I was in Chicago for work and stumbled into La Scarola looking for an old school Italian meal. It didn't fail. The grilled octopus was the best I've ever had. Perfect char, tender, and full of flavor. The sausage and peppers were fantastic. As someone who makes homemade sausage, that's not a compliment I give lightly. They made me a linguini and calamari fra diavolo style that wasn't even on the menu. It was outstanding. The wine was great, the service was warm, and the atmosphere was, well, just go. I sat down alone and within an hour was talking to people around the restaurant. Felt like the kind of restaurant that's been part of people's lives for years. Food 9/10 Atmosphere 9/10 Experience 10/10 I'll be back every time I'm in Chicago. read more

La Scarola - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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On an odd stretch of West Grand is where old and new Chicago collide. Old Chicago are three story post-fire brick buildings, rehabbed hybrid buildings and new shiny buildings. Nestled in old Chicago is La Scarola, a timeless "Ay-talian" restaurant that only takes reservations by voice mail. After several years of trying to, we got a table for two for our anniversary. If you drive, there is valet parking - or go through the alley north one block and park on the street. You are greeted by the owner who showed us into a very noisy room with an explosion of old photographs and posters. We were taken through three zig-zags to a back room and sat at a paper covers table. The menu has all the greatest hits of an American Italian supper club with meat or surf/turf combinations. We ordered two glasses of Chianti, asparagus with red peppers, the gnocchi with rapini and their famous vodka pasta. The service is good. The food is average but in very large portions sizes. If you combine the environment, food and service this place makes sense. Dinner for two was $150 with tip. Next time we would order one appetizer and one dish and no wine. It is worth a visit. read more

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Great food, good vibes, and quick service. They only take reservations via phone and you'll want one as it is packed. We tried: - Calamari - Chicken Vesuvio - Pasta Mandera - Tiramisu - Canoli I will definitely be back! read more

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What a fabulous place!. Old school Italian, a classic Italian restaurant celebrating decades of success. We started with a grilled octopus appetizer which was so tender and fresh for our entrees. We had the Chilean sea bass and the penne a la vodka with shrimps, mushrooms and asparagus. We finished up with the vanilla sorbet which was so delicious smelling of fresh vanilla beans. What a fantastic meal service was great and the entire environment felt so welcoming and full of life. The food was completely delicious. We will return. read more

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From start to finish our experience was amazing! We were welcomed with a warm smile. Seated immediately, we did have reservations and they are highly recommended. They were packed. This reminds me of a typical restaurant in Italy and it was quaint. We ordered several dishes and shared them family style. We will be back! read more

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I highly recommend calling to get a reservation since it can get very busy and would require a long wait. We had the best Italian food I have ever had! We had the bruschetta that was well seasoned, light and crisp, pasta Mandera (which I didn't get a picture of) but was beyond tasty and perfectly cooked! The creamy vodka sauce tastes delicious and this dish has a hit of garlic that sits well! I got the Panne Alla vodka which had a perfect ratio of shrimp, mushroom and asparagus. Although it initially seemed heavy the asparagus was a great pallet cleanser. There was a special that we had tried that was a variation of a carbonara that was are least favorite out of the three just due to the intense garlic taste and a sauce that was a little to thin. All of it tasted delicious over all and we will definitely be back! It was great to see the meals others ordered! They had big helpings that were great as left overs the next day! This can be pricy but I would say worth it. If you like a white wine their New Zealand Sauvignon blanc was lite and fruity that completed well. read more

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Finally made it to La Scarola after having it on my list forever. It's one of those old-school Italian spots everyone talks about, and it definitely delivers on that classic vibe. Reservations are a bit unconventional. We showed up right when they opened, put our name in, and came back around 8pm and they had a table for us. It's very casual and informal, so you could probably put your name in and go do something nearby, or just try your luck walking in. They don't take online reservations, and I did notice a few open tables while we were there, so walking in is definitely possible. The space itself is pretty tight and can feel cramped and loud. Personally, I didn't mind it, it reminded me of old-school Italian spots back home in Jersey but it's worth noting that this probably isn't the best place for a quiet date or if you're trying to have long conversations. Service was solid and quick. I started with a dirty martini, which was very good. We shared the calamari to start, and honestly, it was some of the best calamari we've ever had. Perfectly fried, not too heavy, and ideal for sharing. For my entrée, I got the rigatoni chiaverni, and for $24, it might be the largest plate of pasta I've ever been served. I came in starving and still only managed to eat half -- finished the rest the next day. The portion size combined with the quality makes the value here absolutely insane. Overall, La Scarola definitely lives up to the hype. Incredible value, great food, and that classic old-school Italian atmosphere, just be prepared for it to be loud and a little crammed. read more

