Jennifer, our server, is the epitome and benchmark of a server. Sets the tone, the expectation, and the experience of pleasure dining. It definitely helps with the quality of food that we had. Our hostess Maleah said it was a 40 minute wait but lucky for us things cleared up and we were seated after 20min. For a fully packed restaurant, our server Jennifer provided us with a great meal experience. The Kitchen obviously prepared the food in such a way that it gave us time to enjoy each dish and when we were ready, the next dish was available. I don't know how they do that but it was just perfect. Enjoy Fellow Yelpers! read more

There's a reason why this place has over 3k reviews on Yelp--the food is so delicious, the ocean view is beautiful, and service is exceptional! After visiting the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, we serendipitously came across the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company. We started off with their Cup Chowder, which there were nice bits of bacon in their creamy clam chowder. We also ordered the SB Shrimp Cocktail and half dozen of oysters. All the appetizers were solid. The star of the show was definitely the main course. We ordered the Lobster Roll, Uni, and the Rock Crab Special. My favorite was the Rock Crab Special. The meat was sweet and tender. Another favorite was the Uni, which I believe this place is known for. The uni was very fresh and served on 6 raw scallop and lime wheels. Because this dish was an absolute showstopper, other diners actually stopped by our table to ask if we recommended ordering it--and, of course, our answer was a definitive yes! It was so beautifully presented and just as delicious as it looked. The Lobster Roll was good but it didn't stand out as the other two dishes. It was packed with Maine lobster tossed with celery, capers, chives, mayo and butter in a toasted hoagie roll. It was served with coleslaw and nicely battered onion rings. What really made this dining experience so memorable was the beautiful ocean view. We had just the right amount of sunshine, a cool breeze, and great food to top it all off. It really doesn't get much better than that! read more

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Having lived close to the beach for most of my life, and having visited many piers for food, I give my honest review. SBSC does not accept reservations. Even so, we were seated at our preferred outside table within 30 minutes. It was crowded but the team is efficient. Our table outside had beautiful views. Our server came immediately to ask for drink orders and questions about the menu. She was very kind and made our dining experience excellent. We ordered: 3lb rock crab special $60 as of 8/2926: 5 stars! The crab was sweet and delicious. They serve the crab heads cleaned so if you want the tomale, be sure to mention when ordering. It was a treat to eat seafood at its origin; the taste was exceptional. Lobster pasta: acid forward with a good amount of lobster Dozen Laguna oysters: excellent Lobster bisque: rich and buttery, very good Fried combo: our least fave, ymmv! Kids meals are available. Highly recommend for the ambiance and food quality. The 800m walk to the end of pier is fun with lots of historical tidbits. Happy eating! read more

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This restaurant is located at the end of the pier in Santa Barbara. I saw that they had great reviews so we stopped by on our way to Monterrey. They interior is quite small but they have a nice outdoor seating area that overlooks the ocean so we opted to sit outside. It was a beautiful day! We ordered the coconut shrimp, lobster roll, clam linguini, and half a dozen oysters. I forget which of the oysters we ordered, but they were both medium size and deliciously fresh. The other entrees were all delicious. Clam meat were fat and juicy and the lobster roll had huge chunks of lobster meat in it. Really fresh and delicious. Our server was a friendly lady that gave great recommendations. She gave us recommendations on our drive to Monterrey as well. Lovely experience dining here. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I wanted the Santa Barbara seafood experience, so we decided to have lunch at Santa Barbara Shellfish Company on the pier. There was a bit of a wait on a weekend lunch, but we were eventually seated on their outside deck right over the water. They have some umbrellas for shade, and you can enjoy the view of the ocean from here. They also have indoor seating, but I think the outside area is generally more enjoyable. We ordered the Garlic Baked Clams to start. An order comes with six Littleneck Clams topped with garlic, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese with some extra cheese and some lemon wedges on the side. These were pretty good! We also got a Crab Cakes entree that came with chipotle aioli, coleslaw, and two large onion rings. The crab cakes were good overall, and I enjoyed having some onion rings on the side. But the main reason I wanted to come here was to get their Uni with Raw Scallops! An order comes with six pieces on top of a raw scallop on a slice of lime. They also garnish the plate with the live uni itself. It's so fresh, it's literally still moving on your plate. The uni had a little sweetness and wasn't too bitter. It paired nicely with the scallops! The only downside of this place is there are a handful of pigeons that hang around on the pier walking around looking for food scraps on the floor. You can tell they're pretty used to people because they'll come right up to you and walk under your table and chair. A little bothersome, but it's not too bad. Lastly, there's only one bathroom inside, so the line can get super long. Just a head's up! read more

