We recently held my husband's surprise 50th birthday party at Prelude Kitchen and Bar, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience. From the very beginning, Anna, the event coordinator, was absolutely exceptional. Her quick responses, attention to detail, and the ease of the entire planning process made what could have been a stressful event feel effortless. She helped ensure every detail was covered, and everything went exactly according to plan. The evening itself exceeded expectations. The food was absolutely delicious and received rave reviews from all of our guests, and the venue itself was gorgeous with sunset views of the Capitol. Most importantly, the entire event felt seamless from start to finish, allowing us to relax and truly enjoy the festivities. A special thank you to our servers, Jake and Tommy, who were incredibly attentive, friendly, and professional throughout the evening. They contributed so much to the warm and celebratory atmosphere. If you are looking for a venue for a special event, I wholeheartedly recommend Prelude Kitchen and Bar. We are so grateful for helping make my husband's 50th birthday such a perfect celebration. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

Ambiance: Rich, inviting, and warm. This is a place where you really should dress to impress. Definitely a date night spot however there were a few larger parties enjoying their evening as well. Staff dress code fit the mood as well. Anna helped with our reservation. She was most enjoyable and friendly. Erica was our attendant. She was professional yet fun. Food presentation was on point. We ordered the steak and the pork chop. The portion sizes are generous so be prepared to get your money's worth. They offer a great wine selection. We ordered the focaccia appetizer- would highly recommend. Our only issue was not wanting the asparagus that came with the steak. My partner asked to switch out to seasonal vegetables. Our attendant said no issue at all however, what came in its place (after the steak was served) was a sad bowl of spinach and not sure what else). It just kind of felt like we ticked off the chef by having an allergy issue. Not a big deal just to note. All and all, would definitely visit again. It's pricey but worth it. They have a lovely outdoor patio and its steps away from a parking garage. read more

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Damn. Another 5 experience. I walk in here looking unemployed ( I dress Down) The greet at the front door is all smiles and welcomes. I had two glasses of different reds with my dinner. Excellent. I had the smoked salmon canapés Great sauce and light starter. The long cod: I was afraid to order seafood with chorizo in the ingredient list. Seemed risky. Bartendress convinced me otherwise. The chorizo risotto is the bed the king cod sits on. Slightly spicy yes. It's like having two complimentary separate meals. The chorizo risotto is very flavorful in its own way. The leeks /sausage slices ( not described in the menu) were a great explosion of flavor. I separated the lingcod and risotto bites with a small mix of wine which cleaned me palate between bites perfectly. Capers. Like chocolate on ice cream. Always a great touch The long cod read more

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We waited quite a while to be approached by waitstaff and then waited quite a bit for our cocktails as well, despite it being a slow night at the restaurant. Once ordered, the food came in a timely manner. The peach burrata was made with a nectarine, if I'm not mistaken. My husband said the best thing about his steak was the potatoes. My lemon risotto was very lemony...it was the dominant flavor of the dish. I wouldn't order it again. Given the prices of the food, I am overall underwhelmed with the flavors. The restaurant itself is bright and has a nice patio. read more

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Vibey and beautiful place. Service is above and beyond. Looking forward to coming back. I came in during happy hour for a sip and read my book. I got the sail away off of happy hour menu. It's a tropical drink and I loved it. It was not bus during the time of my visit to I was able to read for a little without holding up a table. The ambiance was very nice here. Service is truly amazing. My server is wonderful and also checked on me to make sure my order tasted good. Great place. read more

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Birthday celebration was a success! Everyone was great the food, service and the ambiance. We will definitely come back again. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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From the entrance to being seated, we were greeted respectfully by the host. The waiter came to explain the menu with great service. Once we received our starter, salad, to entree...we were very pleased and satisfied with how everything tasted. Overall dining experience here was 100! read more

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I have been here for a handful of Happy Hours- never for a full on meal. But their HH menu is pretty excellent! Happy Hour is Mon-Fri 4-6pm (only as walk in and at the bar). I usually get 3-4 food options and split with a friend. They do offer mocktails as well! The greeter is always very welcoming - the ambiance always very nice- but service can be a bit hit or miss. If you aren't in a rush- it's nice. Everything I have had here was delicious! read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Mocktail with NA Tequila - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