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Loved the classic italian and cozy vibes in here!! I had the lasagna and it was very tasty, but could've had more meat in the sauce. Definitely would come back here for a good italian meal. You can make reservations via phone but the check in process is slightly chaotic-- but worth it! read more

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Pictures below from 2022. Saw this review sitting in my drafts and what a shame - I remember La Scarola being absolutely incredible. Hearty plates, authentic and comforting food, and immersive vibes. It's a place that caters to all for all occasions. Pick anything off of the menu and you would not be disappointed. read more

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What a huge disappointment. This restaurant has been one of my all-time favorites and tonight I returned after many years of being away. We were rushed through our meal with our waiter kept asking and returning to the table to ask if we wanted to order while we attempted to enjoy a cocktail. Then he kept returning to see if we wanted anything else. It was very warm out this evening and obviously with the heat outside it didn't help, but it was also incredibly warm in the restaurant. Sadly an unpleasant experience all the way around. Unfortunately, the entree was also mediocre, but my continual observation was the waiter wanted us to eat and get out. As I said earlier, a very unpleasant experience. I'll leave my memories as they are and I won't be returning. . read more

We're in Chicago from Pittsburgh for our Sons graduation from Columbia. This is where he wanted to take us. The food, staff and ambiance were amazing! Having Valet parking available was a huge bonus on a Saturday night! Francesco made it perfect. read more

Came here with my parents pretty early on a weekend evening and we were seated immediately for our reservation. Food comes out almost as fast as you order it. Tried the escarole soup for the name, which I enjoyed. The shrimp pasta my mother ordered was her favorite things she's eaten this year. The spaghetti was full but we wish we would've requested more sauce to it. I ordered off menu for a Chicken Parmesan, which they said they could do since they have the ingredients, and I was happy for it. Everything is on the touch saltier side. Ambiance is homey with lots of pictures on the wall, feels like a long established place and the waiters were kind. read more

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We just flew in yesterday from Texas and this restaurant had been recommended to us. The place was very busy our server Brandon was excellent. The food was great. Everything came out quickly. Portions were huge would strongly recommend this place. read more

La Scarola - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came in for a family meal and loved the vibes, it was very old school NYC/NJ type and the staff was beyond awesome, really friendly and full of jokes which made the experience this much better. The tables are close together, it's loud, the walls are covered in photos of the owners and celebrities. The service is quick and easy and the food portions are huge. We started off with the sausage and peppers, the fried calamari, and the muscles in red sauce- our favorite being the sausage and peppers. It took a simple dish but elevated it with the pepper preparation (they were a bit singed but tasty). For our mains, we all tried something different. Don't hesitate to ask them to customize something for you - they made my father in law chicken marsala even though it wasn't on the menu. The spicy meatball with rigatoni dish was my favorite - it was unique and fantastic. We all loved our meals and had a ton of leftovers. Do not sleep on the tiramisu or the cannoli's - both were fantastic, creamy but not overly decadent. We finished the night with espresso martinis (my favorite I tried in the city), limoncello shots, and a dirty martini (they have blue cheese olives!). read more

La Scarola - Meatballs in a spicy sauce with rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great spots for authentic Italian, huge portions and on the cheaper side! Staff was all very friendly and everything came out quickly! Bread was placed on the table right when we sat down! Very cute spot, old school Italian. I got a dirty martini, this was great, icy cold and extra dirty! For an app we got the clams. These were amazing. The sauce was so good, made for a good sauce to dip your bread in! I got the pasta Lorenzo and my boyfriend got the pasta Mandera. Both were great, the chicken in both was very good. I liked the pasta mandera a bit more! read more

La Scarola - Pasta Lorenzo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yum!! I felt like a hardworking Nonna was in the back of the kitchen cooking a hearty no fancy pants Italian meal for me and the other five people I came with. Everything we had was delicious.  Appetizers: We got the bruschetta and asparagus for appetizers which neither of the dishes disappointed! Both were perfect bites. We got their special soup and the soup ended up being one of my favorite items we got. It was perfectly hearty yet not super heavy on the stomach.  Pasta: We tried their broccoli special, vodka pasta, eggplant parm, veal, and meatballs. Everything was great! The standout for us was the eggplant parm because of cheesy and saucy it was. The meatballs were stuffed with cheese and cooked for perfection. The broccoli special and vodka pasta was what my soul needed. The veal was a little too oily for me, but overall the veal wasn't overly breaded.  Dessert: It'd come back for the tiramisu. My god. One of the best tiramisu's I have ever had in my life.  Drinks: They do basic martinis and espresso martinis. We got two bottles of wine which were affordable (obviously supercharged because restaurant price).  Space: the space is larger than you'd expect. The tables are quite close together - it gives you very much an old school NYC Italian restaurant vibe from the 80s/90s. The chaos is all almost good restaurant chaos. It makes you feel transported.  Overall, it'd love to come back when they first open instead of closer to the end of the night. The wait at this place is crazy long. We had reservations for 830 and didn't get seated until close to 930 (other people with our reservation time that had smaller groups were seated around 9/915). It didn't bother us since we were a big group and we were able to run to the bar across the street and hang out for a little bit of time, but just a fair warning to anyone who makes a reservation ahead of time! read more

