We recently went to Max's Bistro for date night and ended up moving our reservations to sit at the bar and I'm so glad we did! Cambo, our bartender, was amazing, very attentive, friendly, and made sure we were well taken care of. The food was excellent and did not disappoint. I ordered the short rib and swapped the side for the mushroom risotto, which was creamy, rich, and absolutely delicious. My date had the meatloaf, which was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. We both enjoyed the round pond cab with dinner, before we wrapped up the night with old-fashioneds before heading home. Birthday dessert was a nice treat too! Everything about the evening was wonderful -- we'll definitely be back! read more

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Fire the head chef or GM or kitchen supervisor. I HATE to give such a low rating because the staff is EXCEPTIONAL and friendly but the food is 2/10. We were really looking forward to coming here after being new to the area and stumbling upon it because our groomer is across the street - but please, beware. The menu is confusing and lacks identity - Latin/italian/american? Just pick one and do it well as opposed to trying to do it all. The ambiance is adorable with special handmade- steel art all over the walls but the food just sucks. Von's sourdough baguette? Really? Like guests wouldn't notice? The amuse-bouche is basically a stale crostini with flavorless cream cheese on top and they call it a "mousse". Crispy Brussel spouts were greasy and too aldente and lacked salt - the calamari was flavorful but soggy - maybe they need to change the oil - the kale salad was a Taylor farms Costco Caesar with like 2 pieces of chopped kale and un-toasted pine nuts sloppily thrown on top. Do better and you will be more profitable. read more

Came to Max's on a Saturday night. Had the Brussels which were great. Finally a restaurant that doesn't drench them in balsamic. The calami was good. My meal was the roasted chicken with leek and mushroom risotto. Sad to say I was disappointed. It lacked flavor and almost just felt like it was cream risotto. There wasn't any spice or salt it kind of tasted like nothing. The chicken was okay with the gravy that didn't have flavor. We also got the Dulce de Leche bread pudding that was very very soggy. It was mushy and not great. Overall the service was great, tons of parking, clean restaurant. I did like the indoor lighting, it wasn't too dark but very clean. Overall I probably wouldn't come back unless someone else suggested it. For my plate, a soda and dessert the total was about $58 before tip. I was disappointed but overall hope they add more flavor to their food. read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Chicken - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

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Simply a real good and easy spot for a semi casual dinner! Never get disappointed from going to Max's!

FOOD: The presentation of each dish was spot on. The portions were just right to - Boy that's a big burger. The sweet potato fries , bread and Birria short rib starters were delicious. The specials: Alaskan Halibut over risotto 5/5 Max Burger 5/5 $24 Kale Caesar Salad with Salmon 5/5 $27 Short Rib w/ mashed potatoes 4/5 $42 Filet Mignon w/ potato gratin 6 ounce 4/5 $58 Kids Menu 5/5 Teriyaki Salmon & Chicken Fingers SERVICE: Spot on with water refills and checking on us AMBIANCE: Festive & Colorful. The local artist Tomas displayed some beautiful paintings throughout the restaurant. If I ever win the lottery I'll buy one or two. SUMMARY: Overall it was a great first time experience and will most likely be back to try the 16 oz Angus Prime Rib. read more

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I think the service was on point. The food was good. Not sure it wow'ed me but it was good. Husband seemed to enjoy it. Seems like a great local place with a small bar that would be a great place to meet for drinks. read more

One of Fresno's nicer fine dining establishments. I have been here for dinner in the past but haven't been here for their lunch before, so wanted to try one of their salads. I didn't make a reservation but wish I had. They were actually pretty busy on a Thursday afternoon, and their tables are really close, not giving me enough privacy to talk. It was actually kind of creepy, because the small table we were given was across the aisle from a table but right next to our faces was glass that you could see the other diners right immediately next to you. The service was excellent, though. Our waitress took great care of us from start to finish, made sure our drinks were always filled and made sure we were happy with the taste of our lunches. She even offered to change my friend's sandwich when it looked like she wasn't eating it. The food: I ordered the Chinese chicken salad and it honestly seemed a little small. It's a little less expensive than a few of the other salads on the menu so maybe that's why. It had a small amount of shredded chicken, a few peanuts, crispy noodles and red pepper, and lettuce. My preference would be a little more cabbage than what it has. My friend ordered the spicy chicken sandwich. The slaw and pickles were awesome and the chicken coating was good; however, the chicken tasted a little rubbery. I am hoping we just picked the wrong items this day. Some of the other salads on the menu looked good, and the sweet potato fries are the bomb here, so I will definitely be back to try something else. read more

