We just got back from dinner at Millpond Steakhouse. We were celebrating 3 June birthdays. Things started out great! The restaurant has great ambience- think Yellowstone vibes inside. Warm and welcoming. We were all happy with our appetizers and drinks. I had a Mediterranean feta dip. My husband had an orange salad, my sister in law the beet salad and my brother in law had the burrata salad. We all loved what we had. Cocktails were great, The guys had old fashioneds. I tried my husbands and it was nice and smooth with hints of honey. My sister in law and I had white raspberry vodka martinis. Again smooth and refreshing. At this point, we all would've given the place a solid five. That is until the steaks came. Three of us had the dry aged ribeyes we ordered them medium rare. They were served well done. Not a hint of red or pink! The waitress asked us to cut into them to see if they were to our liking. We all said they were overcooked. Not the waitresses fault. She was great. We asked what they did with overdone ones sent back and she said they 86'd them. We couldn't bare throwing all that food out so we ate them. The char on the outside was good but we feel that's what caused them to be overdone. The flavor was ok but at $68 a plate you expect your steak to be served the way you requested it. We were very disappointed and no compensation was offered. By the way, the guy at the table behind us sent his back because it was overdone as well. My husband had the surf and turf special filet with shrimp over mashed potatoes. He was happy with his meal. It's a beautiful place and we were happy with everything except the steak. But that's a big except when that is the reason we went there. If you go and want medium rare ask for rare and you might get lucky. Otherwise stick to the tavern down below the steakhouse. read more

We had a wonderful evening at Millpond. The scenery is beautiful, and it felt warm and welcoming inside. The staff checked in without hovering, and we had plenty of time to enjoy our cocktails and dinner w/o feeling rushed. The food was excellent, especially my aged ribeye. It was cooked exactly how I like it and had such a rich, delicious flavor. Coming back for the Tomahawk. read more

We are regulars here. Came this evening on a Tuesday. We were seated near a family with a screaming toddler and boisterous family. The Waiter's comments were indecipherable with all the noise. I ordered a Margarita rocks/no salt & a Black & Blue Burger requested pink. What I received was the Margarita pictured with a slice of very old dried brownish lime and my very well done burger. Not their best night! read more

Millpond Gatherings - Margarita served with an old, dried, brownish slice of lime floating in the middle. - Steakhouses Near Me - Northford, Connecticut

We love that you can sit outside here. But it gets very loud and packed. The service was outstanding though. The seafood tower was okay but some of the oysters seemed a little slimy. They have great cocktails and a good espresso martini. Will come back to sit outside ! read more

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Very nice evening on Saturday. Our waitress Susan was so helpful and accommodating to whatever we needed. Sat in the steakhouse and it's really beautiful in there. Popovers to start which were nice and warm. We split a Caesar salad. Note if you get this you have to cut it up. Comes with big pieces of romaine. Man got the filet and they put the Diane sauce on the side per his request. He wanted just broccoli instead of cauliflower and broccoli which normally it comes with and they accommodated that. Also comes with mashed potatoes. You are able to add additional sides if you'd like. I got the shrimp and scallops over short rib risotto. So different. Three different proteins in one meal. Very cool combination. Our waitress even turned on the lights in the Forge room so we could see the private event space which was nice. We walked down to The tavern after but they were pretty much closing up so we decided not to stay. The thing that just topped it all off was the most beautiful duck outside with her babies! They have a crate for her too which is so sweet. Mable!! What a great night we had. Will be back. read more

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My wife and I go almost every Thursday night for either the tomahawk or two special or the prime rib special in the tavern the food is incredible. The tuna tartare is really good. The clam chowder is outstanding. read more

Millpond Gatherings - Tomahawk steak with sides - Steakhouses Near Me - Northford, Connecticut