First time at Prelude Kitchen and Bar. Booked a table for 10 to celebrate my sister's birthday. Not busy, the staff were friendly and we were greeted upon entry and seated immediately. The added a happy birthday into the flowers, nice touch. Greeted my sister upon her arrival by name and a happy birthday. Sweet. The food, this is what Farm to Fork is all about. We skipped appetizers but did order the bread with cranberries, deliciously soft with the fresh butter. Mary's Half Chicken served with Brussel sprouts Beef Everything was good, cooked to perfection. Menu does change seasonally, so do check before you go. Lovely meal and ambiance if you want low key, luxe feel. Xoxo read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Birthday Dinner - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

We got the delicata squash as an appetizer and it was an amazing combo of flavors . I also liked that it was a unique dish. I got the pumpkin gnudi for my main dish. It was a good savory dish but I am not sure I would order it again. My friend got the pork chop and which I wouldn't normally order but it was cooked to perfection and I wouldn't probably get that if I visited again. The service was top notch. Our waiter was friendly and when he didn't know where to recommend for bars, he sent someone else over to let us know the different areas and a couple Of suggestions while we were in town read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Pumpkin Gnudi - solid choice - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Prelude is located directly across the street from the Capitol. It was our first time there and we were celebrating two birthdays (mine and my sister in law). We wanted to try somewhere we had both never been before, and we had heard good things! Prelude has a great menu and bar/cocktail list. Our server was usually one of the bartenders, and he recommended the pear side car which was delicious! It was not overly crowded on a Friday night and has a nice, quiet atmosphere. They also gave us birthday centerpieces with flowers and a happy birthday topper. All the food was delicious! The Brussels sprouts were great for sharing and super tasty. The bone marrow wasn't enough for five people to share, so I didn't try that one but everyone seemed to enjoy it. The mushroom mousse was unique but not a stand out for me. Our salads were good and my brother in law enjoyed the broccoli cheddar soup. There was a bit of a longer lull in between courses than we were expecting, and they did seem to be a bit understaffed. The entrees were all super flavorful and delicious. They have the flavors right although I wish my short rib had come out a bit hotter. We were celebrating, so we opted in for dessert even though we were full! The desserts were all great, and good for sharing. We enjoyed our meal and experience here. I think I can definitely see us coming back for a date night or other special occasion, as long as we're not in a hurry! read more

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We had a team dinner here last night and I have to say, it was a great experience. Our server Veronica (I hope Im right! She was awesome!) was amazing and has the best memory! She remembered all orders! Excellent service from everyone! We ordered 3 different appies, the pear was amazing!! 6 different entrees and drinks! I had affogato for dessert and it was phenomenal. Ambiance as always is beautiful. This is my 2nd time here- one was a date night and now with a group, both are amazing experience!! read more

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We walked into a spacious restaurant with dainty wall decors and amazing light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. We were certain it's going to be an epic evening! True enough, our server was on the dot with our drinks, starters, and my Ling Cod for the main menu. The food and dessert was fabulous ! I would totally recommend this place when in Sacramento! Just a great place overall! The parking can be a challenge. We walked two blocks away and counted our steps in:) read more

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Mediocre restaurant. Ambience was nice however the food wasn't all too great and the service was just standard. I'd recommend spending your time elsewhere. read more

As many times that I've visited the State Capital, I'm surprised that it's taken as long as it has to actually learn about and visit the Prelude Kitchen and Bar. On this particular occasion, I visited with a large group of folks and my experience, which was very positive, was expressed by the others in my group. On this occasion, we were greeted by a very friendly group of staff. They could not have been more accommodating both in adding patrons and tending to requests we had. I realize that large groups could get lost amidst a dinner rush, but such was absolutely not the case. The team was helpful and supportive throughout with wine and food suggestions that were spot on. My review today is going to be on my entrée. I chose the Buttermilk Brined Half Chicken (this is not a fried chicken) rather something along the pan seared side with a finish in a roasting oven. This chicken was juicy with a nice color and crisp and topped and accented with a unique and solid version of salsa verde served atop fingerling potatoes and very tasty and perfectly cooked pole beans. To enhance this even further is a perfectly balanced Jus with a great balance of sodium and fat. This dish was excellent and I give it 5 stars. Prelude Kitchen and Bar has found a new fan in me. From beginning to end, I was impressed by every aspect of what they do. A creative and very tasty set of options to accommodate just about every palette. This was not my last visit to the Prelude Kitchen, rather the first of many. Their beverages were abundant with solid wine options to fit most every preference both in taste and in price. Bravo to the team for providing such a wonderful and fun experience! read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Buttermilk Brined Half Chicken - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

