Some surprising service misses (brought out the wrong place not once, but twice) but it's a pretty good Creole place that's authentically Southern - not pretending to be. Highlights included an excellent jambalaya and the fried shrimp (we ordered the fried oysters, but because of service mistakes, we ended up with both). It's incredibly busy and they handled mistakes well, but it was odd (I ended up with too much food because of the extra plate). I love this more for lunch (their po boy is to die for). But dinner was pretty great. read more

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My go to place for brunch after a long hike. Truly this place is outstanding, I love their po boys and donuts. Portions are decent for the price and I always end up with a bit of leftovers for later. Don't skip on their drinks either, they have a fantastic bartender. read more

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We went during a special one night only dinner collab where the team from their sister restaurant Mentone (Aptos) came to Bywater, so it's hard to gauge the Bywater food itself. But I can say that this is a cute spot and the staff were very helpful and friendly, with fast and efficient service. I enjoyed their cocktails, especially the Industry Old Fashioned. Would come back again to try their regular food! read more

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Great happy hour. Tons of space in the outdoor seated area. Taco Al pastor and hotdog were on the happy hour menu along side $2 off of their tap. Also shared some of the dirty rice and beans (flavor!! Town) and of course must get the beignet for sure. So good read more

Solid all around. The service was exceptional. The food was delicious. Fried chicken was on point. Shrimp po boy was dressed perfectly. The greens are something to try. The grits were meh. The front of the house could have been a bit more inviting. Great spot for brunch. read more

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Wow! Wow! Wow! A true 5 star meal. Everything was delicious and they have a spectacular happy hour menu that allows for you to try a bit of everything. These portions were Happy Hour portions- very generous! Service was quick and they were very busy, so we appreciate how they were straight to the point. Will definitely come back and bring all the friends!! Ambiance is lively and casual. read more

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Since we were in the area we decided to try this place for their brunch. Their selection was a little small to choose from and prices were a bit high for their portions. I had the breakfast plate with brisket and got a side of gravy. It was good and the brisket was tender but nothing too special, although the gravy was a bit salty for me. My husband had their smoked meat po boy with andouille sausage. We liked their bbq sauces though. We sat at their outdoor patio under a heater which was nice since we had our dog. So they're pet friendly! It was just odd to see the bill that they require a 4% surcharge to cover tipping even though it also asks for an additional tip? Which was new to us. Otherwise it was a cute establishment. read more

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We absolutely loved our meal at The Bywater. We had high hopes and were still blown away by everything. Our favorite was definitely the shrimp po boy, but the hush puppies and gumbo were both delicious as well. Will for sure be back! read more

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Bywater is an amazing by restaurant from the atmosphere, food and beverages. We ate the hush puppies, gumbo, the shrimp and the oyster Po Boys and the smoked game hen which was beyond amazing. Service sucked! I believe her name was Shawnda or something like that. She acted as if we were a burden from the moment she greeted us. For a dining establishment such as this I would expect more. My 5 stars are for the restaurant and the food. read more

The Bywater - House Old Fashion. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I'm working my way through my Michelin Bib Gourmand list, and The Bywater is next up. Upon entering, there's a vintage New Orleans vibe. There's 2 outdoor seating areas, both a bit rustic compared to the inside space. We came for lunch, and today the clientele were mostly seniors (which is cool with me). We had the lunch special, which includes a po boy of your choice, fries or salad, and a drink. We also tried a couple of other classic Nola dishes, which we really enjoyed. The food was more mild than I expected, except for the seafood gumbo which brought a little bit of heat. What we ordered: + Hot link sausage po boy with fries - surprisingly the sausage was not hot at all. It was a good sausage but not sure why they call it a hot link. The fries were incredible - super crispy with nice creole seasoning. + Catfish po boy with salad - nicely fried catfish with a cornmeal batter served on a roll that's wonderfully soft and fluffy. The only thing lacking was some pickles to give the sandwich another dimension. The salad was excellent with many different lettuces and herbs in a vinaigrette dressing. + Broiled oyster Musca - first time having oysters, and these were so smooth and juicy. The buttery crumb topping added a nice texture. + Seafood gumbo - finally something with some heat. This had great blacken flavor, lots of seafood, a little rice. read more