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This place is good, albeit with eye watering prices. Every dish could be more palatable if it was cheaper by $7-10. Mark Weins must've spent $300 on himself when he did his vlogging here. Highlights: - Uni special, you know it's fresh when the spiny's are still moving - Clam chowder bread bowl, tons of clam in each bite - Onion rings, panko breaded made it one of the best rings I've had - Steamed clams, broth it was steamed in super garlicky and dleesh Tip: park closer to where you enter and enjoy the short walk to the end of Stearns Wharf so you don't get gridlocked read more

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Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is well worth the wait. There was a line outside when I arrived, but I chose to sit inside at the bar, which turned out to be a great decision. The uni had arrived fresh that morning, so I ordered the uni special featuring sea urchin over scallops. It was incredibly fresh, sweet, and beautifully showcased the quality of the seafood. Sometimes the simplest preparations are the best. The casual waterfront setting and ultra fresh seafood make this a must visit when you're in Santa Barbara. I'll definitely be back. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Uni Special - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food: got both the lobster bisque and clam chowder, the clam chowder was room temperature... -coconut shrimp was the best dish but could have used more sauce for the amount of shrimp served -lobster roll was served in a toasted bread that did not compliment the lobster mix -fried seafood platter was mediocre Service: our waiter was attentive, we accidentally left our dog water bottle behind and one of the staff ran after us which was greatly appreciated Ambiance: we sat outside with our dogs, its laid back and we were warned it would be windy read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Lobster roll and fried seafood platter - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Food was ok but the view was nice. I asked which is more popular the lobster bisque of clam chowder soup. I was told the calm chowder I with the beard bowl. I don't recommend getting it in the bread bowl it's cute for aesthetics but not to eat the bread was cold. Would have tasted better if it was toasted. My husband has the fried calamari and shrimp with onion rings and coleslaw now his dish was delicious. But size portion was very small u r mostly eating onion rings and coleslaw. Hardly any shrimp and calamari read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Fried calamari and shrimp with side of onion rings and coleslaw - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Had to get the famous Uni, and I'm so glad I did! It comes super fresh, and the shell moving on the plate proves how fresh the uni really is! The uni is sweet, creamy, and briny, which I absolutely love. And the scallop underneath is creamy as well! Such a nice refreshing little bite! They have a takeout window on the side, if you don't want to wait for a seat inside the restaurant. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Uni - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Sitting right on the pier with the ocean all around you, it's hard to beat the setting. The views are beautiful, and the whole place has an authentic, laid-back coastal feel that almost makes you forget you're in Southern California. The seafood is fresh and tasty, and while it's a little overpriced, you're paying for one of the best locations in Santa Barbara. Honestly, the atmosphere is worth it. It feels like you've stepped into a little slice of Maine without leaving California. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I had been wanting to try this place out for years! When hubby & I came to dine here in 2020, the line was insane and the wait was super long. We decided to eat next door, which was sort of a mistake. Luckily, in Jan. 2026, we were able to grab seats at the counter inside. We got to watch the dishes being prepared a la minute! What a treat! They were busy, but each person knew what they were doing and they worked efficiently! Our primary objective was for me to taste a Santa Barbara Uni (Sea Urchin) while IN Santa Barbara! I've had lots of live S.B. Uni at restaurants in the Los Angeles area. We placed an order for the Uni. There were 6 pieces, served over a piece of scallop and placed on a slice of lime. Pretty yet simple presentation! I had to first sample an Uni all by itself. So rich and delicious! Then I ate the bit of scallop by itself as well. So good! I ate the rest of them as served. Loved them! We also got Lobster Bisque, Crab Cakes, and Lobster Tacos to share. Everything was good! Worth the trip to S.B. to eat here! There's usually a ton of people waiting outside. If you have the time and patience, you should eat here at least once! read more