Came here for dinner. It wasn't as packed for a Friday night, but overall great ambience. Our waiter was very attentive for our party of 8. Great service. I got the pork chops cooked medium. Came out perfect and definitely recommend. The spicy blackberry smash was delicious too. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Pork Chop - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I made a reservation for Valentine's Day a month ahead, making sure there was nothing about a specific overpriced menu on the site or reservation. I spent hours researching where to go, and picked an early time so we could find parking and it wouldn't be overcrowded. We showed up and there was an overpriced fixed menu. Then, when I said we wouldn't be ordering drinks, they didn't take our food order (for the one option of main course). After 30 minutes of nothing but water, I stopped a random waiter to ask. We got the first food over 45 minutes after arriving as the second table of customers. Maybe they thought we'd leave and eat the cost of a cancelled reservation? Also, my food restriction of no tomatoes wasn't recorded, and multiple items were things I can't eat. Then they brought us the amuse bouche twice, and my wife said the ceviche lacked flavor. I don't eat ceviche, but it was a tiny tortilla over a dot of avocado. The salad was spinach with fruit snd tiny raw onions, no dressing. She said it was weird and I don't eat raw onion. The soup she describes as the same as cheap tomato soup, I couldn't eat it. While the manager was apologetic and asked, "is there anything I can do?" I'm not rude enough to ask for a comped drink, but they did comp 10% off the bill when it came ($25 off $270). I only ate two courses of five, and we didn't get drinks. The waiters were polite and attentive after we had our order in. Mitch was professional and made the experience a little better. The filet mignon was supposed to be medium for both, but mine was rare, and the potatoes were undercooked. The dessert was a matcha cheesecake and for some random reason the crust was thick Oreo cookies. I had to use two hands on the fork to get through it, and my wife's was burnt. The only good part was the strawberry gelato intermezzo, but we were left with bloated bellies from an odd assortment of food and were both still hungry. Ambiance was okay, but definitely not worth nearly $300. read more

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Went here for a work dinner. The ambiance had it. The service was good, but most of us were just meh about the food. I had some of the pasta and it was just ok. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Crème brûlée was good! - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Food was great! Drinks were strong and we had a great time. I was here for a business meeting and the staff was so pleasantly nice I will definitely return the next time I'm in Sacramento read more

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The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. I would add that sitting near the back of the restaurant was a tad warm. The absolute best part of our dinner was meeting Erica our server. So extremely attentive but not hovering. She was so delightful I wish she could have dined with us. Food was excellent and very timely. One very sad note is we are not accustomed to California's way of handling the homeless. It was so very sad. read more

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Very nice meal The room is large and airy. The cocktails are creative and tasty. The food presentation is attractive. The flavors of everything we had were very good. The Pork Belly Esquites was particularly good. The staff was helpful and attentive. read more

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Very weird vibes. I came alone on a Monday evening and sat at the bar. The woman bartender named Ray I think was new but she was nice and friendly. The man bartender named Jacob gave weird vibes and wasn't all that friendly to me because he was too busy with the regulars or people he knew. The wine I got was good. The capellini pasta with added shrimp was a joke because it was $40 for a few bites! read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - I asked for no mushroom in my capellini but yet they added it - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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A nicer dining option in downtown Sacramento with delicious drinks, good service and pretty good food (some dishes are hit-or-miss as I'll explain below) We opted for outdoor seating. I much prefer to sit outside, the inside vibes are a bit off to me (I can't put my finger on it...). The interior is quiet and the trimming, layout, and bright lighting makes it feel like the inside of a residential house. I think this resonates with other diners as well since I saw all the outside tables full, while the inside had a lot of empty tables. The service was great, really friendly. The cocktails were delicious as well. The food was overall good. The pork chop and the chicken dishes were great. The steak was cooked perfectly. There were a few dishes that were REALLY SALTY. Like almost hard to eat, because it was so salty. For instance, both of our pasta dishes our entire group of 9 thought were really salty. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

The hand-rolled pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente and tossed in a deeply savory ragu. I highly recommend trying one of their signature craft cocktails before your meal because the flavors are excellent. read more

Amazing menu and food. We had bone marrow with toast, broccolini salad, steak, and seafood pasta. Everything was delicious. I cannot wait to come back and try more exquisite meals there. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Seafood with squid ink pasta - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