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Fun casual Louisiana style restaurant with high vibes and strong drinks! Indoors is lively bar vibes, and they have a large outdoor patio with plenty of heaters which is great for a large group or a dog. At nighttime, they have a smoker going which has really strong smoke smells, so don't wear anything nice. The menu has a wide price range from burgers/hot dog to prime rib, so there's something for everyone to enjoy. They also have a large drink menu that is reasonably priced. read more

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The ambience is very cute, vintage Louisiana vibes, the staff was respectful and friendly. We ordered a few items from the menu: the hush puppies (came out a little too deep fried, was lacking flavor. Could've redeemed the missing flavor with the sauce that came with it, but it was just maple syrup type sauce), the broiled oysters were yummy, and the pot de creme, though a bit on the sweeter side was pretty yummy. read more

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What a fabulous little find! I had walked by here a handful of times and the name stuck out, but it wasn't until it was suggested to go here for lunch on Valentine's Day that I was pleasantly surprised to find a New Orleans restaurant in the heart of Los Gatos. We started with mediocre coffee but it's coffee. Would like to see an improvement on that but otherwise zero complaints. Fried oysters had a great breading. The cocktail sauce had a surprising kick of horseradish and was delightful The po boy was HUGE with so much shrimp, it was never ending ! Crisped to perfection and the ratios of ingredients was exactly what I wanted. Husband got the gumbo bowl and ate it all up! I'm pretty sure he would've licked the bowl if he wouldn't have been stared at. Can't wait to go back again ! read more

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Honestly I'm not sure how people can rate this place so well. Maybe it has good cocktails or I should have tried the fried chicken. Let me elaborate... Ok, I came into this place fasted for 22 hours which normally means any food tastes delicious. I ordered the jambalaya and the portion size was the first disappointment. The taste was also rather dull. It did have a bit of kick in the spice department but was really lacking for any real flavor. Not wanting to go away disappointed for trying the wrong dish I ordered the gumbo bowl after hearing a nearby table mentioning how good it was. Well it was even more bland and even lacked the slight kick of the jambalaya. read more

Terrible, absolutely awful. Disappointing. This place does not even know how to fry shrimp properly. Po'boy breading was falling off the shrimp. Shrimp wasn't even crispy. Not even a real remoulade, no lettuce or tomato dressed just plain cabbagr and hot sauce. Do not go here they are ripping you off because it's in los gatos. Portions were measly for the oysters, 3 tiny oysters that cost an arm and a leg. And we ordered two drinks and two po boys and oyster appetizers and the bill was like $107. Never going back. Should be ashamed to say this is Louisiana cuisine. And we asked for some extra hot sauce and never even got that. Was Seated outside in the cold with no heater. How on earth do people even get reservations for this place? Blows my mind. read more

We love the happy hour, it's all week long ! Great oysters and grilled cheese the BBQ brisket is killer!

Okay so now my newest experience at the Bywater was fantastic. My ideal meal anytime I go here now would be the starter of shishito peppers, the muffuletta, finished by the butterscotch pudding as dessert. The new item of shishito peppers are predominantly seasoned with mam nem which is like a fish sauce. Pairing this mam nem with subtle lemongrass gave vibes of Vietnamese cuisine. The large chunks of sweet pineapple that gave a nice acid touch to cut through the savoriness. The muffuletta is really a delight to eat. The meats, cheese and olive spread is such a flavor bomb. It has crispy crunchy outside due to being a pressed sandwich and a super moist interior. This is definitely something that's uncommon to find elsewhere at any sandwich places and thus a must try/have. Lastly the butterscotch pudding is great because it gives you the deep roasty flavor, not too sweet, and with the flaky salt makes it that much better. Fantastic music and friendly laid back staff that give a buddy buddy vibe. I would come back for specifically these items. read more

