This is rightfully so on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list. Once you have a taste of their food and drinks, you'll immediately understand why. The hospitality there is top-notch with incredibly attentive and personable staff. Starting off with the drinks, their menu is very seasonal, utilizing the freshest in-season ingredients in a unique twist. I was told in the fall that there was a sweet potato cocktail, so I was looking forward to seeing what the spring held in store. We got the "Pass the Peas" which had gin, mint, and - of course - English peas. Genuinely, indescribable and we had several of them! We also had the "Patience is a Virtue," which was on the sweeter side and tang of bitterness with the rhubarb bitters. The food was otherworldly. Started off with the best gumbo either of us has ever had. I would happily eat so much more, had I not been saving room for the loads of other food we got. The short rib was ridiculously succulent overlying mash and creamed spinach. I feel like creamed spinach is an often easily dismissible side, but they made it outstanding here. My SO preferred the short rib, but the blackened catfish edged out as my favorite. The blackened catfish was on the best-roasted carrots I've ever had and a serving of gold rice. We got the mac n' cheese as I side. Solid mac n' cheese, but being from the South, I wasn't too wowed, but still good food. Of course, we were insanely full by the end but couldn't resist taking dessert to-go. We got the strawberry bread pudding and actually, didn't eat it until the next day because of how stuffed we were. Reheating the bread pudding was easy in a water bath in the oven. It came with a scoop of the creamiest vanilla ice cream to scoop on top. Highly recommend getting the dessert, even if you're too full at the end! Overall, if you live in Chicago or just staying in Chicago for a short period of time, yes, Hyde Park can be a bit of a hike, but hot damn is it worth it. Reservations are highly recommended and just sit back and enjoy some of the best Southern soul food you'll ever find. read more

Virtue Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I heard alot of great things about Virtue and had been planning on dining in. As an avid viewer of the show Top Chef and seeing Chef Damarr Brown killing it every week, I thought it couldn't be a better time to dine in than for Mother's Day. Made a reservation online. Reservations are $10 per person that you receive back on the bill once you dine-in. Reserved tables have a 90 minute limit. I personally think this is a smart move. Located in the heart of Hyde Park, finding a place to park is quite difficult even on the street. However there is a parking garage a block away that's $5 for 2 hours. The inside of Virtue gave me classy and cozy vibes. The cooking area is open facing the dining area which I personally like. The hosts along with our server were all very nice and friendly. The food was amazingly good. I enjoyed short rib that comes with smashed potatoes and spinach. The short rib is boneless, juicy, seasoned to perfection and tender af! The potatoes and spinach were a great companion. The cornbread was delicious and also the mac n cheese. My mom loved her salmon. We had an amazing dining experience. Everything was perfect and my mom enjoyed her dinner. We will definitely be back to try the chicken we saw on someone else's plate. Highly recommend! P.S. Rooting for Chef Damarr Brown on Top Chef! read more

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Thoroughly enjoyed the warmth of the Midwest hospitality. Everything from the welcoming to the ambiance was lovely. Because it was usually a cold day in September after sundown... I needed some fish and grits in my life. Talk about seasoned to perfect with a little bit of that creole heat to it. Had to pair it with my go-to beverage old fashioned -- very strong. The Southerner in me also HAD to get the crispy fried green tomatoes which was paired perfectly with Leroy's zesty remoulade. You don't see this on menus often and the taste of things took me back home! read more

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Go for comfort food with a southern vibe! Stand outs were the fried green tomatoes with shrimp and remoulade, short ribs and catfish entrée . Loved the old school slow jams in the background, and dim lighting...setting the mood for a special evening. The service was exceptional beginning with the hostess as well as our attentive server. Nice selection of traditional cocktails and wine selections. read more

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Nice ambience + the food was divine! Recommend making a reservation as we waited for about an hour for seats at the bar. It did take a little while to get our drinks at first - they came after the food. Dined with a friend and we ordered a mix of the small and extra rations to share. For drinks, I got the Caribbean Daiquiri which was really refreshing (and strong). The gumbo was amazing - definitely a must. Mac and Cheese had the perfect cheesy crust on top, and the butter on the Cornbread was *chef's kiss*. The portions were reasonable too, enough so that I had leftovers. Overall, a great experience and I'll definitely come back to try some of the larger plates! read more

Virtue Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

From the hostess to the food to the service, all signs point to yes at Virtue. This place was fantastic! I cannot say good enough things. Everything we had was fantastic. My recommendation is to get the cornbread with the gumbo - so delicious! For entrees we got the short rib and shrimp and grits + Mac and cheese. All delicious but so much food! The helping are generous. Come hungry. Maybe wear stretchy pants. It's a marathon not a sprint, but marathon quickly and get out because others need to be able to enjoy. read more

