This was such a fantastic meal, with Housemade pasta, sauces, and ingredients. My friend and I were lucky enough to get a seat by the kitchen, so we enjoyed watching the chef's hard at work! One of the chefs even gave each of us a small tasting plate during our meal, which was such a fun and intimate gesture for this space! We absolutely loved both of the pasta dishes we got. Everything tasted amazing, and so incredibly fresh!! We ordered an appetizer of the bread to start with, this was the only disappointing part of the meal to me. The bread was very crusty, which is not my preference, I was expecting soft bread to dip into the sauces. The flavor of the sauces on the side were excellent. I would definitely come back here. If I lived near this location, the ambience is casual, yet it gives fine dining vibes with the quality of food! The service was great as well, and we really appreciated them fitting us in on a busy Saturday night!! read more

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What a gem! It was our anniversary and we were treated like VIPs... Erin, thank you for serving us with a warmth, kindness, professionalism and a smile. Isaiah, your generosity and hospitality made the night memorable, along with your knowledge and expertise... The "My Chareau-da" (clever) was perfection. And to end the meal with the absolutely perfect sip, Dopo Teatro Vermouth Amaro, made it an extra special ending to our anniversary dinner. Chef and team: How could I forget to mention the food?! The Burrata small plate got us started (so good... we wanted to lick the pesto right off the plate), followed by The Luca Chicken (tasty, though you have to work a bit to get every bit of juicy meat off the bone) and Hanger Steak (medium rare, thank you... perfect), followed by an affogato (so smooth) and the delicious dessert you see in the photo (can't remember what it was called, but they boasted about the Lancaster strawberries). Great from start to finish! Worth noting: We felt GREAT afterward and the next day, a true test of good, real food. No bloating, etc. Last note: It can get loud, but it wasn't over the top. This is the sign of people having a good time! read more

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Luca is definitely a restaurant I would encourage to visit, especially during the summertime. The place is pretty spacious and also a cute place that has patio, bar, general seating and an upstairs seating. When the weather is nice they can open up sliding garage type door. The dinner menu is pretty straight forward with small plates, pasta, and wood burning oven dishes. I've been there twice, the first time I tried the BRANZINO that is wood-grilled and roasted, butter sauce, Arbequina olive 'condita' with soft herbs, baby fennel, garlic mustards, earl's spinach. I thought it was a 3 star dish because it was tough with some of the extra bones. The second time I went with the pasta TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE hand cut tagliatelle, classic ragù bolognese, grana padano cheese. For sure a 5 star dish. Both times they had a good wine list to choose from. Service was prompt and friendly that made the experience more enjoyable. Luca is definitely a place to visit and I would come back again. read more

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Super quality dishes that are worth the price. The burrata and focaccia were CHEFS KISS Ambiance and service is great! read more

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Dined here recently with our family. The menu offerings are eclectic and different than other Italian establishments in the Lancaster area. The good: The food was very delicious. We enjoyed our wine, olive appetizer and entrees. I got the ravioli and my wife enjoyed the guinea hen dish. The portions here are not large, so it's good to get a few dishes. The ambience in the side dining room was nice and much easier to converse in than the louder, main room. Our server was very knowledgeable and excited about the menu. The not so good: The wait between our appetizers and entrees was nearly an hour. We had another event to get to and were somewhat pressed for time. read more

LUCA - Guinea Hen - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Our party of six enjoyed sitting in the quieter dining room rather than the main room. Our server was terrific. Did a great job explaining a few complex specials. Drinks and starters came out very quickly. We had a little bit of a wait for our entrees which is why I've given 4 rather than 5 stars. My branzino was terrific and a very large portion. Some of the other entrees seemed a little small. Great place to try if you're in Lancaster. read more