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Love coming to the Bywater, one of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area. Tonight I was underwhelmed by the service from our sever - for 3 reasons - 1. Our server didn't even bother to clean our table we down at. 2. We ordered water and a cocktail- our server brought us water... without bringing us clean glasses to drink from....I literally had to go and ask for two clean glasses from the bar. 3. When we asked for the check the server.... Literally threw the check on the table - Not sure I'll ever go back. Again, Matt and the staff at the bar do a great job generally of their service - however this particular server was questionable in her attitude and her presentation to paying customers - They Bywater is my go to place for quality and service - tonight's experience is a stein on my customer experience- I will not sit in this servers section ever again...please make this right - or I will never set foot in your amazing restaurant ever again. Leroy read more

2nd time to Bywater- this time for brunch with our daughter. Everything was tasty a our favorites are seafood gumbo, shrimp salad, biscuit, andouille sausage and the beignets. Service was great! We really like the ambiance. read more

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For this tiny little place, the food was absolute perfection! This might seem like a little hole in the wall in Los Gatos, but boy does the food scream, New Orleans. Everything we had was absolute perfection. We ended up ordering the beignets without the powdered sugar or chocolate sauce, just because we didn't want the extra sugar. They were so delicious all by themselves. It came with three and that was more than enough to share. We highly recommend this place! We will definitely be back over and over again. The staff was attentive and very friendly. I loved their iced tea. Our server brought the box out for me to see, so that I could order some myself if I ever wanted it at home. read more

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I'm pretty torn about this place! I'm such a sucker for shrimp and grits, but I did not enjoy the one from here. The grit had a nice texture, but I didn't really like the flavor of the sauce and the shrimp were a bit overcooked. On the flipside, the brisket was pretty good! Some pieces were more tender than others but overall I enjoyed it and the biscuit is delicious here! It's so soft and melts in your mouth! The crawfish Benedict was OK. Nothing too special about it and it doesn't even come with a side. Service was great! There's both indoor and outdoor seating which is nice . Definitely a mixed experience for me. read more

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Still absolutely love this place. And just a reminder - this place is inspired by New Orleans. They're not trying to recreate. They're playing on common dishes and elevating them. I'm happy to see the chef is playing with some of the existing recipes. The shrimp and avocado remoulade salad is one of my favorite go-tos. They've added in some whole grain mustard. It's still horseradish forward, and the mustard kind of bridges some notes you didn't know were missing. The chicken liver mousse was back on special. I used to eat this on its own and just love when it shows up again. It had smoked cashews and rhubarb jam which complimented it perfectly. NGL I finished it with a spoon. We also usually get the rich man's red beans and rice which we always adore. It tastes a little like molasses is being added as there was a sweeter note. It was good. I still sort of prefer when there was more smoked pork and a savory flavor. But I won't turn it down. Finally, we had something new on the main menu - crab fried rice. It was heavenly good. Hubby couldn't stop eating so I reminded him about dessert. They use blue crab - I verified. I'm definitely a Dungeness gal, and I appreciated the different flavor the blue crab brought. This is the kind of dish we'll be talking about in a few weeks remembering how much we loved it. We got beignets because of course we did. And a slice of Manressa Bread Pie - which turned out to be like a pecan pie. But different. And amazingly good.it was the kind of thing you want to eat a little bit of everything together. It was well balanced. The crust was so different and worked so well with the pecan filling. And as always we were so well taken care of there. Their whole philosophy is that the right way is the way you, the customer, want it. We were checked in on without having someone hover. The food was well spaced and we never felt rushed. The music is always fun leaving us with something at the tip of our tongues and seeing who can get Shazam running the fastest. We always feel so welcome and comfortable at Bywater. And look forward to showing up when we can. read more