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This food was very good i loved it here i will come again! i recommend this place it is wonderful read more

I read a review of virtue that started with "run don't walk here." I cannot agree more! After being huge top chef fans, my siblings and spouses plus my 7 year old nephew took an outing to Virtue. First of all, o highly recommend going with a crowd - seating was comfortable and the menu is very easy to share - it also means you can try more! We ordered just about everything between the 7 of us. Everything was good, but a few dishes were truly standouts: Cucumber salad - sounds so simple right? The combination of cucumbers, tomatoes, bacon, harissa and mint was truly divine. I'd drive back from Milwaukee just for this salad again! Cornbread & honey whipped butter - very good cornbread that stays piping hot in the container it was served in! The butter melts into it and was the perfect side. Beef short ribs- the jus was so flavorful, the meat was incredibly tender and being served over mashed potatoes and creamed spinach was an excellent pairing. Mac & cheese - truly decadent! So much creamy/cheesy goodness! For dessert we ordered everything they had plus doubled up on banana pudding - I'd recommend that! All of the deserts were great! I will definitely be back again and next time we'll work up the courage to say hi to Demar! read more

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Virtue was ok. Just ok. We were visiting from out of town and I just HAD to drag my honey 25 min out of the city to try this place on recommendation. Always happy to support a BOB and award-winning black chef. The place is beautiful. Good atmosphere. Service at the bar was nice, they were willing to offer recommendations. We shared the fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits. Both were ok, not superb. Stars had to be grabbed for the shrimp that had not been deveined. I just can't. The best part was the dessert- a hazelnut deal that I couldn't stop eating. This restaurant requests that you pay a reservation fee that does go toward your bill, as a heads up. First time in my foodie life I've ever paid such a fee. Two word review: get dessert. read more

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A friend and I dined here yesterday. Our favorites were the gizzards and dirty rice, the cornbread and honey butter, and the pineapple upside down cake. Those were definitely the highlights of the meal! The rest were also delicious. Unfortunately there was a mishap with one of our dishes, but that was quickly resolved. Loved the ambiance here and staff was extremely friendly. Parking was a bit hard to find due to the busy area on a Sunday, but we would definitely come back! read more

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Let me say everything was amazing. Appetizer: Fried Green Tomato's with shrimp was absolutely great, I do not like mayo so I was not favorable of the sauce that came with it, but I know that's my personal like. It was delicious outside of the sauce that came on top of the fried green tomatoes. Main course: Blackened Catfish and Mac and Cheese are was so scrumptious. The catfish came out hot, and seasoned to perfection, with the rice and the carrots melted in my mouth. Mac and cheese: Was simply tasty. Usually I can always find a reason why mac and cheese is not the best but this mac and cheese, taste just like my Momma's it was cheesy and seasoned to perfection all my food was hot and my mac cheese made me feel like at home. Drinks: Lavelle the bartender was amazing, his personality, charm, and just professionalism, I would definitely recommend this place and come back again!!! read more

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Menu didn't have a ton of plant based food options. I prefer soft and spongey cornbread and although the cornbread had lots of butter- it was still pretty tough so I wasn't a big fan. Service and ambience (especially around the bar) were great though! read more

Virtue Restaurant - Kale Salad, Cornbread & Honey Butter, Mac & Cheese, Pork Chop - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here as a very late (hey I ain't picky about timing!) Christmas present. This place is pricey and I always wanted to come here, esp to support a Black-owned restaurant. I shared carryout a few years back but wanted the entire experience. We sat in the quieter bar room with a view of the street. I looked forward to trying the Harold Honey Ale but they were out! (Harold as in Washington, Chicago's 1st Black Mayor). I got the Mudpuppy dark porter instead, and it was good, rich and sweet but not too hoppy/sweet. Our waiter Freddie was friendly and helpful but maybe a little overwhelmed or maybe it was the bussing staff. It was a busy Wednesday night, and sometimes it took a while to check in and clear plates. Nevertheless, the gumbo was awesome, with just the right amount of heat. I was dying to try the cornbread, and it did not disappoint except for the size. Moist, sweetish, but it should be MUCH bigger for $9. I got the catfish with Carolina gold rice as an entree, and I sampled the shrimp/grits and collard greens, that my other party ordered. All was good, and the portions were enough to take home, which is good when they are priced closer to $30. With dinner I had a glass of red (famille lancon) that complemented blackened catfish nicely. For dessert I shared the apple bread pudding with ice cream and bourbon sauce and sampled the carrot cake for my other party. Now THAT felt worth the price! It was rich, sweet and filling. I would go back for wine or beer or one of the specialty southern themed drinks and an appetizer. I'd also love to try the 'Shoebox Lunch' for carryout out ONLY. It is fried chicken, biscuit and greens; the name goes back to when Black citizens could NOT eat in dining cars on trains or go to just any restaurant, so we would just bring box lunches on the road. read more