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I had my wedding reception at Millpond Gatherings on June 20, 2026. The venue is in Northford, Connecticut and is in a semi rural area. While I am happy with my selection of Millpond as my reception venue, I do feel compelled to go into more detail about my experience. Jolanda was my day of coordinator and was very pleasant to work with overall. She was very helpful about working out details for the wedding day such as table layout, seating arrangements, timeline, vendor coordination, and helping me get around the property in my gown. She kept us informed of what was happening throughout the wedding day and got our timely input for impromptu changes in the day's events (such as getting outside for a sunset photoshoot earlier than initially planned). One of the features that had considerable weight in my selection of Millpond as my wedding venue was the availability of a bridal suite. This was a private bathroom and dressing room set apart from the main guest bathrooms located near the dining area. I was looking forward to the use of the bridal suite and was experiencing much physical discomfort on my wedding day. However, the bridal suite was only available to the wedding party who had a reception in the larger Venue area on the same day. My party was smaller and we were in the Forge Room which is a section of the Steakhouse. I used the larger of two stalls in the general women's bathroom in that area. Given the size and weight of my gown, physical discomfort, and the fact that I needed an attendant to use the bathroom (a role in which my maid of honor stoically and graciously served) I would have preferred much more space and privacy. This was a huge disappointment. My opinion is that going forward, a discount on the room fee should be given to wedding parties using the Forge Room. The food overall was excellent and most of the guests had very positive reviews. However, I was surprised with the entree served at my reception. During the food tasting we had attended several months prior to the wedding, we were served filet mignon in a red wine sauce. We enjoyed this very much and selected it as our beef option for the wedding reception. When we were seated and served our entrees at the actual wedding reception, the entree was filet mignon with a peppercorn sauce. I was puzzled by this because we were not expecting it and I found the peppercorn sauce to be a bit spicy for my liking and therefore a disappointment. I had also ordered menus from Zazzle for the guests which detailed exactly what food was served at the wedding reception. This was done so guests with food sensitivities could make decisions on what to consume and what to avoid. The overwhelming majority of the guests had ordered the beef entree. I was panicked that, like myself, they were expecting one thing and getting another, and not pleased with the substitution. I asked the day of coordinator to find out what had happened. The head chef came to us and explained that he had decided to change the beef entree since it had received rave reviews from other customers and he considered it an upgrade. While I appreciated the sentiment, the unexpected menu change was actually a disappointment for me personally. The wedding cake was provided by JCakes, a local cake bakery, but was mostly paid for by Millpond. I say mostly because some of the decorations selected were considered "premium" and therefore were not covered. We had ordered the cake separately from the wedding package because we did not know Millpond included it. There was nothing in the contract or reception package literature about the inclusion of the wedding cake. JCakes contacted us several weeks after we placed the order and offered to refund our deposit. While this was a net positive for us, it was a bit of a hassle that could have been avoided if we had been told up front that the cake was included and which options of it merited extra charges. When we were meeting with the day of coordinator to finalize guest count, payment, and wedding day timeline, we found out that we had actually overpaid due to final guest count being lower than anticipated. We were given the option to receive a refund, or have the overage applied to a Millpond gift card. In the interest of expediency, I chose the latter option, and used it to pay for both the rehearsal dinner and Father's Day Brunch to treat my father in law the day after the wedding. I appreciated Millpond's flexibility in this area. Overall, I am pleased with my selection of Millpond as my wedding reception venue, but was disappointed with an unexpected, unauthorized change in the primary entree selection and not having use of the bridal suite. I would recommend Millpond as a wedding venue for other prospective brides but with a caveat that information about the above items be obtained early in the planning process. read more

Millpond Gatherings - Steakhouse front desk - Steakhouses Near Me - Northford, Connecticut

Millpond is my new favorite!!! My wife and I visited 2/28/26. We shared the jumbo shrimp cocktail, porterhouse for two cooked to perfection, with creamed spinach and artichokes and whipped potatoes. Shared the sticky toffee pudding dessert. Our server Darden was very attentive and friendly. The building is beautiful, warm and inviting. We will DEFINITELY be back!!! read more

Millpond Gatherings - 40oz porterhouse for two, creamed spinach and artichokes, whipped potatoes. Horseradish cream sauce and bernaise sauce. - Steakhouses Near Me - Northford, Connecticut