LUCA - Bronzino prepared in a flatten manner. - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Probably a 4.5 star experience. Amazing place, can't wait to come back. The octopus over a bed of peas appetizer might not sound like much on paper, but it was hands down the best thing we ate and I could not stop raving about it. The octopus--a single meaty tentacle--was the most tender I've ever had it prepared literally anywhere, and the "mushy peas" were glorious and chock full of flavor. It was like sunshine on a plate. In second place (very close behind) was the burrata. The current iteration involved a savory herb sauce and while I think I would have slightly preferred one of their other seasonal versions of it with fruit or a little sweetness, the dish was still fantastic. Handmade pasta, check. The tagliatelle bolognese was perfect. The focaccia was very good, but I wasn't totally wowed by it and would probably skip it in favor of another appetizer next time. The apps, I think, are where Luca really shines. Just get a bunch of small plates and try it all. Fun, inventive cocktails and of course a large and unique wine selection (though the "by the glass" options are limited since they naturally want to upsell ya on a full bottle). Plenty of amaro on offer for after dinner. Loved the "espresso nona" cocktail. My only other relatively minor critique is that while the space was large and bright, it wasn't very comfortable and seemed more fitting for a casual pubby spot than the fine dining that Luca is. The tables were crammed in very close together which doesn't give you much privacy in conversation. And the chairs themselves were hard and not very supportive--a bit of a strange contrast given that their vibe otherwise seems to suggest that they want people to linger and enjoy being together. Lots of the seats in the place don't have backs at all and are just those metal stools. read more

I had dinner at LUCA on Sunday evening when I was passing through Lancaster on the way back to Baltimore, and it was one of the best meals I've had recently. Someone I met in the food industry recommended LUCA to me back in October of last year at a food event in Baltimore I attended, and I never forgot. I'm so glad he did. LUCA is a farm-driven Italian kitchen focusing on wood-burning, locally sourced vegetables, meats, and handmade pastas. The restaurant is beautiful but casual, elegant but fun. Because I was enjoying a solo meal, I sat the bar, but they have outside seating and plenty of indoor seating as well. I started with a glass of Vermentino (they have a great wine list, especially if you're open to ordering a bottle, but they also have other drink options) while I struggled with what to order (there was so much I wanted on the dinner menu and then there were a few specials to mull over, too). Luckily, their service at the bar is wonderful, and one of the bartenders helped me make some choices. I started with their Insalata di Campo (Lancaster County lettuces, herbs, flowers, and peach vinegar from last year's harvest), which was one of the best salads I've had in ages (so simple; they completely let the locally sourced ingredients speak for themselves). Then I had their Tajarin pasta course: thinly-cut egg pasta, white wine rabbit ragu, toasted garlic, summer herbs, and Parmigiano Reggiano. It was incredible. I'd eat it again right now. I'm drooling just thinking about it as I write this review. At some point there was another glass of wine (a Chardonnay this time.) I was full at this point but couldn't resist taking a dessert home for later - a slice of their olive oil cake with fruits and herbs - another winner (when I ate it home later). LUCA has it all - great food, great drinks, great service, great atmosphere. I can't wait to return. There are other reasons to return to Lancaster, but LUCA is a big reason, too. read more

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This came highly recommended and we weren't surprised to see it was difficult to get a reservation. Randomly scored an early dinner reservation the next day for a table for 6. The restaurant was bustling at the bar and main dining room. Our table was in the quieter side room so it was less noisy and easy to converse. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. Our bread and drink orders arrived quickly. Everyone loved their pasta choices. Would definitely return on our next visit to the area. read more

