A MODERN FRENCH AFFAIR IN BEAUTIFUL WANAKA
Whatever reservations you may have about the French, their cuisine is what makes it all worthwhile. Bistro Gentil brings the delights of French gastronomy to the beautiful shores of Lake Wanaka.
“We revisit typical flavour combinations using fresh seasonal ingredients from our kitchen garden and the best of our region. Lumina lamb, Red Tussocks venison, Lake Ohau Wagyu…”
— Mario Rodrigues, Head Chef
Just minutes from town, our bistro is a serene spot to unwind, with sweeping lake views and sunsets worth savoring.
“Enjoy timeless favourites from our À La Carte menu, from French Onion Soup and Beef Tartare to our signature Crème Brûlée.”
Pair your evening with a visit to the Maude Tasting Room earlier in the day, and don’t forget to reserve your table for dinner.
Bienvenue au Bistro Gentil
Bon appétit !
Fabulous. Great location, friendly service, and delicious food. Te loved everything about the meal. They have a card on each table and you are able to sample... read more wines. We ended up choosing the Maude 2017 Pinot Noir which was selected the Best Wine in New...More
LarryandTim
We visited Bistro Gentil last night and had a wonderful experience. We outside which was nice and cozy with the fires going under the canape. We had the steak tartare... read more and salmon for starters, the duck and lamb for main then the creme brule and caramel moose for dessert. Could not fault a thing! A taste sensation that I will not forget. Can't recommend this place enough. Will be back running sharpish. AWESOME!
BoabGlen
I'm still digesting the delicious 3 course meal as I write this. The food was next level. If you're wanting the best of what Wanaka has to offer then this... read more is it. I'm a local of 5 years and I've tried every all the restaurants...More
BoabGlen
Dined here as a husband, wife and fussy teen. This place didn’t disappoint. Staff are excellent. I just kept asking myself why we can’t have more restaurants with great staff... read more like this in Australia. I don’t think the staff realise how good they are. They...More
vm183
Loved the food, the wine, the atmosphere and the service. The steak and the pork were amazing, the chefs dessert converted my partner to desserts, and the wine was lovely.... read more Would love to come back again
Bri1966
Bistro Gentil is, far and away, the best restaurant in Wanaka. My husband and I have enjoyed a meal here every time we come to Wanaka, but we also had... read more our rehearsal dinner here the night before our wedding and everything about it was wonderful....More
JackieL2451
The setting is beautiful with views to the lake and mountains beyond. The food is spectacular, every course was delicious, so fresh and amazing combinations of flavors, was definitely one... read more of the best meals we've ever had and we've eaten all over the world. Merci for making our 10 year anniversary special. If you don't eat here you're missing out big time.
13canadiankiwi13
This is now probably the best place to eat in Wanaka. We tried the competition but this place wins. The onion soup is a wow - even a teenager would... read more like it. The rest of the menu is carefully curated and will not disapoint.
Dave And Nicky B
My family and I came here for dinner a couple days ago and were amazed by the delicious food, incredibly kind and generous staff, and pleasant atmosphere. We were seated... read more inside, which was lovely, but the outside looked very nice as well. As for the food, every dish that I tasted was incredible. The duck confit was probably one of the best I’ve ever had and was so tender that it practically melted in my mouth. The french onion soup was warm and tasty and was the perfect dish to have on a chilly and windy night. Our waitress was amazingly friendly and charming and was able to accommodate any requests that we had. I hope I get the chance to come here again, as there was nothing about this meal I could ever complain about.
nms04
We went to this place on a friends recommendation and it absolutely blew us away ! The atmosphere is classy but casual and feels really welcoming as you step in... read more the door . The staff were efficient and friendly , and the food - WOW !
French onion soup would be on my last supper list and this one was sublime , melt in your mouth beef was next - cooked to perfection and accompanied by just enough mouth watering accompaniments , my only complaint is that I couldn’t fit dessert in -gutted !
This place is an absolute little diamond .
damsonpieTo make a reservation, simply complete the form below, a credit card registration will be required to confirm your booking. No charge will be made to the card at this stage. In the case of ‘no show’ a $50 fee will be charged to the card. Please refer to our booking policy below.
For private hire, large groups and special requests email bistrogentilwanaka@gmail.com.
For parties larger than 9 people, we offer a 3 course set menu so we can deliver the best service. Please email us for more details.
If you are unable to make a reservation online call us on 03 443 2299 as we may still have availability.
BOOKING POLICY
Please note that the cancellation must be requested 24 hours prior to the reservation time otherwise cancellation charges may apply. When booking we request credit card details via the secure Stripe payment platform in order to confirm the booking.
Bistro Gentil reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee of $50 per head when one of the following conditions has been met:
A request from us:
If you are unable to honour your reservation or would like to make any changes, please let us know as soon as possible. It is important that we reallocate seats to our waiting list during busy times.
We are a small restaurant, so the amount of staff on in an evening is based on our bookings. We will love you for it!
Merci!
Opening Hours
Tuesday – Saturday 6 pm – Late
Sunday & Monday – Closed
To Make a Reservation
Click here
For Inquiries
Ph: 03 443 2299
Email: bistrogentilwanaka@gmail.com