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Service was great. Be careful with the King Salmon. it says " Wild, Line caught" in reality it is farmed in New Zealand. Farmed salmon from New Zealand means the salmon was raised in ocean pens or aquaculture facilities until it was harvested. New Zealand is known for farming king (Chinook) salmon in relatively clean, cold waters. Wild, line-caught salmon from New Zealand means the fish lived naturally in the ocean and was caught individually with a fishing line. This is relatively uncommon and often considered a premium product. Also the Salmon was undercooked in the middle. As a former Alaskan Fisherman I hope I was able to give clarification. read more

Post-workout day recovery meal: First time eating here. Considering all the weight lifting I'm doing, many meals are focused on protein along with whatever else I'm ordering. With my target (Maxes) in focus, I reviewed the pictures/reviews on Yelp as I often order based on which pictures appleal to me. I hit the website directly to preview the menu PRIOR to even going. I knew what I was going to order so headed over. The restaurant was a nice comfortable temperature. Thankfully, the music was not loud at all! The restaurant is nice enough, fairly roomie, so no complaints there. It seemed to be filling up at a brisk pace.. I also spotted lots of to go orders! The service here was excellent, but the food left me wanting... enough, so that I stopped off at Whole Foods to act as the chaser! :) I ordered the filet mignon with asparagus that was served on a overly cooked puck of bland potatoes... I ordered the meat to be cooked medium and so it was, perfectly! The meat was under seasoned and would've been much better if it had been salted earlier. There's no salt shakers on the tables. When I see that, I usually expect that the food would be seasoned well. That was not the case... The asparagus was cooked perfectly, but the potatoes were complete miss. The small portion was too small.... And it wasn't something that when you tasted it you wish that there was more of... Potatoes rarely disappoint me, but they did here. Not rich, tasty and tasted old and a LARGER IMPROVED portion would have been nice. It's like the cheapest ingredient in the kitchen so please size better and change that dud version! Because my pecs are demanding, I ALSO ordered the Chinese chicken salad. While good, that's not something I would order again... Starving from my previous days workout, I ate everything. The meal was not large enough for any thought of leftovers.... Honestly, I thought the food would've been much better than it was. I left still hungry... My lunch was $70 plus the tip. I would definitely return at some point to try dinner, especially if they start making the chicken Marcela again! Most people would enjoy eating here... IF their pecs are as needy! -G read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Plate #2, meat under seasoned, potatoes were not good! How can you not serve worthy potatoes? The portion should larger, too. - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

Thanksgiving dinner to go? You bet!! We stopped by to pick up Thanksgiving dinner for two (pre-ordered), since it was just gonna be me and the hubby on Thanksgiving day. The girls at the table outside were very helpful and friendly. It didn't take long for our order to be ready. Fast forward to dinner time...there was so much food! Salad, rolls, turkey, stuffing, fresh green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. Even huge slices of pumpkin pie! Everything was great! Thanks, Max's Bistro, for making dinner so easy! read more

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Best burger in town! Why go to a drive thru when you can pay just a tad more for a delicious experience! Not to mention, their drinks are killer, too. Max's always reliable, always delicious! read more

I reserved the private room for my masters graduation. At first, I was a bit upset because it felt like they were ignoring all my emails to correspond everything and I had to go in-person to get everything situated. However, it ended up just being a simple technical issue and the owner was absolutely fantastic when talking on the phone to get everything situated. The dining service itself was great! The servers were very nice and our food came out in a timely manner, course after course. The steak was absolutely melt in your mouth! All the entrees were delicious (chicken, steak, and salmon were the choices) but my absolute favorite was definitely the steak. Overall, I would recommend this place either just for a nice dinner out or for your next special occasion where you need a private room. read more

I had only been here before for their brunch but this time we went for dinner, we were with a huge group of friends but nonetheless the waitress was attentive and got everything correct. The food was great! Came out hot and fresh. My only complaint was the filet mignon wasn't tender enough. It was very rare and chewy. But other than that everything else was great including the short rib. We got their dulce de leche bread pudding to go and that was the cherry on top!! Very very tasty! read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Filet Mignon - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

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Max's is always a lively spot, especially on holidays, the place stays busy with lots of energy and constant hustle and bustle. Despite the crowds, the food consistently delivers, and we've tried quite a few dishes over the years. Our go-to favorites never disappoint. The French Quarter Shrimp is a standout. The broth is rich, full of flavor, and perfect for dipping the bread. The Strawberry Spinach Salad is another must-order, with a wonderful dressing that ties everything together. The short ribs are incredibly tender, no knife needed. The meatloaf is nicely seasoned, moist, and served with creamy potatoes that make it feel like a comforting, hearty meal. The lamb chops can be a hit or miss, though; some days they're great, and other days they can be a bit gamey. But overall, Max's offers a solid dining experience with plenty of delicious options, and it's a place we keep coming back to. read more