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If I could, I would give this place 4.5 stars. I've to Luca twice (so far) and had great experiences that fall just shy of 5 stars. 1st Experience: My friend and I had a reservation in the main dining area. The service was great, though the table ended up being very crowded with the two shareables and appetizers plates. We ordered two glasses of the prosecco, which was super refreshing and perfect for summer. For appetizers, we got the Crispy Potatoes and Burrata. The waitress suggested we get the Focaccia to go with the cheese, but we declined and the potatoes ended up being the perfect vessel. My favorite bite of the night was the shredded rhubarb, burrata, herb-sauce, crispy potato and aioli. Truly a phenomenal bite. For entrees, I got the Tagliatelle Bolognese. It was good, but not mind blowing. My friend got the Heritage Pork Crespelle, which was absolutely unreal. It was so good we forgot to take a picture. I would definitely choose a seasonal special next time instead of a menu staple, at least for the main course. Both of us left the restaurant on the verge of a food coma and we were both glad of our decision to not order the bread. The only thing that wasn't great was how uncomfortably warm the restaurant was. We were seated in the front near the patio and the only reprieve of heat happened when a server opened the door (it was 80 degrees outside). 2nd Experience: My friend and I found ourselves back at Luca for a second time in the same week. This time we opted for a more casual dinner with a reservation at the bar top. I stuck with the prosecco for the night; I simply cannot get enough of it. My friend ordered the Lambrusco Spritz and Monte Mule. She liked the Spritz better, but both were drinks were good. This time around, we stuck with the appetizer plates. We ordered the Burrata and Crispy Potatoes combination again. People are sleeping on this combo. We also ordered the Little Gems Salad. Lettuce with some sort of lemon-garlic dressing and parmesan cheese truly has no right being that good. I almost enjoyed the bar seating better, but I think it really boils down to liking the appetizers more than entrees, the restaurant being MUCH cooler in temperature, and personal preference. read more

LUCA - Crispy potatoes, burrata, & prosecco. - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Took my wife for her birthday last night. I cannot express how amazing this place is. The food is so far above the typical "out of a drum" Italian fare we get around here they cannot even compare. Every dish is hand crafted and cooked perfectly. The flavors are subtle and intricate. It was amazing. The service was just the right amount of attentive without being intrusive and the atmosphere was open and somehow still personal. Love chef Nate. Congratulations and well done. Thank you. read more

LUCA - Apps are enough. Order them all. - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Holy crap, a restaurant that has been around for 90 years and still does it right. Chelsey bread, perfect. Pizza, just the right amount of char on the thin crust. Server, out of this world. Watching the pro that she was managing the entire dining room by herself was a sight to behold. And, the decor, encompassing decades was awesome. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation. We arrived at 11:10am, and got one of the last 2 tables that weren't previously reserved. read more

There's a lot of hype around LUCA and after my first visit, I can say it's deserved. I had originally hoped to eat here with some friends, but a week ahead they were already booked solid. But I stopped by with a friend a couple hours ahead of time to just get a cocktail and a snack and was not disappointed. They squeezed us in at the bar (I promised to be gone before their reservations started arriving) and had great food and drink. It's a beautiful spot and the service is sterling. read more

Coming from an Italian food hotspot I'm always curious how Italian is other places. I stopped in for dinner on a business trip and was seated at the bar as it was a busy Sunday night. The bartender was attentive and helpful! I ordered the Sunday meatballs and they were very flavorful but I'd say a little over cooked. I also got a hot dessert cocktail which finished the meal perfectly! read more

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Vibes here were immaculate. I'm so sorry I can't quite remember the name of our server but he was one of the bartenders ! He was super sweet and kind and was very helpful in picking what we wanted to eat / was very excited about our selections for us. Upon sitting at the bar, you could tell that a lot of people came back as regulars because of him. This guy was super friendly (and had really awesome tattoos) and it showed in the way customers loved him too. Aside from the service and atmosphere, the food was delicious. Who knew cabbage and flatbread could taste the way it did?? The entrees we got were perfectly seasoned as well. We chose LUCA on a whim and honestly, great choice. If I'm ever back in Lancaster, I'd come back here FOR SURE read more

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Food, Service and Ambiance were 15/10!!! Very Enjoyable. I would recommend the chefs table for the view of the kitchen while they cook your meal. It was truly visually satisfying! read more

