On a recent trip, I was famished with not much time between flights. After looking at the crowded fast food joints with no place to sit, I saw Ember restaurant close by. What a difference, the restaurant had comfortable seating and you could get a drink with your meal, if you wanted to. One thing that was really nice was the speed, you can order from your phone or have a real person take your order. I chose the person and in less than ten minutes, the hot wings I ordered were in front of me. The menu has a lot of choices and it's expensive, but this is a quality restaurant, especially for a sit down meal in an airport. A lady nearby had the glass of wine, crab cakes and salad, which was the meal I would have ordered if there had been more time. The wings were flavorful and my soda was refilled without asking. Things go smoothly and fast in this restaurant, you don't need to worry about missing a flight because of slow service. I would definitely enjoy another meal at Ember, they are used to serving travelers good food and there is a bar if you only want a drink. Definitely recommended! read more

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Probably my 5th time eating here. Quality of service has taken a nose dive. Dont even think about eating at the little tables in the "bar area." Yuu will get absolutely zero service. The bar tender; dude in his mid to upper fifties with glasses and a scruffy graying beard only pays attention to the patrons right at the bar on stools - mainly the women. Says he doesn't even know if the restaurant has BBQ sauce - which BTW they do. It's Texas duh. Have always liked this place but today was not good. French fries are quite saggy and were cool and limp. Think - a safari and seeing the old saggy elephant with its Schlong just sagging and hanging there. That's like the fries here. 1 out 10 score for the awful fries. Tipping before you even get food or service. So f'ing ridiculous. Why would I ever come back. Plenty of other option in the terminal. read more

Food Fried Chicken Sandwich: 9/10; the sandwich was surprisingly delicious. The potato bun was soft, and the hot, crispy chicken filet was tender and flavorful. The slaw added a nice textural contrast. Fries: 7/10; The seasoning was on point, but unfortunately the fries arrived lukewarm and could have been crispier. Served fresh and hot, these would easily earn an 8 or 9. Blackberry Lemonade Sparkler: 9/10; As a fan of Real brand purees, I had high expectations and wasn't disappointed. The drink was both tasty and refreshing--exactly what I needed. My only complaint is the heavy-handed ice, which left me wishing for more actual beverage. Ambiance I used the seating area near gate C14, which operates outside the main restaurant space. The bar-style tables feature QR codes at each seat, allowing you to order and have food delivered right to you--a system I wish every airport would adopt. The area was clean, spacious, and pleasantly uncrowded during my visit. Service Service was efficient if somewhat barebones. My server dropped off the food quickly, though my drink didn't arrive until he returned 10 minutes later. read more

Ember - Fried Chicken Sandwich - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ember is a prominent brand in the IAH airport. The restaurant itself is pretty and was clearly installed as a modern, high-end option for travelers. Even though I had to order through a QR code, my server was still very attentive and checked on me often. I am giving Ember only two stars because my salad was not good, and was also insanely expensive. The shrimp avocado salad was packed with acid that could not be balanced. Between the lime and tomatillo vinaigrette, which tasted like straight lime juice, and the pickled onions, I could barely stomach a few bites. As someone who often eats in the Miami and LA metro areas, for a salad like this to cost $28 in the Houston airport is absurd. I could get a similar salad for less while sitting beachfront. This was a disappointing dining experience. read more

Ember - Shrimp and avocado salad - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Pasta was very try and had very little flavor. The salad was good. The wine was just okay. The service was pretty slow especially for a major airport that wasn't especially crowded that day. It was also pretty pricey even for an airport. read more