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I ordered from the side window, so I cannot say much about the speed and service if you get a table, but from what I could tell, they were a very well-oiled machine. I ordered the Clam Chowder in a sourdough bowl. I thought, "I am from the Bay Area. I should try something new." SIKE. When in doubt, order what you like! The service at the window was very quick and friendly. We got our to-go order within minutes. My husband decided on a chicken sandwich from a different location for lunch, so we walked it over about 10 minutes. Once I opened my order, I was very happy with the soup portion. The bowl was a little difficult to open, but once I got it open, I poured the soup in and destroyed it. Being from the San Francisco Bay Area, I have had plenty of clam chowder bread bowls. This one was pretty good, but it was a little salty for my liking. The bread was perfect, and I actually got pretty full without even having to finish the bread bowl. Overall, I would definitely have it again if I was in the area. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I want to start off by saying the food was great. It definitely hit the spot and they offer large portions with a generous amount of seafood. HOWEVER... I think they should be more mindful about food safety rules. I was sitting at the bar and had a direct view into their kitchen. To keep it short, I saw one of the chefs using one towel for multiple things, from handling the hot pans to directly touching/plating the food. Watching that same towel graze the floor made me feel queasy and quite uneasy tbh but the food was good other than that I guess??? read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Fresh seafood in the fresh ocean air. All the seafood was great, chilled with a good amount of sea flavor. The urchin was my favorite, very clean flavor with slight gameyness. Outdoor seating was packed but we were able to find a table. Lobster roll and onion rings were a little disappointing. Very basic, could skip read more

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A restaurant located down the end of the pier. I asked for outdoor seating so that I could enjoy the sea views and sun. My served was very nice and attentive although it was a busy afternoon. I ordered the lobster pasta and it came with a side of toasted bread with butter. It was delicious and had plenty of lobster pieces in it. The pasta sauce was delicious and buttery as well. 5/5 I also ordered a side of their onions rings, it arrived nicely staked up. The bread was falling apart with each bite but really generous slices of white onion. It came with a small ranch dip. 4/5 I ended up ordering a IPA beer: Ventura coast purple tears IPA. 5/5 refreshing and paired up so well with my plate. Overall I had a pleasant lunch experience here. read more

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~ food: fried shrimp and onion rings 10/10 everything was crispy and the coleslaw was the best i've ever had! the sauce it came with was also delicious scallop ceviche 10/10 large portion, scallop could be a bit softer but still very tasty and lots of scallop ~ service: quick service ~ parking: very hard parking on the pier and place gets very busy read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - fried shrimp and onion rings - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Our 4th time here, and Santa Barbara Shellfish Company continues to be a must visit every time we're in Santa Barbara. Between the great service, incredible ocean views, watching the people dive into the ocean and the consistently delicious food, it's an experience you don't want to miss. This visit, I tried the Laguna oysters. Our server mentioned they're on the saltier side, and they definitely were. My boyfriend loved them, but I personally prefer the smaller, sweeter oysters. It really comes down to personal preference. We also ordered our usual clam chowder, which is hands down one of the best I've had. It's packed with clams, rich, creamy, and full of flavor. We couldn't leave without getting the scallops and uni as well. Always fresh, simple, and always excellent. The combination of fresh seafood, unbeatable waterfront views, and consistently great food is why we keep coming back. Already looking forward to visit number five read more

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Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is a great spot if you're looking for fresh seafood with an incredible view of the ocean. We tried three different type of oysters (I don't remember which was which, but they were all good), fresh uni, and coconut shrimp. The service was good and the worker even gave us some suggestions to do since it was our first time in Santa Barbara. The atmosphere is hard to beat, with outdoor seating right on Stearns Wharf overlooking the water. read more

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Overall good dinner at SB Shellfish Co. busy as always but also efficient. The views also never change. Still spectacular end of wharf scenery. Food is good but don't expect the "best ever". It's kind of a fast casual seafood spot. Expect that but with great views and you'll be okay! read more

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The view and the service here was amazing, I was seated quickly and had my order taken quickly. I came here specifically to try the uni on scallops and was unfortunately disappointed. The portions of the scallops and uni were very small and it was not as flavorful as I thought it would be. I am a huge uni fan so the experience was a bit of a bummer. The view was great, though, but the meal was a let down. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Uni on scallops - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I 100% recommend visiting this place for the fresh seafood if you're visiting Santa Barbara. We got seated within 5min outside on a Saturday. Our waiter was super fast getting our orders in and was super attentive to our table even though there were a bunch of other customers at the time. We ordered the uni, rock crab special, and garlic baked clams. Our overall favorite were the garlic baked clams for sure. The uni was great though we preferred to eat them alone without the lime and sauce. The rock crab was really fresh and moist as well. If you're a fan of seafood and want quality food, I would definitely recommend this place. read more