8/11/25 Lunch date! Great! The restaurant is VERY classy & nice! We had waters and both got avocado turkey sandwiches with side salad. Waiters & waitresses cater to your every need! Our waters were refilled constantly and after a small wait, we received our lunch! It's A LOT! Really fresh & DELICIOUS sandwich. He thought his was GREAT too! Fresh & tasty side salads too! Both have leftovers too! Great service & GREAT lunch! Thank you Max's! Highly recommended! read more

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It was really busy and we didn't have a reservation, but I got lucky enough to grab us seats at the bar! The bartenders were kind, courteous, and fun. The food was brilliant! I had the Scallops on Parmesan Risotto. The bread with oil and balsamic was also immaculate. read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Scallops and Parmesan Risotto - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

The filet minion was perfectly cooked medium and seasoned just right. The Ahi tuna on the tostada was out of this world amazing! The french quarter shrimp had great flavor. Staff were super friendly, Sierra was always there for us and was very accommodating. The place had good seating and nice fine vibes. read more

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Location: Max Bistro Date: August 22, 2025 Service: Birthday Dinner Party Located in Fresno on Westbrook Avenue is Max's bistro and bar. I was invited there for an event for a friend's birthday dinner. This establishment offers private dining. It's quiet all usually is busy when not too busy. I have been there before for a previous event and the food is always amazing. The price is on Point for the area. Myself I ordered the orange soda and have the filet mignon with asparagus and potatoes au gratin. He was for a table of 15 people. Our server was Michella overall did a outstanding job serving and assisting us at the table of 15 people. The birthday girl she was having a fabulous time they even offered gave her a $75 gift card for her party which she is able to use at anytime when if she chooses. I had a great time socializing with everyone and seeing people I haven't seen in a long time and enjoying laughs. Great food is a great experience at Max bistro bar. Check out the photos attached to this review. read more

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This is definitely one of the Top 5 fine dining places in town. We started with some of their craft drinks, mine being the Apple A Day. Excellent. Next was the French Quarter Shrimp with the shrimp cooked perfectly. The sauce it was in was so tasty. Chopped wedge salad was next and it was good but there was a ton of blue cheese on it. Could have done with less. The main courses were the short rib, whose sauce and was outstanding, cooked to perfection and the roast chicken with mushroom risotto was also juicy and flavorful. Just a great experience and great food. read more

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Thank you Max's for an amazing birthday celebration today in your beautiful private room for parties. Service was exceptional as always and table set lovely. read more

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Max's has been one of my favorite local restaurants for many many years so this review is LONG overdue. I enjoy meeting friends to share appetizers at the bar and sip on the tastiest dirty martini. We love the bartender, Daniel (Cambo)! This last visit, we ordered calamari and the potstickers which were absolutely incredible. The calamari comes with both cocktail sauce and the most scrumptious lemon aioli. The breading on the calamari is perfectly light. The duck potstickers come with 6 or 7 pieces so it was a nice split with 3 people! I skipped lunch that day so I was still a little snacky after sharing the 2 apps so we asked Daniel what else to get. He recommended the French Quarter Shrimp. We hadn't had those before (and I thought I've tried the whole menu haha) so we took his advice and SO glad we did! They came in the tastiest sauce, big shrimp with the toasts to soak up more of the flavor. I'd even be happy with the strimp and a salad for a light solo dinner. I'll leave this review to the recent apps but know that the dinner and lunch menus are just as fabulous! read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - French Quarter Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

It was.....just ok. Ambiance is cool. Very early 2000s new American . Maybe kinda dated but well kept and kind of funky in a nostalgic way. Food is where it gets meh. Duck potstickers were just ok. More of wontons than potstickers, but decent crisp . The whole dish needed salt and acid. Since duck leg is so rich it needed to be cut. The pickled cabbage wasn't acidic at all and ponzu was thick and seemed like Mae ploy mixed with something . Presented nicely though . Wife got the salmon with risotto and buerre blanc . She said was well executed but wished it had some salt and a half the amount of rice . I got the chicken with leek risotto and rosemary jus. It was good but needed something else. Maybe fried leek garnish? The leeks were a bit stringy in the rice, I'd cut them smaller. Rosemary pan jus was ok but not a pan jus . Definitely thicken with corn starch and kinda bland read more