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I landed at 1708, and as I exited gate C30, I immediately started to look for a restaurant. Besides, as most folks know, sitting in the economy section only gets you a soda and a bag of nuts. So, yeah, I was hungry, but not to the extreme. As I headed towards my next gate, I noticed Ember, but I thought, "Maybe I can find one of those Whataburger joints, especially since I'm in Houston, Texas." Wrong. Why would they have a Whataburger? It's not like it's a Texas thing. So, I walked past Ember, the first restaurant I saw, but kept looking. I saw El Premio, H-Burger, Panda Express, Steak N Shake, and two or three Starbucks. I eventually returned to Ember because it was the only sit-down restaurant with a server. My server was Ria, and she was so cordial. She went above and beyond to work with me on my order, and my glass was never empty. She wasn't overly chatty but observant. I noticed that she assisted other staff members, too. Hopefully, she will make it to the management level. Of course, I do what I always do, and I mentioned that I lip-read and was Deaf. Doing this helped me interact with Ria. A notepad and pen, or at least facing me, works for the majority of the time. If only more folks were like Ria and didn't have to be told or instructed to think outside the box. Luckily, I wasn't asked to use the QR code to order like other Yelps, which mentioned the debacle and hassle of using it. Sadly, I am witnessing more and more technology being used to hinder human interactions instead of making them more manageable. I had zero issues with the food, which was a thick burger. It was even better than my burger at Elway's at the Denver (DEN) airport. Sure, it was pricey, but you're at the airport, and everything is expensive. So, two choices: pay or starve. Finally, it was neat that they had a wood-burning stove and continuously brought wood in on a wheel barrel. This was the first time I had seen this at a restaurant in all my airports. read more

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I think everyone should set their expectations when they go into (most) airports. I've had some pretty bad experiences in my life, but Ember was NOT one of them. We did not have to use the QR code, the server took care of us - a win. We did not have to wait for a seat or a table and had plenty of space for our bags. I ordered a salad with chicken added and it was a huge serving. Hubby got fish and chips and I stole a few bites (plus the fries, of course) and it was perfectly fine. My campari sprtiz was delicious and his Moscow Mule was solid. I'd come back again if I'm on this side of IAH. No major qualms here! read more

Ember - Menu - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The ambiance and the warm welcome was such a refreshing change for an airport restaurant / bar. I had the pleasure of of meeting the nice bartender ever named Eisha McKinney. What a welcomed surprise if freshness. Kindness and pure sweetness. As I was walking through the airport I was kindly welcomed by Tiffany as I strode by to the restroom and she was so nice I had to come back and get a few drinks while I had a 3 hour layover. The food was fantastic and the drinks weren't measured to a lame shot but a friendly "cheers" shot which had me come back for a couple more. I live in Dallas and usually take a direct flight but because of these fantastic ladies I think I'll fly though IAH a bit more just for the warm company. Well done Embers ! Well done ! read more

Ember - Eisha the best bartender in IAH !! - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I'm not a huge fan of QR code ordering, probably because I grew up in an analogue childhood. This one wasn't complicated to work through so that was good. Tables weren't very clean and had that sticky layer if you had your arms resting on them. I ordered breakfast and a cold brew coffee. The breakfast was good and filled me up for my flight home. They initially brought hot black coffee and it took them some work to figure out my coffee order. It seems their interface separates drink orders and it's not clear for them what table ordered what. Not the servers fault but their QR ordering process needs an update. read more

Ember - Spinach and mushroom eggs open face with sour cream. - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Dishes are very expensive, and the food is very bland to off-putting. Random pasta was at the bottom of my poutine and what looked like corn. No one stopped by the table until I was packing up to leave. System asks to tip before server does anything. It's just a miss for me. read more

Ember - Random pasta at the bottom of my poutine. - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

We had a different experience. Our server was exceptional. Much better service than I would expect at an airport. She made recommendations, kept our drinks full and was generally pleasant. The atmosphere is nice with lots of seating. The food was very good. I had the short to b fettuccine. Very tasty and very rich. The Caesar I had with it was excellent too. My wife had the crab cakes. Again, tasty and rich. Probably my best airport meal ever. read more

The hostess seated us away from the busy restaurant and bar area which we liked. We just wanted a cocktail before our flight. I got a Dirty Martini gin. Very nice. Good place to relax before our flight. read more