Came in on a Friday night around 7:40pm for an 8pm reservation and the bar was completely empty... which in hindsight felt like a warning sign we should have paid attention to. The hostess greeted us like we had personally inconvenienced them by showing up to their place of employment. Not exactly the warmest welcome. No smile, no welcome. Grabbed a whisky sour at the bar, my daughter had a drink and her boyfriend a beer. We really should have bailed and walked to Ella's down the street. But there was 6 of us, celebrating a bday. I'm known for being difficult and picky with restaurants- so I ignored my gut and continued with the reservation- thinking because the restaurant did seem busy, the food would some what compare to Hawks provisions or Ella's. It did not. As for the food... imagine if every dish on the menu had a group meeting and decided to share the exact same sauce. That's basically what happened. Different plates, same flavor profile -- and unfortunately that flavor was bland. Everything tasted like it was afraid of seasoning. Two dishes stood out, sourdough bread with whipped ricotta and the beer battered squash with ricotta sauce. Notice the same sauces. But they were good. Gnudi dish was described as an open ravioli with ricotta. It came out like an undercooked, over sauced gnocchi with pecans. Definitely not pillow and airy like they are suppose to be and definitely not a ravioli type of description. The one redeeming quality? Their whiskey and bourbon allocation. If you're a whiskey collector, you might find something interesting on the shelf. My husband is into whisky and bourbons... so he did enjoy 2 glasses Oh... and Our waiter was also lovely and nice. If you're actually looking for good food though, save yourself the disappointment and head to Hawks Provisions instead. Where the bar is lively, the food is unique and delicious and the hostess is always welcoming On the bright side, now I understand why the bar was empty at 7:40pm on a Friday night. This is a good location- and this place can have potential. Looks like they change their menu often- which is something I like...But they really have to work on customer service and food. Sometimes the lasting impressions are the first and when your hostess is unwelcoming and annoyed during her shift- it sets a tone. read more

Came here for the first time for our anniversary and was extremely impressed with the food, the vibes, and the service!! When making a reservation they asked if we were celebrating a special occasion to which I told them it was for my anniversary. Upon arrival, we were greeted immediately and given a small mason jar of flowers with a "Happy Anniversary" stick attached! (Loved the attention to detail, and as an added bonus we got to keep the flowers!) I had the scallops and risotto, my husband got the steak, we had Manila clams for appetizer and finished the night with the carrot cake. EVERYTHING WAS COOKED TO PERFECTION! The steak was tender and perfectly cooked with these amazing potatoes that were extremely crisp on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside! My risotto was creamy and the scallops were perfectly cooked! I usually don't like carrot cake (but my husband is a fan) and oh my gosh, I was in heaven after the first bite! They gave us complimentary chocolate truffles to celebrate our anniversary, and our server Victoria was extremely attentive and sweet!! The vibe of the whole place was awesome, with modern decor, such a perfect place for a party! (They have private spaces for this too!) Definitely will not be my last time here! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Devin was absolutely incredible. We came for a Mother's Day dinner and he was so attentive and stayed ahead of us the entire time. He made sure everything came out at just the perfect moment and was so personable and sweet. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. Thank you so much! read more

Came to Prelude for happy hour before a holiday party and sat at the bar. We ordered a few bites and several drinks. There was another event happening at the same time, so the bartender was quite busy, but they did an excellent job staying on top of orders and keeping drinks flowing. Definitely check out their happy hour--great service and fantastic drinks. read more

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Returned for Happy Hour before another Friday evening Broadway Sacramento show, bar seating. 3 of us shared two orders of the fried ravioli, one brussels sprouts, one artisan bread, and one dark chocolate mole...pretty much everything from the Happy Hour menu except the parmesan truffle fries. The fried raviolis are great (hence the second order). The brussels this time came with big pieces of pork belly and cranberry compote compared to my previous visit where it was pancetta and pistachios instead. The artisan bread was two kinds of bread (foccacia and another maybe baguette?) and came with a sundried tomato-balsamic dip and a wowzer smoked bone marrow butter (pretty sure it wasn't honey garlic butter which was the other kind listed on the menu). Never seen that before. The dark chocolate mole had fresh tortilla chips, pickled red onion, and cotija cheese. This was also first for me, as I'm more familiar with mole being served with meat and rice. Their mole was a nice sweetness from the chocolate. From the bar, we had hot toddys, gummy bear martinis, and I had a blood orange paloma (zero proof CleanCo Tequila). They do validate parking unless you paid a flat event rate in advance. read more