The Bywater - Todays specials! (26April 2025) - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Been dining in the south bay for over 20 years and I'll say it... this place beats OCK, Park side, Valley Goat, Eos & Nyx, Black Sheep Brasserie, The Table, and many other gastropub date night contenders. My wife and I spend our precious weekly Date Nite here at least once a month. The servers are so awesome, they have our favorite cocktails ready when we arrive, even though they aren't on the menu any more. We always order a mix of staples and new dishes and we're never disappointed. Some of their vegetarian creations are the best dishes on the menu. The shrimp remoulade, hush puppies, burger, red beans and rice, creole fries and gumbo are musts. As a loyal Jeffrey Stout diner, I have to say the consistency in the quality of Bywater's classics, new flavors, cocktails and service sets a standard OCK and the others should strive for. read more

After not having been to the Bywater in Los Gatos for a couple years, we had lunch there today. It's a cute place, decorated with New Orleans-themed items. The cocktail list is more interesting than most. The drinks kept us busy, while we waited (a long time) for our food. How long does it take to shuck 6 oysters? We had the Happy Oysters, which were presented nicely and plump/creamy as I expect them to be. But they were much too salty! I had them only a couple days ago at a restaurant in Menlo Park and those were not nearly as salty. Don't know why there would be such a difference. The gumbo was the best dish we had - so rich and flavorful! Possibly the best gumbo I've ever had. The fried chicken, which I've had before, was disappointing. Even though the inside was moist, juicy and flavorful, there were stringy parts that I wouldn't eat. I think it just wasn't a quality chicken. The cheesy grits were good. Added to this expensive but somewhat disappointing lunch ($127 without tax and tip), was a 4% fee for "non-tipped staff". My feeling that service was not great - the restaurant was not busy, but I would describe the service and food delivery as "lazy", Laissez-faire. Then, having some disappointing food. Well, this extra 4% charge just didn't sit well with me. I'm getting tired of restaurants who charge high prices and then expect their diners to pay for the kitchen staff! Shouldn't the preparation of the food we are paying high prices for include the cooking? Anyway, I won't be going back after this experience. I think Bywater was better in past years - sorry to say. Last note: we watched Bay Area Check Please where The Bywater was reviewed. The owners said that they intended the restaurant to be a neighborhood place and had lots of regulars. But the prices do not make it feel like a neighborhood place where you just drop in regularly. Maybe if you have a lot of extra money to spend? read more

Happy Hour everyday!!! We went on a Saturday afternoon and there was plenty of parking in the back lot. Happily surprised to hear that they have happy hour everyday including weekends so a dozen oysters were ordered immediately. Service was pretty quick. The fries were a bit on the saltier side for me, but super crunchy (7/10). The gumbo tasted really fishy and had way too much lemon squeezed in (4/10). The oysters tasted pretty fresh and were plump and juicy (8/10). Would definitely come back for the oysters and try their fried shrimp Po Boy read more

The Bywater - Happy Hour: dozen oysters (chef's choice), Creole Spiced Fries, a cup of gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Not worth the hype. Small portions for the price you pay on food and cocktails. Food was good, service was good. $25 for a light sandwich with no sides.... read more

Nice staff. Like the atmosphere. I think its a good place but it's not for us, We went 3 times since Steamers closed. The oysters in the half shell have been passable only once so that's a "no". The New Orleans-inspired menu is limited. I recommend their Red Beans & Rice! Gumbo is a no for me. I would not even consider Osetra Caviar here. Maybe I'm wrong. Burger - not what we're looking for. Beer fine. Wine no. Outside sitting you smell the bbq. Smoke from the fish oils? It's not sublime - which is what we're looking for. But I still say check it out at least once. read more

This was written in 2020? Came back Fall of 2025 Excellent and worth the drive. R3d beans and rice Gumbo Yaya ! Fried chicken sandwich #Coffee is great! Beignet s cinomen out to edge auger sifted $102 with two drinks read more