Ember - Dirty martini - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I had a loooong layover at IAH and wanted a good meal to hold me over until my flight. Ember was the perfect choice! I ordered a red ale and the short rib fettuccine, which was absolutely delicious and full of flavor. The service was excellent as well--friendly, attentive, and really made me feel taken care of. For an airport restaurant, Ember exceeded my expectations. I'd definitely come back next time I'm flying through Houston! read more

Stopped in for a beer before my flight. Quick easy and efficient. In the middle of terminal C where you have your United Flights flying in and out. Has beers, cocktails, food and a casual vibe to relax before takeoff. read more

Ember - TX Karbach Brewing Hopadillo Hazy IPA before the flight. - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Overpriced and extremely mediocre food. I ordered the turkey avocado club and wanted sweet potato fries but the sweet potato fries were only offered as a side costing $9.99 and could not be subbed for the regular fries that came with a turkey sandwich. I ordered them anyway sucking it up. Sweet potato fries came out hot but obviously previously frozen from a bag. Edible but meh. The turkey avocado sandwich was triple-decker with bacon, but super sad tasting with like the cheap deli turkey from the grocery store with a little bit of prepackaged avocado spread and a little bit of bacon on some super sad white bread. On a positive side my server was very attentive and quick and offered a sample of a glass of wine as I was trying to decide. I was not aware that I was tipping 20% when I paid my bill right after ordering, but again at least the service was attentive. Overall, Ember looked like it would have good quality food, but sadly did not. It would be amazing if IAH could offer some actually good food in this spot. read more

As far as the food goes, it was very good. This is an airport bar/eatery so it was very overpriced but given I had a 7hr layover in Houston, I had to eat something. The parmesan broccoli was very good, very buttery and steamed perfectly. The carrots were tender with just the right amount of pop in the center. I did need to add some additional pepper to both but I really like pepper so I wasn't surprised by this. The fries were crispy and flavorful as well. This location in terminal C was well located for my gates and o didn't have to wait even though it was very busy in the terminal and lunch time. Bring an airport location, it was quite loud as there were travelers and staff hustling around the airport. There were no TVs or anything to keep me busy so I chose to work while I sat. There was power at each table so you could plug in phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Other than the price point, Ember is a good spot to enjoy some real food while traveling thru Houston. read more

Ember - Food was really well prepared and packed with flavor - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

The fried chicken sandwich was absolutely phenomenal. It was tender and tasted fresh, it was everything one could hope for in a fried chicken sandwich. I dipped it in buffalo sauce which elevated the experience, but it is good on its own. Highly recommend. read more

Sure, it's expensive. Eggs, bacon, and potatoes for $22 (tip included) is a bit much, but you cannot go too wrong with breakfast. The service in the morning is cordial and prompt. The food did its job. It didn't upset the stomach and fueled me for my flight! If it was a bit cheaper, I'd enjoy it more, but nonetheless it's a good place to relax and eat. Cheers! read more

Ember - Scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Honestly, the overpriced burger was delicious. It was a sad meal for Christmas Day, but at least I was on my way elsewhere. Glad I chose this over lounge snacks or fast food. I love ordering from an app when I don't want to chit chat read more

Beautiful place in Houston airport. We ordered bacon cheese and egg sandwich with diced potatoes. We had two orders and it was $43. I asked for some water, but it never came. I asked for napkins and silverware. Maybe I didn't pay enough for the service. read more

Ember - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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They use the QR code to order, which is normally fine. But because of this, the servers never check on you or bring you water. We had to go up to the bar for water and coke refills. The food is terrible. No one enjoyed their meal and everything was over $20. My 2 year old wouldn't even eat the buttered pasta. Nashville chicken sandwich was bland and mostly crust. Turkey club was mediocre with brownish guac and served with about 7 french fries. This made an Already horrible travel day that much worse. read more