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Service was amazing. Food was delicious. Ambiance was excellent. We loved our meal. Imo this is one of the best higher end restaurants in Sac. read more

We started the night at a steakhouse in the hotel down the street and it was a disaster. I decided to cut my losses and find something else, and fortunately I found Prelude which was still open. I grabbed a seat at the bar and had great service, an excellent glass of wine and a delicious dungeness crab pasta! It literally saved the night! Great vibe, and nice decor. I'll be back next time we come to town! read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

We tried the lasagna (special fhat day), roasted chicken and cod. The chicken and cod were amazing! So flavorful. The lasagna was just okay so I recommend trying the other dishes more. Ambience was great and services was also nice. read more

made a reservation for 2 on saturday night and mentioned that it was a special occasion. they had a cute little vase of flowers for us to set the special celebratory mood. started with the Carpaccio, Esquites and shishito peppers. had the Basil Risotto with scallops and added chicken. the carpaccio had a Tomato Aioli sauce adding an extra richness that i was not expecting. the esquites were good, too, but the beef tallow added more fat and richness. my only complaint was the saltiness of the risotto. i wish i had asked for a side of lemon ricotta to balance out the dish. other than that, dinner was nice. overall, excellent service. good food and great drinks. very nice ambiance. read more

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Ambiance was a total vibe! The food, cocktails, and dessert were excellent!!! Overall our server was very attentive and friendly! read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

We came here to celebrate our anniversary, and what a thoughtful gesture! They placed a vase of flowers with a Happy Anniversary sign at our table. It was a lovely touch! Great service, our server Erika was very attentive. My vodka cocktail with lavender syrup was delicious. I had the summer greens salad, which was refreshing with a vinaigrette topped with plums, peaches, and pumpkin seeds. I also ordered the buttermilk-brined chicken, which came with potatoes and fresh vegetables, including green and white beans. The dish was very tasty, although the sauce was a bit too salty. Overall, the flavors were on point. We ordered affogato for dessert, and they even threw in an extra. Thank you for a great dinner! read more

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I'm a hopeless romantic and love when a new place carries the nostalgia of something old. Prelude Kitchen & Bar is tucked at the end of a side street in downtown Sacramento, and stepping onto their patio instantly reminded me of dining in Saint-Tropez, Cannes, or Rome. The only difference? None of those gorgeous places had a picture-perfect view of the California State Capitol right across the street. For the past 10-12 years, my wife and I have faithfully had a date night every Tuesday evening. (Men, be warned: this tradition started because Tuesdays used to mean cheap movies--and look what it's turned into. ) Every now and then, we stumble across a gem, and Prelude is absolutely one of them that will stay in our rotation from this day forward. The food? Every bit as good as the view. The pork chop alone deserves its own love story--it will make you want to leave your wife... but only to go to the restroom, and then come right back to share it with her. From start to finish, everything was excellent, including the attentive service. If you're looking for a restaurant that delivers romance, charm, and unforgettable flavors, Prelude Kitchen & Bar is the place to be. read more

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Came here for a work dinner and it had a great ambiance. It wasn't too loud but loud enough to let people enjoy themselves and speak openly without feeling self conscious. The appetizers were all delicious and great for sharing. I didn't get a photo of the caprese because it was devoured. The tomatoes were naturally sweet and they were the star of the dish. Ordered the Basil scallops and the flavors were perfectly balanced with the slight saltiness of the scallops. Would definitely come back. read more

Prelude Kitchen & Bar - Angus Ribeye - New American Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I had one of the best experiences. The service from the hostess to the waitress was above and beyond. They were so respectful and polite of what we asked for and made it happen. The food was also excellent. The drinks were really good and strong. will def be back read more

This location has been a revolving door for years but we might have a longer-term candidate now! I can only describe this place as swanky. Very attentive staff and clean and crisp, down to the minute decor and details. It seems to fill up on "show nights", being in close proximity to the Broadway Sacramento venue and the staff are very respectful of showtimes. As for the food, I would say it was a little pricey for my own taste. I'm happy to report there is a happy hour menu that ends at 6 pm. The fried ravioli were especially delicious and came highly recommended by the bartender. The accompanying salad had capers and other mandolined veggies and a great sauce. I would definitely recommend this as a standout. The garlic parm truffle fries and fried Brussels sprouts are all that you could ask for, not particularly special or unusual, but very good, nonetheless. I found the bacon on the side of the Brussels very crispy. read more

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