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10/10 AH-MAZING. I'm not a big Italian fan but it was so good. Highly recommend. The appetizers are very different but so tasty, rice balls are a must read more

LUCA is wonderful! We rate it as the best Italian restaurant we've been to. The special summer sausage was awesome as were the meatballs! We were walk ins and didn't wait long. Kudos to Isabel, out waitress. Very attentive. It also was fun to watch all the activity! read more

Well, the menu may be very short. They have absolutely put in the consideration and effort to ensure that what they serve is enjoyable. Their homemade pasta is delightful and their drinks offer an elevated cocktail experience. I will absolutely return here. read more

Luca was a very good experience. It's one of Lancaster's top five restaurants and I could see why. If you don't have a reservation, get ready to wait a long time to be seated. There is a small parking lot, adjacent to the restaurant, but there is plenty of street parking, as well. The restaurant has very nice decor, is always fully committed, and has a limited menu. However, that menu has items that'll make your meal memorable and delicious. We started with the Stracciatella small plate (creamy mozzarella cheese, braised artichokes alla romana, herb sauce, foccacia bread). This dish was so good. The creaminess of the cheese enveloped every forkful of artichoke and this starter was an excellent choice. Our entrees were, as follows: Swordfish (wood-grilled and glazed, salsify butter sauce, young kale, green garlic, grilled and marinated mustard greens, smoked ramp agrodolce). I cannot commend this dish enough. You didn't need a knife, it contained the optimum amount of saltiness, I enjoyed every bite, and didn't want it to end. It was also my first time ordering swordfish. The Luca Chicken (brined and wood oven-roasted natural chicken, wood-grillef broccolini, rosso di milano onion, wilted dandelion greens, n'duja glaze). The chicken contained A LOT of meat, was perfectly seasoned , and was more enjoyable consumed by hand, in order to get every bit of meat off of the bones. The service was impeccable and we appreciated our Server, Angelina's, recommendations. If you're in Lancaster, please make plans to enjoy a meal at Luca. read more

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After hearing a few people rave about this place, my husband and I decided to come here for date night. We made reservations as we figured it would be busy on a Sunday night. We were greeted by the friendly hostess and that's where the night went downhill. We were sat in the room off to the left, which was not overly warm and welcoming. It was awkwardly quiet and the tables were too close together so having a conversation was like having one with everyone else. The server took quite some time to get to us and our drinks took a bit as well. We started off with the oysters which were fantastic. Those should def never leave the menu. I couldn't wait to order the lobster special but she said they sold out of it the day before. I was really bummed bc my options are super limited here. My husband said the meatballs were okay but the texture of his polenta was super gritty and lacked flavor. I got the chicken entree and it was dry and it just felt like an incomplete dish. read more

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I love the ambiance in Luca. It's open and a cool vibe. The service is fun and my food tasted really delicious. I would like to try other dishes. Parking can be hard. Don't park in front of peoples houses in the neighborhood. read more

Do not miss this place on your delicious dining list! Luca is like coming home to Nonna's for authentic delicate and delicious flavors of Italy! We were seated at the chef's table and actually got a show with our dinner. It was a chilly night, & the multiple blazing fires in the pit and oven warmed us too. We had the focaccia bread and bufalo mozzarella with thin sliced prosciutto and it was magnificent! Then my wife had the fresh homemade pasta ravioli and I had the gnocchi with mushroom sauce and asked them to add a few slices of prosciutto for a protein. It also had roasted pumpkin seeds crushed on top. For dessert, we shared the Tiramisu and it certainly didn't disappoint! It was excellent and moist with a grated cocoa smothering the whole top surface. It was wonderful ambiance for an exquisite meal. If you love real Italian, you must try this, you'll love it! read more

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We went to LUCA last night for my wife's birthday. I had only heard great things so perhaps my expectations were set too high. For appetizers we ordered the Caraflex Cabbage (the best part of the night), and the Gnocco Fritto, which was basically a savory take on a beignet. For our main courses we picked the Bollito Misto, which was good but not great. My wife picked the hunters lasgnetta which was frankly disappointing. I will come back because the atmosphere, service, and drinks were great. Next time I will make different menu choices. read more

