Restaurant and Bar - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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10/10 Experience at Convivo I recently stayed at the Santa Barbara Inn and had the pleasure of dining at Convivo for multiple meals Service & Accommodations: The service was exceptional. We arrived after a 5-hour flight at 8:55 pm, right before the kitchen closed at 9. Not only did they welcome us in, but they let us order a full meal and stay well past closing. The food was great throughout our stay, and they were so accommodating with my dairy allergy and breakfast customizations (I can be a little picky!). Breakfast Highlights: * Fresh Berries: Truly as fresh as they come--I'm still thinking about the strawberries. * Avocado Toast: Two poached eggs on brioche with a za'atar twist--so good. * Furikake Eggs: Served on brioche with shiitake & oyster mushrooms. I had mine with poached eggs on greens instead--delicious, though the eggs were slightly over. * Frittata: Excellent. * Tomato Tartine: Just okay compared to the rest. Lunch & Dinner Favorites: * Half Roasted Chicken: Perfectly cooked and generously portioned. It comes with a lot of green olives--great if you love them, but I think they could cut back and swap in another garnish. * Tuna Crudo: Fresh and balanced, though the crackers served with it were a bit stale. * Carrots on Baba Ganoush: With saffron cauliflower, dukka, and golden raisins--outstanding. * Crispy Yellow Potatoes: With za'atar, romesco & lemon tahini--an absolute must-order. * Margherita Pizza: Oven-baked with incredible tomato sauce and fresh basil. Atmosphere: The outdoor setting is gorgeous, with bougainvillea everywhere. Indoor/outdoor setting. Inside the bar is small, but the bartender was a delight to chat with. Overall, Convivo nails it on food, service, and setting. Highly recommend. read more

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We went here for restaurant week. Everything was really good, the servers were really attentative, and because I went here with my boyfriend I got to try his food too (of course). My jaw quite literally dropped when they put the entrees out because they are so HUGE!!! I thought that the Stinco tasted a little better than the roasted chicken. read more

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This is always a favorite for us. We live an hour away, but still visit often. Tonight we caught a beautiful sunset with a view of the beach and boats in the water. Every employee is friendly and professional. The service is polished but not stuffy. I enjoy the Mediterranean flavors on the menu. We tried the Za'atar (Middle Eastern spice blend) flatbread with accompanying hummus, baba ganoush and labneh dips. The hummus was a bit dry and sweet for my taste, but I really enjoyed the labneh. The Coxinhas (chicken and fontina croquettes) were crispy and hot served atop frisée, thinly sliced radish and a creamy and spicy dipping sauce. The gem salad has a delightfully lemony anchovy dressing that is outstanding. Lamb meatballs were tender and beautifully presented, but since lamb is not my favorite, I probably won't order again. This restaurant checks all the boxes. read more

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Inside Santa Barbara Inn & we ate breakfast here. Small inside seating & very large patio. Steel cut oats with berries was large $8. Greek yogurt with berries & pecan granola was a very large bowl of goodness for $8. Chocolate croissant basic $5. Service was good. read more

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This is one of my fav places to come for focaccia and sunsets. It's a great restaurant with fresh ingredients and lots of options. From flatbread, no roasted veggies, to chimichurri steak. I always park on street and not in valet. Staff are so kind with great recommendations and there is a little bar if you didn't want a table. Sit outside under a heater and enjoy the views! read more

Convivo Restaurant and Bar - Mojo JoJo - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Came here on Saturday June 13. Our reservation was at 8 PM. Got seated right away. Food is good. Everyone seems to like the pasta dishes. The prime rib was good, I just don't like it that it comes out cut up already. The halibut was ok. Nothing special. I like the location and the valet service. The bad was our server. After taking our orders, I didn't see him after our meal. I'm not demanding but I like to have my server at least check in to see if we have water. I actually forgot what he looks like. I got my water filled the first time when it was time to clear our table. I still gave my 20% since I feel bad for the bussers who were actually busy doing their jobs. read more

Location, the view and service is excellent. One of the best ! When it comes to food, all the insulin dishes were great, specially the pizzas. All other good was good but not great. If you are in for a amazing view, amazing ITALIAN food, than this is a must have! read more

Convivo Restaurant and Bar - Location - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Amazing location across from the beach and located in the Santa Barbara Inn. The food was very good and the ambiance was great!