Decent enough airport food. Service was standard, some of the tables were dirty, prices are high but you're in an airport, seating is spacious. Food was super salty. I ordered the mushroom and spinach omelet, needed 2 glasses of water (not easy to come by). Asked for my mimosas to be light on oj, no dice. The servers were fine. I did enjoy the seating area though! It's a useful location as it's right in the middle with lots of seating. It met my needs. read more

Ember - The spinach & mushroom omelet. Fairly decent - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Edit: We got our refund. Look, the food is good, the people are nice there, but I think mgmt needs to take the blame. 1. Have the same server assigned to each table, not random roamers. 2. Train each server on what should happen when somebody has an issue with food. (Review): So it gets worse. We were promised by the manager there that we could get a refund and when we checked a week later on our corporate credit card, there was no refund. When you go to their website, there is no way to enable you to talk to a human. No phone number , no email, just a web form. OTG is the name of the owner of Ember, horrible customer experience at all levels. read more

IAH AIRPORT / AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY/ 11-15-22 / DINNER +The Houston Poutine (19.99) was filling. +The Side House Salad (5.00) was a nice edition to the entree. -This restaurant inside terminal C has so much potential, so I am hoping management makes some changes based on suggestions in these Yelp reviews. -The chicken wings looked of low quality, breaded, and they use Frank's Red Hot Sauce; please use better quality non-breaded buffalo wings and offer up some other sauces. -I would like to see different appetizers or entree options, or maybe even a specialized dish that only Embers offers (besides the poutine). I noticed Bam Bam was packed full of patrons during the dinner rush, while Embers was quite empty. read more

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Avoid at all costs!!! Food quality is horrendous! I ordered a grilled steak sandwich during a layover and it came out burnt beyond belief and completely inedible. Was charged $43.11 for a sandwich that couldn't be eaten was ridiculous. I immediately returned it and was told that I had to request a refund through the app. Here we are, 3 weeks later and still no refund. There's no phone number or email to call customer service to complain. You have to do everything through the app which they make it impossible to do. I recommend you don't waste your money. There is no quality control with the food and it's totally overpriced. No servers to help. Only runners. read more

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Pricy spot for food in Houston airport, but everything I got was good. The restaurant is located in the C terminal. I had a couple hours layover at IAH, so I was looking for a place to catch up on work emails over lunch and a glass of wine, and Ember fit the bill nicely. All the ordering is done via the tablets at each table, which makes things quite convenient. There are laptop and USB charger ports at each table as well, so overall the setting was quite high tech and convenient for anyone who wants to get some work done on their laptop or tablet. I went with the short rib fettuccine for $29.99 and added a crab cake for $9.90, and also got a glass of sauvignon blanc for $15. Like I said, it's not a cheap spot for food. But everything I got was great. The short ribs were tender and went well with the fettuccine. The crab cake was very flavorful. Overall, I'd say this is a good place to dine but only if you can get the meal reimbursed. read more

Ember - short rib fettuccine ($29.99 + crab cake for $9.90), glass of sauvignon blanc ($15) - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This is horrible place to eat. I tried ordering a small plate and I was told no because I'm an adult. I spoke to the waitress and told her I don't eat that much a small plate would do it , she said NO you have to order something else. Not only she pushed me to order a big expensive plate but the attitude was even worse. On top of everything she gave herself a 18% tip which she didn't even asked for or deserved. Her name is Nelly and I tried to speak to her manager just to say if someone is trying to other a small plate , allow them to not everyone eats a lot. The manager didn't care about my polite suggestion. He kept trying to walk away and ignore me. Over all a horrible experience while visiting Houston. This place was near my gate that's why I chose to eat here. read more

This was pretty disappointing. I was okay with a $19 sandwich assuming it tastes like a non-airport sandwich, but instead, this $19 sandwich tasted like a school lunch sandwich. Prices steep, service slow and really didn't care, and ambiance was pretty much non-existent. The table was sticky, but I already ordered so the food was coming to the table anyway so I couldn't really move. Shocked Chris Shepherd would want his name affiliated with this place. It's bad when you wish you're eating your $19 sandwich looking at the tastier $7 sandwiches at the food court across the walkway. Next time I'll join those wise people. read more