What a great vibrant place to go to for great food, friendly staff and a very hip, swank atmosphere. You'll see everything from formal wear to casual blue jeans. Prices are comparable to other high end restaurants so it's worth a visit if you're in the mood to have some fantastic food and fun times with friends. It's not a place for an intimate first date due to it being in probably an old warehouse so you get a lot of echoing from other patrons so it can get pretty loud. Drinks are plentiful & flavorful. They even make their own wine. The Apples to Apples is a seasonal drink & of course tastes like ummm apples. Very tasty & puts you in the holiday spirit. Small plates I went with the crispy potatoes which were phenomenal and the rosemary makes these potatoes sing. We also tried the smoked squash which was absolutely delicious. You can really taste the smoke which compliments the squash perfectly. For my main, I picked the gnocchi with mushrooms. The only thing I didn't enjoy about the dish was that it ended. I could have easily ate another plate of these perfectly prepared gnocchi and the brown sauce left me wanting to lick my plate clean (no I did not lick my plate, but I definitely wanted to). Staff are super friendly & helped us select just the right meal & drink. Would highly recommend Luca to anyone looking to have a great time with some friends & have some absolutely amazing and delicious food & drinks while doing it. read more

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Finally got back here last night for a wonderful anniversary dinner! Perfection. Good, ambience, service. We will return soon!

Fancier menu with more authentic Italian variety. If you're looking for pizza for your kids. This ain't it. We will report that our kids were very unimpressed, but they have terrible taste. Us adults truly enjoyed our meal, even though it was a little buzzing in here. They were very kind in squeezing us in without reservations, so if you are thinking of simply dropping in, be sure to try to reserve in advance. read more

LUCA - Main dining room viewed from loft above. - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

First of all it's not my first rodeo here. And whether you're coming in to spend $100 or just 50 this place knocked it out of the park every time. If you make a reservation, I recommend trying to get the chef table. You'll thank me later. Sundays is also the only day for the meatballs so I recommend trying those as well. You have to try their other spot for their Woodfire pizzas. And that's a whole other experience.. I can't express how much I love it here. read more

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We had a fabulous dinner in Luca last night.... Between the drinks, apps and dessert we rolled out of the restaurant feeling like we just had some sort of a religious experience. We were initially bummed because an appetizer we tried and loved last time we were in Luca was no longer on the menu, but we tried a delicious mozzarella and artichoke app and it was great. I had the veal lasagnetta - so delicious, my husband had swordfish- not amazing, but good... kids had bolognese pasta and loved it. Macchiato was out of this world and I highly recommend tiramisu. Hats off to the chef. Thanks Luca, we will be back! read more

LUCA - Italian Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Luca has become a disappointment for many reasons. We have been here a handful of times over the last few years and it's clear that they are now just trying to gouge people. We dined here before going to see a musical last night. We had 6 in our party. Our server was really friendly and checked on us a good amount. My husband got a house sangria which was maybe a B+ and it was $15. The menu changes and I don't love that. There are more small plates than actual entrees. The pasta options are nothing to write home about except the tagliatelle. I got the gnocchi and my sister in law got the buttoni. Both were a huge let down. $29 for gnocchi?? Highway robbery. My husband's meat dish was the best at the table and my friend said the chicken was also very good. The portion sizes here are stupid small. For the amount of money (and time we had to wait for the food) we have officially dined enough here where we can just move on. read more

So many trips to Lancaster and I'd wait until the last minute to try to get a reservation here and nope. This time I learned my lesson and made one well in advance. I still dream of my mocktail I had here, so refreshing, so delicious. The food was also amazing, ambiance was amazing, service was amazing, I'd put this right up there with some top NY restaurants. It was amazing and just made me love Lancaster even more than I already do. read more