My husband and I visited Millpond on Valentine's Day and had one of the best meals we'd had in a long time. It was so good that when my kid graduated high school this week, we chose Millpond to celebrate and ordered many of the same dishes we had fallen in love with just a few months ago. Unfortunately, it felt like an entirely different restaurant. The clam chowder had been one of the highlights of our first visit. Back in February, it was thick, rich, and perfectly balanced, with subtle notes of sherry that made it unforgettable. This time, it was thin, overwhelmed by bacon, topped with some kind of oil drizzle. The portion also seemed noticeably smaller despite being served in a larger bowl. I still ate it. it wasn't BAD, it just wasn't as good. The steak was undercooked and lacked the beautiful crust that made it memorable the first time. It also wasn't finished with the same buttery richness we remembered. The creamed spinach was perhaps the biggest surprise. Previously, it was a vibrant green spinach dish with an incredible cream sauce. This time it was pale yellow, chunky, and tasted more like a cheese sauce than traditional creamed spinach. Even the mashed potatoes, which had been fluffy and fresh during our first visit, were runny and had a weird texture. What disappointed me most was that these weren't small inconsistencies. The recipes themselves seemed different. The food felt more complicated and more heavily garnished, yet somehow less flavorful and less special. The best way I can describe it is "ordinary yet pretentious." Maybe I'm not the only one to notice, because the restaurant was nearly empty on Thursday summer evening. Our first experience was so exceptional that I was excited to share it with my family on a milestone night. bit o think maybe they got a new chef? It's different for sure. I sincerely hope this was an off night, because the Millpond we visited on Valentine's Day was outstanding. The Millpond we visited for dinner last night was not. read more

First class all the way! We just had a 100 person event in their banquet room and all I can say is or guests raved all afternoon about it. We have had dinner here several times and were super impressed by the facility and food that we decided to book it for our annual client event. The place is a 10 the staff was a 10 and the food and drinks were a 10! We wil be back for dinner soon. Nothing on the area even comes close read more

The only reason it is a two and not a zero is because the food was semi decent. Even though they totally screwed up one dinner and brought out the wrong dinner, and then this poor person had to stuff it down their throat when everyone else was ready to go. That was the only part of the dinner that was even somewhat satisfactory. The ambience of the restaurant is magnificent. There is no doubt about it. However, when you choose not to sit in an area they have assigned, they are less than accommodating in giving you a different seating area. Last, but certainly not least, the managerial staff was rude, rude, rude. The review would be 20 pages long to list all of how they insulted us, denied us and incompetently waited on us. I'll never go back or invite the other 8 people in my group. read more

Well..I finally visited with much hesitation. The best part of my visit was the building itself, the wine room, my company, and a drink I ordered. Only giving two stars because of the drink. Honestly if you want a good meal please do your research and go elsewhere until they give a hoot about their food. Bland, spotty service, and just blah. 32 linguine and clams and you get six lol. Lemon brick chick was more like a cornish hen and no way it was chicken, very unimpressed. No check back to see if food was ok. Three steaks tipped the bill to 200.00 for those alone, they were ok and cooked properly . The pappardelle was ok...not impressed. Mashed potatoes were good and sautéed mushrooms were bland. Bison meatballs were spicy and ok. No free nothing for a birthday either... full charge for dessert on a 500.00 table. Ridiculous and will not revisit. Very good cocktail and thats all I got. read more

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Great place for a relaxed meal in the tavern or an refined experience in the steakhouse.

Terrible! I heard Millpond had gone downhill but this was probably one of the worst dining experiences I have had in a long time. Let's see... stale bread, overly salty food, inattentive waitstaff and lack of management response after I complained TWICE! Very disappointing! I wish I could give Millpond Gatherings zero stars. 1 star is a gift. read more

Great service. I had the burger and it was delicious . The new staff is great. I love it here. Their cocktails are great also. read more

I went to the tavern to hear live music at holiday time. It was an absolutely perfect night. The combination of beautiful decorations, exceptional service, delicious food, and sumptuous wine totally got me feeling holly and jolly! I highly recommend the brick chicken. It was one of the best meals I have ever had out at a restaurant. Also, I feel the need to mention that their wine glasses are gorgeous! read more