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Fantastic food, & nice atmosphere . Good service. Fairly well priced. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

Food-nice portions, flavor pairing was excellent! I must say I enjoyed everything! Trust the chef's choice as it deserves a chefs kiss . Service- it was above and beyond with an inviting flare! Our Server ANTHONY! was amazing! He knows the menu well & his suggestions were spot on! We were able to try a variety of menu items that were delightful! We will definitely be back in a few weeks! Ambiance- small/intimate setting. Relaxed and enjoyable. We sat in the bar area and we were able to hear each other and converse over dinner comfortable. Overall-I am over impressed with Virtue! Both of my experiences have been delightful. I will return until I have tried all of the menu items! read more

Virtue Restaurant - Pineapple upside down cake with coconut lime ice cream! so we ate it before the pic was taken - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely amazing experience. My friend and I came here last weekend and everything was amazing from The service to the wine to the food! We ordered the green tomatoes to start with which were delicious. We shared a macaroni and cheese (wow) and the shrimp/crawfish and grits and the blackened salmon, also we ordered the cornbread. For as much as we ate we did not feel over stuffed or bloated! Our server was on point and extremely knowledgeable! We had such a wonderful time, and the ambience was excellent as well. There is a parking lot (paid) right down the street (not sure about street parking). You do need to make a deposit when you book but it goes towards your final bill! I highly recommend! read more

Virtue Restaurant - Green Tomatoes - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Feel a need to often review just to reinforce how wonderful this restaurant is. Short rib, gumbo, greens, and corn bread were money and delicious. Service with Brennan was spot on, warm, and accommodating. If you are close, it is a can't miss. If you are far, make the drive. read more

I don't really go out of my way to write reviews that often, but man virtue is for real. I feel like more often than not you go to a restaurant and it's "pretty good" but doesn't quite live up to expectations. And then here comes virtue blowing past all my expectations and giving me the best meal I can remember having. We had the biscuits, fried green tomatoes, catfish, short rib, mac and cheese, and pineapple upside cake. Everything was so good that I woke up the next day still thinking about it. So proud to have this place in Chicago. read more

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I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since I went. Upscale southern food and the chef's story is super compelling- civil rights advocate who got into cooking because he believes the best way to achieve equality is by eating together The food is nothing short of perfect. Everyone is friendly and espresso martinis obviously insane. I got the short ribs and biscuits and they have a rotating menu It was one of those meals where you are actively getting sad while you're getting full because you want to keep tasting more food read more

Waited over a gear to get a reservation here haha. Service was top notch, food excellent! read more

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I had 630 reservations for 2. Got there about 635..they acknowledged we wwre celebrating a birthday. They wished her a happy birthday. We were sitted. The waiter asked who's birthday. I mentioned my friend. At the end of the night. Nothing no even a free dessert or sing happy birthday. What's up with that. I mentioned that in my reservations......with their prices being so high . A small dessert would have been nice read more

What a fantastic find! This restaurant serves Southern style food, and as a Southerner, I often find that restaurants here miss the mark - but Virtue got the job done perfectly! Came here on a date and had a lovely experience. The food, service, and ambience were stellar. For drinks, we went with the Brown Fashioned cocktail, which was a tequila and mezcal-based drink in the Old Fashioned style. Their menu otherwise is a la carte, with small rations (appetizers), large rations (entrees), and sides. For appetizers, he got the gumbo, and I got the fried green tomatoes. There fried green tomatoes were accompanied with shrimp and a tasty sauce. For our main course, he got the blackened catfish, which comes on a bed of rice and a few carrots on the side, and I got the red snapper, which came with okra and Lima beans in a red sauce. Both were cooked to perfection and tasted extraordinary. For our sides, we got thee cornbread with honey butter and macaroni and cheese to share - both of which were the best I've had outside of the South and could easily compete in a head-to-head competition! We were way too full for dessert, but their dessert menu looked fantastic. The service here was impeccable. Our server was very knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. The pricing was appropriate for the quantity and quality of food. The restaurant was busy, so I'd definitely recommend a reservation to avoid the wait. Overall, I *highly* recommend Virtue and hope to come back soon. read more