I visited once and wasn't impressed. I'd just been to New Orleans so maybe my expectations for the food were a little high but nothin was really exciting. What worked: -- attentive and friendly service -- clean and comfortable interior -- there was a good amount of shrimp on the po'boy sandwich -- the chocolate sauce that came with the beignets was good What didn't work: -- the shrimp po'boy I ordered was very small and unsatisfying. There just wasn't much flavor--not in the sauce or in the shrimp's breading and it was just mayo, shrimp, and lettuce. Not very flavorful -- the sandwich was $19! That's way too much for a pretty bare-bones sandwich that doesn't even come with a side -- the shrimp's breading was again, not flavorful, and it also didn't have a lot of crispiness to it. It almost felt like the breading was too thick and some of the batter didn't get to cook all the way -- the beignets were just fine, nothing special. I didn't expect them to be as fluffy as the ones in New Orleans but again, $12 for three or four beignets isn't worth it. Overall, I won't be returning. It was expensive and the food wasn't all that great. read more

The Bywater - Fried Shrimp Po Boy - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Gumbo is the reason to come here along with the rosé. The Bywater in Los Gatos, CA, is a Michelin guide restaurant known for its New Orleans-inspired cuisine, but based on my recent visit, it didn't fully live up to its reputation, especially considering the steep price. I dined on the patio, which, despite the pleasant outdoor setting, was marred by a persistent problem with flies. This distraction significantly impacted the overall dining experience, making it difficult to fully enjoy the meal. The evening began with a glass of Gassac Rosé ($15), which was delightful, light, and crisp--an ideal start to the meal. The cup of gumbo ($11) that followed was rich and flavorful, packed with the deep, smoky notes you'd expect from a well-crafted gumbo. It had just the right balance of spice and heartiness, setting very high expectations for the rest of the meal. The watermelon poke ($14) was a refreshing and innovative take on a traditional poke, with the sweetness of the watermelon contrasting beautifully with the savory elements. This dish was a standout, showcasing the kitchen's creativity and ability to balance flavors in a unique way. Unfortunately, the meal took a downturn with the market fish ($38), which was the most expensive dish of the evening and the most disappointing. The fish itself lacked the crispy exterior that typically enhances texture, leaving it somewhat limp and underwhelming. The broth accompanying the fish was bland and unmemorable, failing to elevate the dish in any meaningful way. Additionally, the grits served alongside were unusually large-grained, which made for a less enjoyable texture than the creamy, smooth grits one might expect. This dish felt like a significant misstep, especially at its price point. The meal concluded on a high note with the beignet ($12), which was light, fluffy, and perfectly sweet. It provided a comforting, satisfying end to the dinner and reminded me why The Bywater has earned its spot in the Michelin guide. Service throughout the evening was attentive and professional, which helped to somewhat offset the issues with the food. However, the presence of flies on the patio was a major distraction that detracted from the overall experience. The bathroom was nice except the faucet needs to be replaced or deep cleaned. Photos attached. In summary, while The Bywater excels in certain areas--particularly with its innovative starters and excellent service--the inconsistency in execution, especially with the main course, and the environmental issue of flies on the patio make it hard to justify the high cost. At over $100 for a solo meal, I expected a flawless experience, but the reality fell short. For those considering dining here, I would recommend sticking to the appetizers and desserts, which seem to be the restaurant's strengths, and perhaps opting for indoor seating to avoid the fly problem. read more

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The fried chicken was MOIST and had amazing flavor...best this side of Louisiana! Fries were fried perfectly! Crunchy crunchy! Wife loved the fried oysters and shrimp. She's a Louisianan ! Now let's talk about that voodoo punch! Oy! Service was on point. Never had to look for our waiter. Good music and seating is comfy. Overall 9/10. Try em you won't be disappointed! read more

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Portion size was reasonable and the food arrived quickly. The ribs had a smoky note but the sauce was too basic, while the sides were average. Overall, it was filling and fine, but nothing that stood out. read more