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Now that Spring is upon us, do visit Northford, Village of North Branford, CT. MILLPOND GATHERINGS (under newer management), is ready to welcome you in its rustic building with ambience, ducks, nature, cigars, fine food, banquet facilities! Lunch Friday/Saturday, Burgers Wednesday, Thursday Prime Rib Night, Live Music Thurs-Sunday, Sunday Brunch, Catering, Special Events! 203-714-4700. TootsieT. read more

Been there a few times and its hit or miss. Had the nachos today and they were awful, like something you would get at a gas station- cheap chips and "cheese" sauce. read more

Absolutely delicious food. Obviously the steaks but even the fish is prepared better than some fish restaurants. The desserts are to die for and the staff couldn't be more helpful. An absolute treat! read more

Lovely day Lovely restaurant Lovely service great date for me and my hubby with wonder weather and good vibes with great food . read more

Millpond Gatherings - New York strip cauliflower mashed potatoes and broccoli - Steakhouses Near Me - Northford, Connecticut

Food was marginal. Lobster appetizer had no flavor Rolls were stale Aged steak?? Maybe, but I can do better prime un-aged at home Dessert was what led this to one star...should have been negative. Lemoncello dessert was moldy. Moldy layers...never seen that before. Didn't finish it. Spouse was burping up moldy cake taste after we left. Had to have highballs when we got home to 'medicate'. What a disappointment! read more

Maybe the worst restaurant experience I've had in years. We've been to the tavern in the lower level before. Amateurish service with basic pub food - it was fine. This time I showed up on a Thursday night to meet my son. I arrived first and was placed in the worst table in the place (the restaurant was less than half full) It was a little two-top right next to the kitchen and right next to, oddly, a buffet table. As the line for the buffet (again, what was the buffet all about?) was wrapping around us at our table, I asked to be moved. We were accommodated. So at least there was that. I had remembered during my last visit the nachos were pretty good, so we ordered those as a starter. They were inedible. A pile of tortilla chips with some runny cheese whiz-like topping and a few chopped onions and tomatoes. We ate none of it. I ordered a burger, and my son ordered a salmon dish. Forty five minutes later our food finally arrived. My burger was cold. My son's dish was simply a slab of salmon that actually wasn't too bad, but it was presented with a few pieces of steamed broccoli and cauliflower and a scoop of mashed potatoes. No sauces, no spices, no flavoring whatsoever on this dish. It looked like a low-budget banquet meal, or maybe something that would have been served from the weird buffet in the corner. Service was inattentive, and when I finally was able to chase down my check (after another screw-up by the staff) I found that I paid almost $80 (we had only a single drink between the two of us) for a downright awful meal experience. Is this place under new management, or is there a new chef? Man, it has gone from OK to awful. We won't be back. read more

Went last Saturday eve. Oysters were some of the worst meatless I've ever had. Prime steak was very chewy. 2nd time we are disappointed. Good location and nice servers though. Will try again this summer maybe will be better read more

I don't even know where to begin... My family and I were in Northford, CT for my sons soccer game and we saw the Millpond Steakhouse. It's a rustic looking castle. I looked them up online while I was at the game and low and behold I found them on "Open Table". So, I made reservations for after the game. Holy smokes, this place is awesome! The food was on point, the wine selection, on point, the ambiance was awesome also. Our server Ryan was awesome, very attentive and accomodating. My family and I were very pleased with our selections!! I highly recommend this establishment, as a matter of fact, it gets the highly covetted, "MMMMSK™"! That just happened!! read more

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We first went to the 'Venue ' for their Mother's Day special. It was not cheap but was very disappointing. In addition to the Venue they also have a steakhouse and a tavern. Last night for our anniversary we decided to try the steakhouse. We'd heard good things. The fact that between 5 and 6 pm on a beautiful Friday night only sat a total of six people should say something. The grounds and building are gorgeous. I ordered short rib cavatelli. They could have left out the short rib. It did nothing to the taste except maybe to detract and add to the price. My wife had shrimp and scallops. The scallops were beautiful and cooked perfectly. It was over risotto not much flavor. Both meals were high priced. Oh they did serve popovers which were very good. With so few people and the food being just ok I wonder about their future. read more