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The food at Luca never disappoints. Service is always top-notch and the food is amazing. Thoughtful, well executed actual Italian dishes. It's expensive, but a great meal. read more

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Terrible wait times and ignored by server. Had to request her to check on our food and did not seem concerned that it had not come out of the kitchen after over an hour of waiting. Food was great however, when it did arrive. read more

1. They do not have pizza! They haven't had it in over two years per the bartender. They opened a secondary pizza place four blocks away so all the reviews that talk about how good Pizza is can go suck it because they don't have it here. Looked questionable anyway. 2. One tiny tiny bowl of pasta - complete with nothing and a beer just sent me back 52 bucks. They don't even offer a small side salad. GTFO. This isn't NYC or Seattle or San Francisco! In fact, all of those places have better values than this crap. Godspeed fellas and good for you, but for anyone traveling here that's ever eaten outside po-dunk Lancaster, prepare to be disappointed beyond belief. Oh, in an unheard of flex, you need to make a reservation to sit at the bar. Strike 3! read more

Food and service was great! Pizza was perfectly done. Salad was delicious. Nice non alcoholic menu.

I loved this restaurant! It had a great vibe and the food was wonderful. My husband and I shared two small plates: crispy roasted potatoes and tuna. The potatoes were crispy but unlike any I had experienced. The combination of garlic, rosemary, schmaltz, and aged-vinegar aioli was perfect. The tuna was flaky and delicious set atop heirloom tomatoes with charred cucumber, olives and anchovy. On the recommendation of our outstanding server Olivia, we ordered the mais pizza. Cooked in a wood-burning oven, this pizza boasted corn cream, sweet corn, prosciutto, shishito peppers, and caputa mozzarella. Not only did Olivia provide good suggestions, she also delivered exemplary service. In addition to the menu items, the chef also sent out tempura poke beans with pesto - AMAZING! read more

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Luca in Lancaster, PA is a modern Italian-New American restaurant with a welcoming vibe. The young team, both in the kitchen and service, is friendly, attentive, and passionate. I could feel they wanted to give me an excellent experience - and they did. I was invited to sit at the chef's table, where I watched the talented young chefs work their magic. "Your team works like a perfectly synchronized clockwork." The young chef smiled and said, "Yes, sometimes it feels like a dance between all of us chefs." ... and Anthony Bourdain spreads his wings out wide far above them ... The food was delicious --I had the Pasta Tajarin with a glass of Grenache -- so good! A great spot where passion, teamwork, and excellent dining come together. Highly recommend! read more

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Oh my! Fantastic pizzas, good service and deserts Limited menu but great food Worth a stop read more

This place was so good. Family run Italian restaurant that was quite refreshing after a horrible time at another place (see my The Exchange review for more details). We got there shortly after 8, they close the kitchen at 9, we tried to reserve when we were in our way, but that didn't work out (technical issues on our part), but we were pleasantly surprised to walk in & be greeted so warmly. They asked to wait a moment & they cleaned & set up a table for us right away. It's a very nice, laid back environment. The service was very good & the food & drinks were excellent! Highly recommended if you're ever in the area. read more

Way too overpriced for small portions. The quality of food was good, but service was slow. We came at 5PM on Friday and waited 45 mins for an outside table, so I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time. When we were finally seated and ordered, food took another 30-40 minutes to arrive. All the dishes came at once, which was unexpected. The burrata was the best dish we ordered, so I'd give it a 5/5. The jam and pistachios at the bottom complemented the burrata perfectly. The burrata and jam also enhanced the flavor of the beef entree we got. For $35, the beef skewer entree was overpriced and I have had similar quality beef dishes for under $10. The sweet corn was the best part of this dish. 3/5 The gem salad was good, and had croutons. However, I heard people raving about the gem salad on reddit so I was left disappointed. It's good, but not that good. Especially for the price of $15. 4/5 read more

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