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You cannot beat the portion sizes here for the prices you pay! The pasta plates were extremely generous you'll be leaving with so much leftovers. The calamari and mussels are a must try! Calamari was perfectly crispy and not overcooked, and the sauce on the clams were soo good we even dipped our bread into it. Only downside of the experience was how busy it was. We had a reservation for 6:30 but didn't get seated until closer to 8:30. However, they did give us complimentary wine and a fun shot for the long wait! read more

Bday celebration Party of 3 no reservation tuesday, but the staff acomodate us rigth way We order wine,brushetta, rissoto primavera pasta & shrimps ,gnocchi whit sausage and sundried tomatoes, big portions we got left overs for next day , capuchino and tiramisu all delicious staff on point see you soon again Hbd to us read more

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This was an amazing restaurant in every aspect. The meal the staff and the ambiance were a step above other great Italian restaurants we've enjoyed. Would highly recommend. read more

La Scarola - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Là Scarola is one of my favorite restaurant in the city. If anything, it's probably my favorite. I've recommended it to many people and they all said the food is amazing. FOOD: Everything is great there but my favorites are the grilled octopus, baked clams, and shrimp armani. The best dish there is the Penne Sinatra. It's a Alla vodka pasta with shrimp, mussels, and scallops. They definitely don't skimp on the seafood. The seafood there is so fresh and cooked to perfection! Penne Sinatra is not on main menu but on the specials. I've ask for it when it was not on the menu and they were still able to make it for me. Definitely don't skip the tiramisu even if you're full. It's one of the best tiramisu I've ever had. SERVICE: the service is always top notch! Everyone is super nice and attentive. It's pretty impressive because they're always busy. I think the only down side is that they're always busy. I've gone on a Thursday night and had reservations and they were still really busy. The wait can be annoying, especially of you've make reservations but it's well worth it because the food is sooo good. La Scarola is a very old school Italian place with pictures hanging up on the wall. From the outside it looks small and nothing special but it has two more dining rooms. Definitely check out Là Scarola if you're in Chicago. read more

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We've gone to La Scarola for 25 years. The pasta is always delicious. While we are happy for the owners that La Scarola has gained in popularity, it's become less of an attractive neighborhood spot. We went for my mother's birthday and I had to text twice and call three times for a reservation. We mentioned it was her birthday and there was no acknowledgement from the server. It was so loud (on a Thursday) that we couldn't hear each other at our small table of four. My salmon was overcooked - something I've ordered a dozen times. They were removing our plates (both appetizers and mains) while we were still eating. Sadly, as much as we have loved La Scarola over the years, I'm not sure when we'll be back. Be sure to ask for a table in the back. read more

La Scarola is a favorite of mine in Chicago -- it feels super authentic, the staff is wonderful and super friendly, and the food is so so good. I typically get the salmon (after destroying bread and butter) and then the tiramisu. I love how when you're inside the restaurant you feel like you've been transported back in time a little bit (none of those lame neon lights or "modern" Italian takes) -- the dishes are huge (as they should be). read more

La Scarola - Salmon - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We traveled to Chicago from Hawaii and a manager of another restaurant, said La Scarola was his favorite. They answered the phone at 10:30pm and a made an upcoming reservation. Unpretentious, reminded me of my father in laws bar room. A place where family gathers to laugh and eat old school Italian meals. Everything we ordered was delicious. Mahalo Armando! read more

Definitely worth a try. They take reservations over the phone so make sure to make one if you're planning to dine-in because the place is BUSY. We came in on a Saturday for an early dinner (5pm) and it was already packed. Our group had different dishes, everyone was very happy and satisfied. We tried the MEATBALLS & SPAGHETTI, MEAT LASAGNA, VITELLO BERTUCCI and, MAFALDINE PASTA. The portions were big and they were all prepared very well. Service was efficient and friendly. Just a heads up, it is VERY LOUD inside. I would not recommend La Scarola if you are looking for a quiet place to have a meal. The dinner crowd was vibrant, happy, and lively. I will definitely come back here to try other dishes. I liked how delicious and fresh each dish was. Til next time! read more