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Service was quick, friendly and responsive. The food was fantastic. The steak gorgonzola was perfectly cooked as ordered, tender, flavorful, hot and delicious. Husband had tacos, which were also excellent. read more

Millpond Gatherings - Steak Gorgonzola - Steakhouses Near Me - Northford, Connecticut

We had a business dinner here with three in attendance. Overall I have to say the service was a little slow as we waited on our drinks and water to be served to the table. The place was busy for a Tuesday night so maybe they got caught off guard. Overall the food was decent, nothing special at all. One of the plates delivered to the table was salmon with Brussels sprouts, the salmon was well overcooked and somewhat dry and the Brussels sprouts were a little overdone. Nothing to the point of complaining to management but just a little disappointment. The other two plates were just fine as were the appetizers. Drinks were reasonably priced but watch what wine you order, that can get pricey. The atmosphere is great, lodge theme, fireplace running and full of windows to look at the frozen lake. This is the second time we have been here. The first time was upstairs in the dining room, this time downstairs in the Tavern. We will be back but more than likely back upstairs. read more

We went to the millpond gatherings Steakhouse for dinner on Saturday 6/20. Overall it was a good experience, it has a very nice atmosphere, with a wilderness lodge feel. Our waitress I think her name was Susan D according to the check was very good. The drinks, and appetizers, Barrata salad, and beet salad were awesome. But the steaks not so much. We ordered the 40 day aged rib eyes. We all ordered them medium rare, and they all came to the table way overcooked. It was very disappointing considering they are expensive, and this is a high end Steak restaurant. and we were not the only ones unhappy as the table behind us had the same experience. in fairness they did offer to take them back, but we decided to keep them because we didn't feel right having them thrown away. Also while I'm here I would also recommend staying away from the garlic mashed potatoes as well. We are definitely not overly picky people, but I think some constructive criticism is needed here. As I said we enjoyed our visit, and we would definitely go back and try them again. I would recommend not spending the extra on the 40 day aged steak, pass on the garlic mashed if you can, and make sure to insist your steak be cooked to proper order. read more

Staff was rude and condescending. Food was oily and drinks were overpriced for what we received.

Bad food, bad service. We held a corporate event there and had to wait past starting time to get the food. Meatballs were the size of marble. Chicken skewers were about the size of toothpicks. Sauce was inedible. Endive cups were 1/2 the size of a full piece of endive with nothing but cream cheese in it. Waitstaff was rude and not helpful at all. We asked the bartender if he was having any luck with our order. His answer was "pleny of luck" rolled his eyes and walked away. STAY CLEAR OF THIS PLACE. read more

Ambience is amazing. So very pretty, even in the winter, and we got to sit by the inside fireplace! My fav! They are a little pricy, but the food and drinks are worth it! They give you popovers and gourmet butter beforehand which are so tasty. They were prompt with taking orders and delivering food. We opted for the prefix menu, which was well worth it since the short ribs cavatelli that I wanted was on there, I additionally got butternut squash bisque and a dessert. The bisque had a pomegranate drizzle which was amazing with the soup. I wouldn't have thought of that combo as being good together. Got a piece of cheesecake for dessert to go because we were so full, but did eat it shortly after I got home and it was good as well. The short rib cavatelli was amazing, would def get again and go back to millpond gathering! read more

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This place has quickly become one of the best steakhouses in Connecticut. We've been here a couple of times already and each time it has exceeded our expectations. The location is legendary and rustic. Cocktails are very satisfying and new selections are rotated in regularly. The raw bar offers great local oysters at a moderate price. Steaks are cooked to perfection with a tasty exterior char. I value when a restaurant really understands what medium rare is without having to be told. Its fantastic that most of the steak dishes include a potato starch and veggies unlike many others where all sides are a la carte. However, their sauced mushrooms with onions and creamy spinach are awesome compliments to any steak dish. If you have room for dessert, the churros and carrot cake are yummy. Service is excellent with a very friendly and professional staff. They really make you feel welcomed and appreciated. Will definitely be coming back often! read more

Yup! No good not worth the money. Pretty place but crappy everything else. Been several times and not consistent food. Don't waste your time or money here. read more