Hosted a bridal shower at Max's and JJ was so helpful through the planning process-answered all my questions and was very kind. Our group ended up being smaller than planned and JJ and the staff were so gracious and allowed us to hold the shower in the back area as planned. Clay and staff did a wonderful job taking care of us the day of the shower. So welcoming and helpful and food was great. Highly recommend! read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

Every time I fly in from Montana for business, I make a point to eat here. The service is always friendly and attentive. The food is always delicious. I usually try the pasta special. This time it was prime rib with an Alfredo pasta. Everything is fresh. Also tried the apple pie which is more like a turnover crepe. The paintings on the wall are always interesting. Try to sit in the back or middle where it's quieter. Also try the espresso martinis read more

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Max's bistro is always a good place for brunch or dinner. Salmon was so delicious with the side salad. Yum ! Great food and service ! read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

The restaurant's atmosphere was beautiful and inviting, and the staff were genuinely wonderful, attentive, and kind. Altogether, it made for a great dining experience and a sandwich I'd be happy to order again. read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

The food was really good, the service was amazing and the ambiance is better than expected! I got the risotto (not pictured), which actually also has tofu in its base. Lots of veggies and very filling! Bread is my weakness and this sourdough did not disappoint. The sweet potato fries are also a must, since the spot is well known for them! The ambiance was really nice, a restaurant feel. Not too formal and not too casual, perfect for work meetings. The service was amazing! I accidentally made the waitress recite all of the specials and descriptions, and she was not upset by it. She also came around and refilled our drinks almost every 15 min (and we were tucked in a corner, which is impressive). read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Sourdough bread - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

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Came here for lunch the other day with my husband (he'd never been). We were seated and greeted quickly. Our server, Jordan, was awesome. Super friendly and helpful with tips when we told her we would be sharing everything. Backwaiters were on top of water refills and prebussing also. We ordered sweet potato fries, the prime beef appetizer, truffle gnocchi and the ahi tostada (with altered presentation to make it easier to share). Everything was phenomenal. Loved the richness of the sauce with the steak appetizer. The gnocchi was a surprisingly large portion and had the perfect amount of truffle. In my opinion, the gnocchi itself was just slightly overdone.. But the flavor was so good that it didn't really matter. My favorite was the ahi tostada. Perfectly crispy and the combination of flavors and textures made for a really good bite. Wish we'd had any room for dessert, but we'll definitely be back. read more

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Excellent food. Everything is great. I hadn't been here for a while. Would really like to try out their Sunday brùnch.

I have been coming to this restaurant for over a decade and the quality and consistency NEVER disappoints!!! Love Max's Bistro read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Strawberry spinach salad with chicken delicious Turkey avocado sandwich on focaccia with sweet potato fries - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

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Great service! Good quality! Exceptional Service and Delicious Food I had a wonderful dining experience at Max's Bistro & Bar. From the moment we arrived, our server, Nai, was incredibly attentive, friendly, and professional -- the perfect balance of warm hospitality and efficiency. Our glasses were never empty, and every detail of the meal was handled with care and a smile. It really made the lunch feel special. The food was outstanding! We tried the Fry Trio, which was a fun and flavorful combination -- each style of fries had its own character, from crispy and seasoned to thick and hearty. The Gnocchi was creamy, rich, and perfectly balanced with mushrooms and herbs, and the Firefall pasta was cooked to perfection, with tender chicken and just the right amount of sauce. Every dish came out beautifully plated and full of flavor. The overall atmosphere was cozy yet refined, making it a great spot for both casual meals and special occasions. I'll definitely be coming back -- highly recommend for anyone looking for excellent service and top-quality food in Fresno! read more

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Fantastic local restaurant with great service and high quality ingredients. They also have a great wine list and cool art.

Great service and restaurant. Celebrated my birthday with my friends and family. Food was very well done and service was great, would do it all over again. read more

Pros: Service was okay. Neat and clean dinning area. Cons: Slow service took about 45 mins to get our food. I think they forgot about us. Food was not good. My burger tasted burnt. Very pricey for food quality and portion size. read more

Max's Bistro & Bar - Max burger - Seafood Near Me - Fresno, California

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When free food is available for a seminar, I don't mind trying out the food and the hosting restaurant as well as getting information for planning for the future. Service is excellent here and the servers making sure your order is up to your expectations. I ordered the Max burger for lunch and was hands down the best tasting burger I've had in a while: Cattlemen's All-Natural angus beef, cheddar, applewood bacon, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onion, dijon mayo. The ambience is comfortable and relaxing for your dining pleasure. read more