La Scarola - Specials 11.9.24 - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic food, classic homey Italian family ambiance, love seeing all of the framed pictures of past "famous" patrons all over the walls. Service was super strong for our group and quite speedy, even on a super busy Friday night. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu, personally got the Penne Alla Vodka and loved it so much (still think about it from time to time). read more

La Scarola - Penne Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I thought I'd had goo vodka pasta at Elina's or other popular Chicago Italian spots, but I quickly realized I'd never had read vodka sauce until eating at La Scarola. I love a waiter who is chippy and knows his shit without being too busy to talk us through the menu and this was achieved. The ambiance was quintessential old-l school Italian with pictures of the owner amid various famous people. The bartender flirted so hard with my mom we got a free glass of wine and limoncello (don't tell the owner). My mom was enamored! Will be taking anyone who visits me in the future. read more

La Scarola - Penne alla Vodka and a special parmigiana of the night! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was great! Service was great... But all was overshadowed by the actions of one of the managers who, while seating a party near our party of 6 said to us "we have people outside waiting to sit at this table"! Mind you our meal, which totaled over $600+ included cocktails, apps, main course, and dessert. We had just been served dessert when the comment was made! We had reservations and definitely were not "loitering". As good as our meal was, I will not be going back there again. read more

I absolutely loved my experience at La Scarola which gives a vibe of old time Chicago Italians and actually being in Italy. We booked a reservation in advance for a Sunday dinner and I'm so glad we did because it was packed! Tons of large families and groups eating together. The place has a perfect mixture of being lively yet cozy making it a very unique restaurant. The dishes were all great! I don't think you can go wrong here. Just be mindful that the portions are huge so definitely share with others! read more

this was our first time here (we are from seattle) and we loved the staff! everyone was welcoming, attentive, and fast. i know it's their job, but it felt like we connected with everyone we interacted with (the hostess, the manager/owner/boss, our server, the bartender, and other workers at the restaurant)! our order was DELICIOUS; we were so happy with our pastas and tiramisu. we also loved the ambiance, the "old school" decor, the general vibe of the place. it was a very fun date night/experience to eat at this establishment. read more

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I think I would put Italian food at the top of my culinary list of favorite cuisines I love the most (Szechuan Chinese being a very close second)! That being said, whenever I travel or just stay at home, I choose an Italian restaurant whenever asked "what do I want for dinner". Bringing that thought forward to just Chicago where I've lived now for over three years, I've been salvoed by some of the best Italian food I've ever eaten; that is of course, outside of Rome. My Chicago list of Italian restaurants at this point is over 20. Well, last night some friends of ours were boasting about the best Italian food in the city being at La Scarola, just west of the Fulton Market area. So, we went! This almost hidden gem tucked away, mid-block with no banner signs or neon lights blaring, was hands down the best Italian restaurant I've been to in Chicago. Least I mention, that this "Old School" establishment is not your typical run of the mill "Red Sauce" restaurants. They are making some extremely high level fare worthy of Michelin status. Us five ordered: * Escarole and Beans with Sautéed in garlic and oil finished with a touch of chicken broth - really divine * Shrimp Armani - grilled and sautéed in a red spicy sauce set over garlic blended potatoes garnished with arugula - my wife's favorite * Sausage and Peppers - Mild or hot sautéed green red pepper served over grilled Italian sausage - my favorite * Egg Plant Parmigiana done so well, I thought I was in Italy * Linguini & Clams Served with choice of red or white sauce * Bow Tie Pasta with fresh tomato basil sauce was lovely * Two bottles of red wine and this dinner was a complete winner! What I experienced this night will bring me back here consistently. The ambiance here is quite comfortable with a homey feel. The hundreds of historical pictures on the walls, giving you a glimps of the history of this iconic place. It was a feast for your eyes. The service was stellar, from walking in and sitting down, to standing up and leaving. I loved La Scarola read more

La Scarola - Outside this fabulous restaurant - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place was recommended to us by a local and wow it did not disappoint! You can tell this place had been here for a while with all the regulars and amazing reviews left about this place. The specials are hand written and then photocopied for all the tables - absolutely loved this place The owner sits at the same table every evening for dinner and watches to ensure everyone enjoys their meal. I was wowed by the service, flavors and the place itself. It's outside the city, so it's a bit of a drive, but man was it worth it. I ordered the Shrimp Armani since the waitress recommended it and the flavors hit all the right notes. You can't go wrong wt this place. read more