Service was awful for upstairs in the steak house. We had dirty dishes shitting infront of us the whole time while service was happening. There was no pre-clear for entrees to come out. They wrapped our food but left all the dirty dishes on the table. Cappuccinos came out cold and the molten chocolate cake was so burnt it was stuck to the plate. read more

Millpond Gatherings - Molten lava cake - Steakhouses Near Me - Northford, Connecticut

***although GF available, they were not labeled. Server was somewhat knowledgeable but extremely helpful! Met two friends on a Tuesday night for taco Tuesday. A bit confusing pulling in - the tavern entrance is located down below. It was fairly crowded. Super cute inside where we sat - very rustic. Some folks were outside which looked even nicer, but it was a bit chilly and we weren't prepared for that. Would probably sit out there next time. A bit disappointed that the tacos didn't have a GF option - it was flour tortillas. But they looked good! We ordered the peach, burrata, asparagus salad which was delicious. Some folks got tacos I got the chopped salad with shrimp which I recommend! It was a good size portion which I took home. I would be back! read more

Tuesday is Taco Tuesday at Millpond Gatherings. There's a choice of 6 tacos (beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, vegetarian and shrimp.) They're available at $5 each or 3 for $14. One in my party has Celiac disease and avoids wheat. He asked for his tacos with corn shells. The waitress informed us they have only flour shells. Furthermore, the Guac and Chips appetizer has flour chips. We learned that after ordering the Guac. For $11 you get about a dozen chips and 1/2 cup of guac - not much for your $11. The guac tasted pre-made. I don't recommend it. I ordered the grilled fish, beef and pork tacos (see image.) When ordering I was wondering if 3 would be too much food. It was not. First of all, they're pretty small - smaller than the typical taco from the trucks at Long Wharf. Secondly, the fish taco had very strong fishy flavor; I could manage just a single bite. Also not recommended. For dessert, we ordered Churros for the table. They were served hot with plenty of cinnamon sweetness and a side of whipped cream. There was hot melted chocolate inside the churros. If you like chocolate with your cinnamon, they were pretty good. Good points include: Our waitress Olivia was a delight. Seeing the mostly uneaten fish taco, she removed it from the bill without my asking. The atmosphere was nice, we sat outside overlooking the pond. On Taco Tuesday, your first drink is just $4 with a taco order. read more

Millpond Gatherings - Grilled Fish, Pork and Beef Tacos - Steakhouses Near Me - Northford, Connecticut

The venue was beautiful and as expected, very modern and Rustic. The service was excellent, I was there on a Saturday evening at 5:30pm and I had a main server and a different server for accompaniments- teamwork at it's finest. Drinks: Sangrias were tasty Appetizers: The tower, Oysters and short rib dumplings Dinner: The food we ordered did not disappoint. We ordered dry aged steak and truffle fries, lamb chops and potatoes, salmon and potatoes and double cut pork chops with veggies. The cons- the Asparagus was just cut ( including the end of stalk) and sautéed with shallots. Dessert: Limoncello Cake and Blood orange Gelato (both excellent) Overall very good, I would definitely recommend and with good food and ambiance comes a hefty price. But well worth it for me. They also had music playing- Saxophonist. Very nice touch. read more

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Beautiful restaurant on the water of an old mill in Northford Nice atmosphere and good service read more

My family and I decided to attend the Easter Brunch at the Millpond Gatherings. We were seated in the Steakhouse which was such a beautiful atmosphere and the food was amazing. But I do have to say we had the most amazing waitress, Nicole. She was attentive, professional and very friendly. She took the time to answer all my questions and requests completely. She is definitely an asset to the Millpond . read more

I was visiting my hometown of Northford and was so amazed how beautiful the Millpond has become. It presents itself as a welcoming venue with a nod to its history and a smattering of modern elements.I went for lunch on a Saturday. It was misty outside so the large fireplaces felt so good. The hostess let us pick our table and we chose one near the window. I ordered the mushroom ravioli and my partner ordered the salmon. We shared and not only did we love our own but each others. The desserts sounded delicious but we were full and satisfied. Every aspect of our visit was top notch from service to food to atmosphere. We will definitely be back! read more

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