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After Yelp-ing a few seafood options in the near area I decided to try this place. It did not disappoint! We came during the middle of the lunch rush on a beautiful sunny day. I got an order of uni and a king crab salad. We were hungry, so we also decided to place an order for bread. The Uni was very fresh- it came with a piece of lime Uni and scallop. All raw with the side of soy sauce/ponzu like sauce. Each piece was a treat to eat. The king crab salad - a very simple salad was delicious! The crab was fresh and sweet! Our waiter was very nice and patient. An outstanding place to sit and grab casual seafood. What's neat about this place is you can drive right on the pier and parking is free for the 90 minutes. It's such a cute place to walk around too. It was my first time so I was in awe with everything. read more

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Steam clams 5/5 Uni 5/5 Lobster roll 4/5 Clam chowder 4/5 Service 5/5 Seating 3/5 wish the table was bigger for three people. We really struggle to dine in the table for 2. read more

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This is where the good seafood is at. The service is great too, our waitress was very kind and brought out drinks and food very swiftly. That Uni special, you can definitely tell the Uni is fresh and it's fun to squeeze the lemon on the sea urchin because it wiggles. Heh. The shrimp scampi, it couldddd be better but overall yummy and the bread literally so good, could eat the bread alone and would be satisfied unlike Boathouse at hendry's beach (all shade thrown). This clam chowder might even be better than the Boudin Bakery in San Francisco. It came out hot and fresh with a delicious bread bowl that doesn't taste like it's been left out for hours. The seafood pasta is nice, doesn't have a strong sauce, LOTS of shrimp and scallop (yummy!) the area is very nice too, it's on a pier and you can watch the waves. read more

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The view of this place is unbelievable! The weather on the evening in mid July is perfect for outdoor seating here. Came here for dinner on my 30th birthday. Started off with Coconut shrimp as an awesome appetizer. Lobster roll is not something I usually go for, but today was a must! My mom who usually doesn't finish her food, finished the entire pasta! That's how I know it was delicious. Next time I might have to get that! read more

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My second time here and again had an amazing experience w the food and service. came alone again and sat at the bar & Sean gave me an amazing service. Had lobster, oysters, fresh Uni, and the best crab cocktail I've ever had in my life... strongly, recommend this place. It's a good thing. It's two hours away from my house, Otherwise, I would spend all my money here. read more

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I have been wanting to come here for years. We sat outside and Fernando was our waiter. He was great. We order a couple plates of fresh uni, steamed clams, raw oysters and shrimp ceviche. Fernando said they were expecting a delivery of Box Crabs and would let us know when they arrive. When they arrived we ordered the biggest one still available. That crab stole the show. Probably one of the best meals ever. Definitely coming back! read more

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Elvin provided the best service on top of the most excellent food. My mom, aunt, hubby, and I ordered soooo much food here. We had a blast. The birds were a lil too much for us. At one point, all our legs were folded up, but that's what we get for best views and food lol read more

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Man this place is so good and has a lot of tourists. You can order on the outside as you're walking towards the end of the wharf you'll see a window on the outside. The service is great and the ambiance is the stillness of the huge oceanfront with calm waters. Fresh fish and seafood and good views! read more

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We came to Santa Barbara Shellfish Company for the uni and oysters, which were both incredibly fresh and delicious, but the real standout for us was the box crab. Absolutely a must-try if you visit. Sweet, fresh, and so flavorful -- easily our favorite thing we ordered. The seafood here really speaks for itself, and the casual waterfront atmosphere makes the experience even better. One tip: if it's a busy day, try to sit inside if you can. It made the experience much more enjoyable with less of the crowd and wind from outside. Definitely a spot worth visiting when in Santa Barbara. read more

