In our continuous effort to connect and empower the local food and drink community, BISTRO BUDDY is excited to announce the launch of Version 2.0.1 Beta. This update introduces significant improvements aimed at simplifying the user experience for restaurants, food trucks, farmers' markets, breweries, wineries, culinary professionals, mixologist and food enthusiasts. We acknowledge a recent challenge with our registration process and are extending our heartfelt apologies along with a special offer.

Addressing Registration Issues

We recently identified and corrected a technical issue that affected the registration process on our platform. This was caused by an unintended redirection to complete social profiles before user information was fully processed in our database. This was a difficult bug to address because it was inconsistent depending on the speed of the users network. We recognize the inconvenience this may have caused and have implemented measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Exclusive 30% Discount Offer

As a gesture of our appreciation for your patience and understanding, BISTRO BUDDY will be offering a 30% discount on all our directory membership plans. This exclusive offer will be sent via email to all who have registered for a free account previously and can be shared privately with friends, family, or colleagues (Check Your Inbox Now). We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity, valid until April 21st, to explore our membership plans at a reduced rate before the OFFICIAL KICK OFF OF THE SEASON!

AS ALWAYS PAID ACCOUNTS ARE FREE TRIAL for 7 Days. A pre-authorization will confirm your payment method, but no charges apply until after the trial. Cancel anytime to avoid the next billing.

Streamlined Verification and Account Maintenance

With this update, we have removed the requirement for email verification clicks, simplifying the account setup process. However, maintaining a complete profile is crucial for effective engagement on our platform. To ensure the integrity of our user base, we will conduct semi-annual reviews to clean up incomplete profiles and remove accounts associated with bounced emails after the second hard bounce. Using a valid email address is vital for receiving catering inquiries, communication, and exclusive offers like our current discount.

Our Commitment to Privacy and Communication

We want to affirm to our users that BISTRO BUDDY prioritizes your privacy and preferences in communication. This message represents only our second direct bulk email outreach, underscoring our commitment to thoughtful and minimal communication. Our business model is built on respecting your inbox, ensuring that any further emails you receive are system-generated responses to customer inquiries directed at you, maintaining a focus on delivering true value!

Known Bugs

1. Public Quote Request and Jobs Board: Will not display the requested quotes on the menu item. We have temporarily deactivated this item from general users to avoid any submissions a poor user experience. Private Quote Requests on business user pages still works perfectly!
2. Community Activity Stream:  Business Updates appear in the activity stream with broken HTML about events, deals and listing updates. Foodie profiles activity steam update perfectly.
3. Deal Coupons: Coupon QR Codes are broken where it fails to generate a PDF QR Code (we believe its a firewall issue) Regular Deals and E-commerce Deals Still Work Perfectly!

User Support

BISTRO BUDDY remains a free platform designed to enhance visibility and connectivity for the food and drink industry. As we enter a busy season, we invite new and existing users to complete their profiles, explore our services, and take part in the vibrant community we are building together.

For those needing assistance with password resets, account deletions, or any other support, our dedicated team is here to help. Contact us through our support page or by phone 203-200-0069 9am-5pm Monday - Friday. While it's currently just Becky and I managing support, we're excited to announce that more team members will join us soon to enhance our service.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. We are excited about the future and grateful for the opportunity to serve and support 🤲 our community.