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The food was delicious the short ribs melt in your mouth excellent !!!! The service was great also. I highly recommend Virtue even the ambience was great !! read more

I was looking forward to dinner at Virtue while in Chicago. My party and added our names to the waitlist upon entering. We decided to take a walk around Hyde Park when I received a text. Thankfully, we weren't far and made a beeline back to the restaurant. We were seated at the bar due to not having reservations and got to check out the drinks being made. Our order consisted of lamb, short rib, fried green tomatoes, greens and Mac n cheese. Let me say that the fried tomatoes and Mac n cheese stole the show!! The short rib was lukewarm which was disappointing and the mashed potatoes were bland. The lamb was delicious but could've been cooked slightly more. My guest complained that it was too much mint and didn't have another bite after that. It too was lukewarm. The greens tasted like a popular brand of canned greens and that was VERY disappointing. The restaurant decor was BEAUTIFUL but I'd have to say if you give Virtue a try, stick to the mentioned appetizer/side and perhaps a cocktail but overall, I was pretty disappointed. read more

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Celebrated my birthday here June 1, 2024. There were seven of of us and everyone enjoyed their food! We had carrot cake for dessert and I had the short ribs with collard greens and macaroni and cheese. Excellent! I can't wait to go back! read more

Every time I come here, the experience far exceeds my expectations. Virtue always knocks it out of the park. It is hands-down one of the best restaurants in all of Chicago and beyond. All aspects of the dining experience are flawless, from the warm and inviting ambiance to the impeccable service to the fantastic drinks to the food. OMG THE FOOD!!!!! No pair of elastic pants can stretch far enough to accommodate a meal here, so be warned. On my most recent visit I enjoyed salad and a biscuit to start with, then had the catfish entree, and finished with some strawberry cheesecake. I also had two fantastic glasses of wine. I am seriously almost in tears over here thinking about it, both grateful for the amazing dining experience and sad that it's over. I can't wait to go back. Go make a reservation. RIGHT NOW!!! read more

Everything was perfect. It's not common to have pretty food be also filling. The service was great and everyone was attentive. The vibe was relaxed and comfortable. Overall, just a great experience! read more

Virtue is considered one of the top restaurants in Chicago and for good reason. I came with a friend on a Wednesday night. We ordered the cornbread to share, and I ordered the short rib as a main. The cornbread came out super quickly, warm with a smear of butter atop. The short rib was quite a large portion, maybe 8-10 oz?, sitting atop a bed of potatoes and collard greens surrounded in a sweet gravy. It was enough to bring home and eat the next day as leftovers. The food came out pretty fast as well. The only thing I will note is it does cost $10 per person to make a reservation and the individual items are pretty expensive so the bill can easily add up. read more

Virtue Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Finally able to sit down at this excellent restaurant. My daughters and l visited 29 June early evening and had a delicious dinner which included, gumbo cornbread, biscuits, green tomatoes, Mac & cheese, greens, grits, shrimp & crawfish etouffe, red snapper with Lima beans and okra. First my gumbo was delicious, every favor l desired in a gumbo, combined with the cornbread was crazy good. The green tomatoes tasted great however the breading and the tomatoes themselves fell apart, the shrimp and crawfish etouffe was great as well, it was served with grits instead of rice which make the dish decadent, my collar greens were great, just as good as mine everything else was delicious, and our servers were on point, attentive , we'll definitely return read more

Virtue Restaurant - Small ration, biscuits, green tomatoes, cornbread, chicken & sausage gumbo - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Once the undisputed queen of Chicago's upscale soul food joints, Virtue's success seems to be leading it to lose, well, its soul. On my and a companion's most recent visit here, the food was still "A" grade, but few things truly "popped" with never-before-tasted flavors like they did a few years ago. Our appetizer, the fried green tomatoes, were a bit oversalted, and while our entrées forced no errors, only my companion's carrots made an impression. Indeed, the most memorable part of our meal was our desert--carrot cake with delicious homemade ice cream--but the sad thing is, EVERYTHING on Virtue's menu used to have precisely this "wow" factor. Our server was very helpful, knowledgeable, polite, and even offered us a complimentary desert to make up for slightly slow service, which was extremely kind. Unfortunately, however, all of that provided a stark contrast with the generally chaotic ambiance. The music has become too loud; too many tables are smushed together (we were all but elbows-to-elbows with our neighbors and could hear every snippet of their conversations); and many patrons seem to have gotten used to treating even the dining room as a bar, guffawing and boozing it up all evening long! Perhaps most grating, however, were the various hidden fees: a $20-per-person reservation fee felt infantalizing, a 3.5% "health care" surcharge disingenous. All of this added up to a culinarily good but mildly stressful experience, which is not, perhaps, the best thing to drop 120 bucks on. To sum up, I think Virtue's achievements, while deserved, are starting to go a bit to its head. It's time for Chef Erick Williams to take stock. read more