Ember - Turkey Club and Diet Coke - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Landing in Houston after a long trip. My family was really tired and hungry. We found Ember Restaurant close to our departure gate (C14) and were quickly greeted and seated. My daughter spotted poutine on the menu and we decided to share it while we waited for our main meal of fish and chips. The poutine was surprisingly good! The fish and chips were also pretty good as well. Everything was served quickly and the server was attentive and efficient. I will recommend Ember as a good sit down restaurant in the Houston airport. read more

WOW!! Check my yelp history... I don't ever post reviews. THIS RESTAURANT calls for it! This isn't an airport spot. This is an eatery. If you're an active traveler like myself, finding good quality and healthy food at an airport is not happening. This place delivered on ALL fronts. - service - speed - QUALITY FOOD - reasonable price SO impressed I was compelled to write this review!!! Short rib poutine was the t*ts!!!! read more

We had a little time to kill in the Houston airport on a stopover, and hadn't eaten yet that day. The restaurant has an attractive sitting area and bar, and I wanted a couple of cocktails to start off our vacation. There really weren't too many appetizing things on the menu, as I am generally not terribly fond of really heavy foods while I'm traveling. The restaurant doesn't have much on the way of service. You scan the QR code and then order and pay on your phone. It is the bizarre thing where you are asked to give a tip before your food even arrives, or you even speak to anyone. We each chose a cocktail and then shared the crab cakes and my husband ordered a plate of fries. We were able to order just fine, but later when we wanted another round of cocktails, and we had some issues with the wifi, which made ordering quite difficult. I ordered a strong but tasty drink called Aviation. It was quite good. The crab cakes were basic and edible at best. I didn't try the fries. My husband ordered a mule and liked it well enough to order a second. I thought it was odd how long it took for the drinks to arrive given the fact that it wasn't busy. I felt that the food was just too expensive for the quality, and I didn't like the ordering system. read more

Ember - Aviation - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I should have looked up reviews before sitting down and ordering, but the clock was ticking before my flight. I ordered the all American burger. $22 for a burger. Yes, I know I'm at an airport, but that's high so it better be a damn good burger. It wasn't. I literally saw them pull my burger patty off their holding lamp, precooked, and make it. Did I mention I ordered it "medium"? It came out like a well done hockey puck. I would have been better off with an overpriced Wendy's burger just around the corner. The only redeeming qualities of my meal were the fries, which were very good, and having a Goose Island IPA with the meal. Bottom line...get a burger from Wendy's to bring in the plane. Stop here for a beer before you board. read more

Ember - Overcooked, precooked burger - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was not feeling well as I had a hectic week travelling, driving and flying to visit family and friends. I looked around Houston's International Airport and could not find anything appetizing. But, Ember (restaurant) is located nearby my gate, so I ordered the salmon salad, and a gingerbeer. The salad had a crispy medium size salmon with arugula. The portion was just right. I am writing this review about one server in their staff: Nelly Baron. She was attentive at explaining ingredients, she came by my table asking if I needed anything else. She was social and engaging! I am grateful for the conversation we had. Thank you Nelly for taking the time. You are a super star! read more

Ember - Houston's airport. - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The food was expensive for no reason. The good was delivered like warm like it was sitting there for a while. But I'm really beside is the waitress was nice and all but was sneaky.. my daughter didn't want the veggies and lady said she could get more fries at not charge but charged me. Then you don't get a check they put it on the iPad and ask for payment before delivery off food.. the waitress took it on herself to put a 15.00 tip. I asked the so called manager and she said it was suppose to give me a option but I didn't get one. I just feel I got violated about how much I was forced to tip. Lesson learned but never again. 2 meals 2 drinks $105.00 not worth it!! read more