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Love the burger and fried calamari. That's my usual order. I've tried specials but I wasn't too impressed. Their bread is also delicious. It's only offered by request during lunch hours. read more

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We've been waiting for a while to eat at this establishment in FRESNO. We made over an hour DRIVE to go eat dinner there. Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted by everybody sat down. Immediately. They explained to us. They had two menus a lunch menu, and a dinner menu. We got there 15 minutes before their dinner started. we ordered a couple of cold beers, and also ordered their brisket tacos . They were some of the best TACOS we have ever had. They served three of them and a plate. And then you can tell the tortillas were handmade. The meat was super juicy, and it came with pickled onions and radishes and other sides. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!! We shared a ribeye, Steak that came with mashed potatoes and asparagus . We ordered the Steak medium. Well. We got it more of a well done.. it was good, but not great. There was no wow factor to the Steak. The mashed potatoes were suburb.. We also ordered a peach pie which took about 10 minutes to get cooked. That two was no well factor. It was just OK. We should've tried the crème brûlée. . Their COFFEE was amazing . I ordered an espresso martini. That was disappointing. It was not good at all. The bartender needs some help. Sorry but they do. Overall the decor and ambience in this restaurant. Reminds me of a fancy restaurant in Las Vegas. Very Beautiful. Very warm. Very welcoming. The Services exceptional at this place. I love it when we left. Everyone told us. Thank you. That means a lot. . We highly recommend this restaurant. It's worth the DRIVE. !!! read more

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I have to say I have been coming for years, and I have always been delighted. However, the last three times I have made reservations well in advance for special occasions, they were ignored entirely. I realize that special accommodations can't always be made, but 3 times within a month and half was highly disappointing. I was in the high-end restaurant industry for almost 15 years. I slaved in the back of the line, worked as a hostess and waitress, and eventually worked my way to head manager. Years may pass, but there are constants you look for in a great restaurant, and you start to notice themes. This is a well-known neighborhood hot spot, and the theme is evident that special requests are given to favorites. That is abundantly clear. The owner seems to only go to specific tables, and if you approach him, he is less than responsive. The second thing I have begun to notice is an overly confident attitude: "We don't need your business." I say this because the staff have gotten increasingly rude and inattentive, and the desire to rotate your table quickly is evident in how fast they try to take your plates and get you out. Both evenings, we felt more like a herd of cattle being ushered out. The hostess was extremely curt and pretty much threw our menus down. Our server seemed annoyed when we didn't order drinks or appetizers, and even more so when we weren't in a hurry after our meal. I experienced the same situation during lunch with my elderly mother back in October, when only four people were remaining in the restaurant. Both the waitress and the busboy kept trying to take our plates away well before we finished. As soon as the plates were cleared, we weren't offered dessert and were handed our check. When asked about dessert, she was clearly perturbed. So we opted to go elsewhere, to a local bakery that would appreciate the Business. Let's talk about food and presentation. We have always been pleased with the food and presentation. Sadly, that too has been sub-par. The halibut was extremely fishy, and the risotto pasta was overcooked and runny. My guest ordered the linguini, and the sauce was not at all flavorful and very watery, as if the noodles were not drained. Prices are not cheap anywhere anymore, but Max's is pricey. I don't mind paying for good food and service, but on the last few occasions, the restaurant has clearly dropped the ball. The restaurant is clearly doing well, and over the years has been a family favorite, but in my opinion, it is starting to get very cavalier about how it is running things, or maybe just way too confident. First time, you think it's just a rough night and it will pass. Twice, you start to question what is going on, and three times you realize that maybe this is just how it's going to be and it's time to find a new favorite. Regardless, in this day and age, when every dollar counts, and in a town with many fabulous restaurants that genuinely strive for your business, we won't be giving our attention to them anytime soon. I hope things will change as it's a great place and great location, but that is not enough anymore to spend our time or money. Maybe you will have better luck. In this case, 3 times was not a charm; it was more like three strikes and you're out. read more

We always take out of town guests here. Food is always good. And our server was attentive. We'll be back. Try the meatloaf.

We visited for a birthday brunch with a party of about 13, and they were very accommodating by providing a table for gifts. The servers were really nice and inviting. I initially wanted to order the chicken Marsala, but I was disappointed to find it removed from the menu. Instead, I tried their special shrimp fettuccine, which I rated a 7/10; the sauce was a bit too thick and clumped up on the noodles. I really enjoyed the fried calamari 9/10 and their complimentary breads. Overall, while the food was a 7/10, the service was impeccable! The ambiance was comfortable and very spacious. read more

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