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This place seemed pretty popular for the uni so we definitely stopped by and it did not disappoint! There's a great waterfront and sunset view here, though we saw that while hanging by the wharf before coming in. There was no wait for dinner for two during santa barbara uni season in the Winter (Jan/Feb). We opted to sit outside, though not all seats have heating so definitely bring a jacket so you dont freeze in your T shirt and shorts like me. Santa Barbara Uni: $37 for 6 pc of fresh creamy uni, resting on top of scallops which were a bit bitter even with the ponzu sauce, so I ate them separately. You can tell it's freshly shucked because the spines still moved. Our server, taught us you could "tickle" them by pouring the ponzu sauce over to trigger the spines to move. Spiny lobster: first time trying this. The main body was simple to eat, but the legs took a lot of work/time and was even harder to extract because of the poky spikes. Came with just 2 onion rings and coleslaw. The lobster roll and chowder bowls were standard delicious as expected, though they really cooled down quickly eating them in the cold night outside. And the oysters were fresh! We ordered relatively a lot of food so the total came out to be $120/person. Overall 4 for food and vibe, 4 for value, but will round up to 5 for friendly chill service from Lucas! Would definitely come back, mostly for the uni. read more

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This restaurant is right at the end of the pier, with some indoor, and outdoor seating. You will need to wait longer for patio seats. It's the perfect spot for a delicious fish dish. read more

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This was me and my friend's last food spot before leaving Santa Barbara, so I knew I had to get something with Santa Barbara uni. I ended up ordered the Shrimp and Scallop Pasta and added the uni for an additional $14. I was very impressed by the pasta. I thought the uni tasted very fresh, and the spaghetti had a lot of seafood flavor. I do wish the pasta came with a lemon wedge to add a little bit of acid to the plate. Overall service was good, and location is great, as it's located right by the water. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Very fresh seafood. I've never tried uni before, and was very surprised when the plate came out and it was still moving. Tasted delicious, especially with the ponzu sauce! The ceviche was a larger portion than expected and my table was barely able to finish it. I really liked the coleslaw that came with the fried seafood platter. The onion rings were very nicely fried, along with the fried scallops. I didn't like the fried oysters however. We waited 30 minutes for an outdoor table, and the weather was nice outside. I may have gotten sunburnt but it felt nice to be eating outside next to the ocean. read more

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It was a very good evening.. in a pleasant atmosphere and delicious food. The batter was very thin and all kinds of marine life were well cooked. They are not overdried, as it usually happens if the food is in batter. The waiter was quite attentive. I can put a solid 4 for the view and 5 for the food. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Fried calamari, oysters, shrimps, and scallops - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is one of those spots that just sticks with you. We ordered the lobster roll, fresh uni, and a side of onion rings -- and honestly, every single bite was memorable. The lobster roll was packed, buttery, and perfectly balanced. The uni was incredibly fresh -- clean, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness that reminds you why you're eating seafood by the ocean in the first place. Even the onion rings were on point -- crispy, golden, and not greasy. The food alone would bring us back, but the service was friendly and efficient, and the view? Classic Santa Barbara waterfront vibes. Boats, ocean breeze, sunshine -- it completes the whole experience. Definitely coming back next time we're in town. This is the kind of place you crave once you've had it. read more

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You can drive on the dock and park next to the restaurant. If it's within, I think, two hours you can get it validated. The food is extremely mediocre. The lobster pasta with the added uni was so bland. The uni itself was the only good thing. The combo platter ran out of oysters. I don't know how you mess up onions rings but they were so thick and bland. Given the location, I understand the price for the location but it's so expensive for bland food. read more

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company - Seafood Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This place is a gem.My husband and I had a weekend getaway in Santa Barbara and one of my friend recommended this place and my hotel was walkable ,So why not give this place a tried. Food : Can't get any fresher than this! We ordered spiny lobster,Lobster tacos,linguini clams and steam clams.Everything was fresh,Delicious.They have an open kitchen and cooked it right in front of you. Service : We went in about 6.30-7 PM on Friday night.It was 65 degree and nobody was in there at all,So we picked a counter bar and the bartender/server came to us right away.He was nice and friendly and always checking on us. Vibe : Relaxing and chill vibe.Everything was open and we loved it. Next time we're visit Santa Barbara.This restaurant will for sure be our first choice,No doubt about it. read more

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We stopped by for lunch as it is on our way up north. The staff and owner were super friendly and helpful. The seafood was fresh and tasted. We ordered the followings: Fish tacos Poke bowl Fried Calamari Cioppino All were tasty and we forgot to take pic of the Cioppino because we ate it up so fast! I would definitely come back if we are ever close by. They have seating and good selection of drinks. read more

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