We walked by Convivo on a beautiful Sunday morning, looking for somewhere to enjoy some coffee outside. I am so glad we decided to stop in! The menu looked so good, so we decided we'd have breakfast too, which was definitely the right move! The furikake eggs was one of the best breakfast dishes I've had in a while. It was such a perfect combination of flavors, and I've been craving it ever since we left. The breakfast piadina was also delicious, as were our lattes. Service was great, and overall Convivo is a perfect place to enjoy a nice morning in Santa Barbara! read more

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This is my favorite restaurant in Santa Barbara. I make a point to come here every single time I visit. I've tried multiple things on the menu and everything I've tried has been phenomenal. Restaurant is right next to the beach so it's very nice seating especially outside during the day. Service is great. All the servers know what to do. read more

Had dinner here during an event. Delicious focaccia, great salad appetizer with very fresh ingredients, and perfectly cooked medium rare steak with yummy chimichurri sauce. Great service in a nice ambiance. There was a small side of mashed potatoes and a few carrots. The carrots were the only thing that could be improved. Want to return and dine al fresco. read more

Convivo was once our favorite SB restaurant. Real diverse menu and flavors. We tried it for Thanksgiving last year. Swansons had it beat. Waited months to go back. Tried it last night and ordered the mixed seafood plate, that I'd loved before. It came out ice cold. Thought to send it back, but the waiter didn't return. Convivo is such a beautiful location, yet servers and attention to quality could be their undoing. Message to management: SB is a great market... lots of people with discretionary incomes, looking to spend. Improve QoS / food and you'll thrive. Don't and you won't. read more

Amazing service, views, and food. I ordered the Seaweed Mafaldine and added shrimp to it, and it was actually one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. I'm still thinking about it even a week later. The dish is super umami and has great textures. A bit of a crunch from the sesame seeds, and the pasta was perfectly al dente. The ridges of the mafaldine pasta catch the miso butter sauce and makes every bite full of flavor. Def recommend adding shrimp to it (+$10), it really elevates the dish and adds an even more seafood-y touch to it. I left the restaurant looking up miso butter sauce recipes on my phone because I loved it so much that it motivated me to want to try to recreate it at home. Def would love to come back if I'm ever in the area again! read more

Convivo Restaurant and Bar - Seaweed Mafaldine (with added Shrimp) - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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After leaving a holiday party on Saturday night we decided we wanted some steak. It was around 7:30/8 and I was able to reserve on open table. We have dined at Convivo several times and have always had a great experience. Thanks to Juan, another perfect dinner with fantastic service. Our steak was cooked to perfection, the brussel sprouts were amazing and we were even treated with dessert. I always order the chicken pate as it never disappoints. Juan is a professional who takes pride in his work and is very knowledgeable. Thanks you!!! read more

Top performance in all categories! My new favorite place to take guests in SB! Veggie selection especially creative and of course pizza is a winner! read more

Pretty outdoor area. Food was pretty tasteless. I would avoid especially for the price. read more

Convivo Restaurant and Bar - Peach pizza not very good I would avoid - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Shout out to the banquet team here! Mark and his team were kind friendly and so helpful while serving our friend's wedding reception! Make sure to circle around the bar and find Devon, she kills it on the drinks from the creatives to curation and served w smile and laugh! Best service around town read more

Me and my family went here for a Mother's Day dinner and we were absolutely in love! When we when there was a specialty fish dish and it was great and come with lots of sides and dips and was huge and the server brought out the fish before they sliced it! The restaurant was so beautiful, clean, and we got to see the sunset while eating dessert! The lemon tart was so good but the only thing that was disappointing was the cheesecake which tasted mostly like a block of cream cheese. Overall this restaurant is amazing and we will definitely be going again!!! read more

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Service was amazing and food was great! Juan was a great server and made our night! We will definitely be coming back next time we are in the area! read more

Convivo Restaurant and Bar - Hugo Spritz - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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We hosted our wedding reception dinner at Convivo for 27 people in the outdoor patio. Everyone loved the food and drinks. There were several options to choose from among starters, 2 entrees, 2 sides, and a dessert. It was plenty of food that everyone loved! The only down sides for us were some of the service. Some servers were great, while others were less so. They initially said they'd need to cut into our top layer of our cake which we had hoped to save, but then didn't end up needing it so just sort of needlessly cut into it. They also weren't particularly kind or helpful when we were having a crisis about where to store the cake. We were staying in the Santa Barbara Inn above the hotel and the cake would not fit in the fridge in the box it came in. There were a couple of other minor service things as well that made it a less than perfect experience, but overall, the food was good. We also had breakfast here a couple of mornings and enjoyed the yogurt parfait and the breakfast sandwich. read more

Convivo Restaurant and Bar - Greek yogurt bowl - Bars Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Had the absolute best dinner here with my boyfriend to end our day trip to Santa Barbra on 5/25/25! The restaurant itself is beautiful and we were sat on a lovely, comfortable booth right by the pizza oven. We ordered drinks, starters, mains, and dessert so it was a really special meal. Service was 10/10. Our waiter had the best recommendations! Everything tasted and looked incredible. My boyfriend loved all the seafood and my personal fav was either the brussel sprouts or my chicken dish. So flavourful and cooked to perfection. We left no crumbs! read more

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