Ember - Braised Beef fettuccine - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I'll preface this with three things: I eat here every time I can in flying out of my nearest airport (IAH), I've only eaten steak here, and I just read through many of the reviews today. I agree with many reviewers that the smell of the post oak embers beckons you in. Many seem to agree with me that at Gate C4, yes, your taste buds are about to enjoy an explosive time in the best possible way. Yes, the service is not the strong suit here. Forgotten cutlery, being restricted to Covid-era QR online ordering is a mandatory thing, and having to pay the tip before service are indeed the reality here. The service I'd say is a 3. Despite the airport terminal surroundings, the atmosphere is a 4. But this is a Chris Shepard restaurant, and the steak to still technically a 5 to me (or at the least at times a 4.6) and I've ordered many different cuts here. I was stunned to see my favorite place in the George Bush Intercontinental Airport/IAH clock in at a 2.1 average and with over 900 reviews. Ember does need to consider its customers and ditch the QR thing. Opt for tried-and-true service by waitstaff. With that friendly Houston touch. I believe this, but also chuckled when I noted that the 1 star reviews are posted by people that clearly fall into two groups. One are the Karens so many love to hate... 2.1 or 4.1 star average, I know where I'm heading right before my next trip out of IAH :) Now just to decide between the NY Strip and the Skirt steak with Chimichurri sauce and jicama slaw... read more

Ember - NY Strip - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Corporate/management, you might want to take a closer look. They will only take your orders through a digital system. Now this would make sense at tables that are far from the kitchen, but that would be assuming the interface wasn't clunky and nearly unusable (which it is). But for the bar, it's essentially placed half of the job of the bartender onto the customer. I.E. Open up your phone, scan our QR code which opens a clunky hard-to-navigate menu, and then manually enter your debit card info, and YES that is ONLY way you are allowed to order from the bar. Removes all human/friendly interaction that you expect from dealing with a bartender. In the course of 15 minutes, I watched 5-7 people leave the bar because they were confused and unable to get actual help from a human. What's each of those tabs worth combined? At very MINIMUM $100. And that was just my side of the bar. So you're effectively losing 100's of dollars in tabs by the HOUR. Your reviews are already so poor because of this. The bright side is, you have a fairly kind staff, excellent location, and plenty of options to offer. Why not maximize your profits by making digital ordering an OPTION instead of a mandatory duty? Just my 2 cents! Hope it helps! I hate to see technology actually do more sabotage than the benefits it promises you know? read more

Ember - Confusion... - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Insane prices for the food quality. Heres their $20 "breakfast taco" two different insisted had fresh scrambled eggs in it after showing it to them. We gave up eventually and just went to the food court. read more

Ember - Breakfast Tacos - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I ordered the smoked salmon seasoned with pastrami spices over toasted bagel and smashed avocado. Topped with crumbled feta cheese, minced chives, and mesclun greens. I marked *no cheese* when I ordered. What I received was a generous helping of smoked salmon (no pastrami spices). The bagel was not toasted. With creme cheese, capers, pico, and avocado. With a side of greens dressed in green salsa. The main problem is that that the greens were covered in a green salsa and the bagel was also covered in pico. I'm allergic to green chili and it was not even remotely noted anywhere that this was going to be on my meal. I generally stay away from anything spicy or questionable especially when traveling and this came so far out of left field. I had to take a handful of Benadryl and hope to make it through my flight OK. This place put my life in danger and if you have allergies I'd be really careful about ordering here. Their menu is not accurate. read more

Believe these reviews! Pitiful place. You pay in advance, including a tip that they add on and never see them again. The prices are high, which I generally do not mind but do expect quality. This stuff was terrible. read more

Ember - Rotten arugula in a $30 salad!!! - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I am shocked that the reviews are so low, I enjoyed both food and drink at Ember while waiting for my flight. Ember also has integrated mobile ordering in their seats so you can scan and pay on your phone and your food and drinks get delivered to you. Food portions were pretty large and the drinks were tasty. The prices were a little high for what you get but considering it's at an airport it's to be expected. Our flight got delayed so we ended up working on our computers at the bar for a while and the seats were comfortable and we were able to get power to our devices pretty easily. read more

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