The Bywater - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I've visited NOLA and really wanted to like this place but can't recommend it. The decor is great, the food tastes like it was made with high quality ingredients, but the portions are way too small. When my order came I thought there was a mistake the kitchen sent it out. See my pic of the $26 chicken & waffles, $6 tenders from Popeyes would have been more. There's a reason they don't have many customers on a Saturday brunch. Flavors and cooking skills are there but can't justify coming back with the high cost, even for quality food. read more

The Bywater - Chicken & waffles, two small tenders and a waffle for $26 - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I'm not gonna lie, their entrees are a hit or miss, but their drinks are always on point and they have one of the best Happy Hours. I mean, who does a dozen oysters for $24?!? Their servers are also very friendly, especially if you land a table with Devon (shoutout to our favorite server). On our recent visit, we tried: -Shrimp cocktail: 5 super-fresh shrimp smothered in a bomb cocktail sauce. I was going to ask for horseradish, but that sauce was already packing. Wimps beware; spicy lovers rejoice! -Burger: OMG, I am still thinking of the yummy flavor. You needed a fork and knife to eat it as it was smothered in a delicious cheese gravy. Yummmm. I want another one right now. -Fried chicken: My fried chicken was undercooked during our last visit. This time, it was pure perfection. My hubby is also obsessed with their macaroni salad. -Poor man's beans and rice: I always get this when I visit. Smoky, savory, simply delicious. I'm a die-hard voodoo daquiry fan, but Devon directed me try a new cocktail. I don't remember the name, but it had bell peppers, cucumbers, gin, and other goodies. It's the perfect refreshing cocktail for a summer day. They are launching a supper club menu soon, so I'm excited to try that. Thank you, Bywater! read more

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Was so excited after seeing this on Check Please. Went today at 1:30/2:00pm. It was still brunch time. Which I wasn't aware of. We ordered Hush Puppies 10/10. Hubby ordered Chicken and waffles. Waffle was cold and didn't melt the butter, and chicken was Strips which lacked seasoning. I had the gumbo if that's what you want to call it. It was a saltless, flavorless base of nastiness with pieces of chicken and I never did see andouille oh and 1 mini dry chicken wing tip thrown in. Roux was watery and just nasty. I it was watery, damn a little cornstarch slurry and Gumbo File would have helped this. I had to ask for Salt and I rarely cook or use salt. I make much better Much and I ain't a Michelin Chef but I Cook Gumbo better then what was served to me. Oh and the Creole Potato salad with everything in it but eggs. Had Carrots in Potato Salad . WTH....check Please disappointed on this! $123 of nastiness. Ended up driving through In/Out. read more

Food is great good vibes friendly service but the bloody Mary's come in a small glass with two big round ice cubs so really maybe a half of cup but still like the food read more

The Bywater had me fooled. All those rave reviews had me expecting fireworks... but what I got was more like a damp sparkler. Yes, it's cozy. Yes, the staff is wonderful. Yes, the fries and tea were solid. But the rest of the food? No seasoning, no spark, no "wow." For a place with a New Orleans vibe, I expected flavor that dances on the table, not one that quietly sneaks out the back door. And then... the bill. Cue record scratch. An automatic 4% "in case you don't tip" surcharge? Whaaaaat? Bottom line: Cute spot for apps and drinks, but if you're serving Cajun/New Orleans cuisine, hire a chef who knows how to bring that soul, spice, and swagger to the plate. read more

Good food and service, but super overpriced. The patio out back is really nice for summer days.

Decent food but didn't quite hit the spot for us. For the lack of Southern food in the area, this restaurant was a good option. Fried oysters were good. The gumbo was pretty spicy. The salad was a little overdressed with buttermilk. They must have been understaffed due to a holiday. The staff was friendly to us though. read more

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Delicious food and good ambience. The service was friendly as well. I would have preferred slightly bigger portion sizes. The price was on the higher end but was worth it. read more

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