Virtue did not disappoint. Service was fantastic and informative. The food was so well seasoned and prepared. Not pictured, Short Rib was the highlight of the meal! read more

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Virtue is always amazing! We were celebrating my Dad's birthday and had a toddler with us, which could have been stressful, but the waiters kept the plates moving and were so kind. The mocktails were refreshing. The pineapple upside down cake (not pictured) was so warm and comforting. The gizzards and shrimp and crawfish were our favorites. Oh and the mac and cheese, but that's a given. read more

Virtue Restaurant - Shrimp and Crawfish, Catfish, Mac & Cheese, and Beef Short Ribs - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great service, great food every single time a win if visiting Chicago. A lively atmosphere with an updated menu I especially enjoyed the catfish, short ribs, and don't the fried chicken gizzards read more

Virtue's menu, although small, is outstanding. I've yet to have a bad meal there and don't expect to in the future. From short ribs to catfish, it's all delicious. read more

4.5 stars! for apps, we got gizzards and gumbo. they split the gumbo into two cups and recommended having it with the cornbread which was a decadent and balanced pairing. gizzards were fine but the dirty rice that comes with it is SO GOOD. so rich and buttery and flavorful. we also got fish and grits for the entree and honestly the best fish i've ever had. so juicy and perfectly spiced. the grits were pretty inoffensive and the crab étouffée was a lovely pairing. it's funny because fish and grits are typically a cheap option so the fact that it was $31 meant it needed to be really elevated to match that price sticker and i think it properly proved itself. ambiance was nice too. it's charming and cozy but still feels high end. service was perfectly fine too. read more

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Okay so I love food and the way it taste in my mouth so yummy . I have been trying g to eat at virtue for a while now . Was able to score a reservation finally after many attempts and let me tell you it was great . I had a glass of wine and for that price I'll say get a bottle it's better . We started with cornbread and omg it was soo good and delicious, melt in your mouth . I can est that everyday if I can . The max and cheese was very good and perfect amount of cheese and creamy. Even the leftover was still good and the catfish was seasoned perfectly seasoned and the veggies with them where grilled perfectly . Now the catfish salt is perfect and I'm glad the stop because almost a little bit more and it would have been ruined but I love it . I will be going back to taste the rest of the menu for sure read more

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Great food, service was excellent, and ambiance was nice and moody. Enjoyed see the TopChef winner Season 19. read more

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The food here is delicious! The gumbo was very good - thick roux and tasted authentic (I'm picky about gumbo! LOL). The short ribs were amazing!!! They melted in your mouth and were seasoned to perfection. I took dessert to go - the 7up cake with berries. It was so good I wanted to lick the takeout box. I am currently researching recipes to see if I can make it at home. Overall a great restaurant with great ambience and service. read more

So incredibly good!! The best meal I've had in ages, maybe this year? This place probably doesn't need my review with all its incredible awards. But here goes: Food - 5/5 - everything was incredible! Highlights were the biscuits, corn bread (yes get both!), gumbo, Mac & cheese, and banana pudding (with cool whip!!). Also got and loved the snap peas, morel mushrooms, short rib, and grits - but the former are what I'll be dreaming about! Cucumber and patience cocktails were lovely and refreshing! service - 5/5 - amazing, hilarious, attentive and perfection. didn't have to wait for our table which was divine. Got to loiter after dessert. Honestly felt so warm and welcoming, I'm excited to come back. Ambiance - 4.5/5 - wasn't incredibly memorable - except the metal ceiling fixtures, but it was open and warm and welcoming. And I'm always a sucker for an open kitchen. The bar area was actual quieter and more intimate than the main dining area and I liked that there were the two vibes represented. read more

Virtue Restaurant - Dessert menu - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Man oh man was this food good! We were a party of two and decided on getting 3 small plates of the gizzards, collards and Mac n chz. All 3 did not disappoint, dare I say that the food was better than my momma's The dessert was spectacular too. Simple yet delicious! Service was really great too, our waitress who also doubled as a bartender held it down and was the best at what she did from cocktail recommendations to letting us know how those delicious gizzards were prepared to letting us know where to possibly get a tattoo! Loved her...Only downside was that it was my wife's birthday and they knew that and nothing special was done even though I requested it from the hostess. Besides that, go here!!! read more

Virtue Restaurant - Icebox cake - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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