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food: the best American Italian in the city?, the pasta mandera was great, their vodka sauce is delicious, tiramisu was also a must get service: staff was friendly and helpful, fast service, no complaints Ambiance: place was packed on a Wednesday at 8, so good to assume it will always be busy, must reserve spot, very cute vibes read more

La Scarola - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is my 1,000th review and I'm so happy that it's for La Scarola! My husband wanted Italian for Sweetest Day...and a place that had good veal. A friend recommended this place and I was able to get the last reservation for this night! We found street parking around the corner and the place was packed. They weren't ready for us so we went across the street and had a drink first. We ordered wine and a mixed drink and a house salad to start. (The bread they serve is yummy!) Even though he wanted veal he changed his mind and had whitefish which was very good. It was a generous portion and the spinach it came with was delicious. A lot of Yelpers said the vodka sauce was good and I love vodka sauce so I ordered the pasta Mandera with sausage crumbles, chicken, escarole, peas, and tubular pasta in vodka sauce. I didn't see a lot of sausage and the chicken was not in strips on top as I was expecting, but there was a lot of it in large chunks mixed in, and it was amazing! Probably the best vodka sauce I've ever had. We were quite full but ordered chocolate cake (my fave) and vanilla ice cream. Even the ice cream was fantastic! Very rich. We got doggy bags and can't wait to come again. read more

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Food amazing as always! Service to the T! They are always very attentive and friendly. Ambiance is great a bit loud but what Italian isn't loud hahah Great music and food to die for. read more

A friend of mine took me here today for dinner. Told me about how good the food is here and about the owner giving out shots to customers while they wait for their table. Reservations was at 1800. When we got here we told a waiter/employee that we were waiting for two other guests. The owner, Armando, told us to go wait by the bar. There we took our first shot. Five minutes later, another shot. 10 minutes later another shot. 5 minutes later, yes another... i stopped counting after 5 shots. Keep in mind i already had three Old Fashions. The bartender Alan, this dude can make some drinks! Cool dude. Food: I ordered the Steak Vesuvio. Steak was cooked perfect (medium). The sauce it comes with is delicious! Potatoes were also really good! Im buzzed after all those shots, old fashions and the bottle of wine. Stop by. The food is amazing. Beware, Armando is a jokester. Dont take him serious... read more

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GREAAAATTT food. I would eat here everyday if i could. Beware it is loud, however, it does feel very family-like crowd. Seemed like everybody knew everyone. Great customer service. read more

Great ambiance and good comfort food. I think the ambiance is really what does it though. Plan for extra extra time because the service can be a little slow but portions are absolutely massive so the kitchen gets busy very quickly. Make sure your entire party is there because you won't get seated otherwise. read more

This place is one of Jeremy Allen white's favorite restaurants to visit when coming to Chicago!! We called ahead and made a reservation but unfortunately still had to wait at least 30 min to be seated. It's a very homey Italian old school vibe with simple dishes. We got the grilled calamari, vodka pasta, chicken parm and tiramisu. The dishes were all pretty solid! read more

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FYI .. this is my second visit, first review! My prior visit was definitely worthy of a review, however life got in the way -- after, not doing it immediately. This trip though, is much different than my original different. Nothing bad to say about my first visit's experience, however I caught them on a busy fall night and let's just say the wait time for one person was surprising. HOWEVER, after dining, I understood why! Now, back to business lol! This is the second trip, there was virtually no wait. Bot the main dining room and secondary dining room are packed! This place is legit, it's nice -- it's a place for intimate dinner, reunion with friends or family, great for taking folks from out of town. Literally, it's a fine establishment yet not over the top. The absence of televisions, takes shape in the form of conversations of the surrounding tables. Dinner tonight was Pasta Mandera. A creamy combination of pink sauce, sautéed chicken, sausage with green peas and rigatoni noodles. It's phenomenal! Cooked fresh to order -- the pink sauce coats the rigatoni, savory pieces of chicken add density, while peas add texture. Dining tonight, I had a moment -- not experience! A moment where I was able to enjoy dinner, take in the atmosphere, while being provided exceptional service. Not to mention at a reasonable price. Cheers to La Scarola, Armando & the team read more

O n. M m m I had high hopes for this place. A friend of mine told me it was great, but my experience was not great. I simply had meatballs and angel hair with tomato gravy. The meatballs were huge not very easy to cut very dense. The tomato sauce was OK. L. H read more

La Scarola - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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