Bistro Gentil

  We had high expectations for our meal here, and Bistro Gentil delivered on them. We did the works. I had french onion soup, steak, and a canele for desert. The... read more steak was brilliant-perfect quality thick fillet, cooked exactly as requested. Blue cheese sauce, potato dauphines with an onion caramel and onion jam, washed down with a glass of Cote du Rhone. And all with a view to the majestic lake and mountains of Wanaka. Highly recommended.

  We are lovers of French food so picked this place while in Wanaka. Maybe we got it wrong but we found it more Modern and less French. I opted for... read more the king prawn starter but it seemed like more squid than prawn. The sauce, for my taste, didnt resonate with me. It’s probably me coming in with the wrong expectations because the restaurant has so many good reviews that I feel a bit unfair giving them only “okay”. The venue is nice, and the service was good. Wine options were also good.

  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 .

  Rare is it that I find a restaurant that can satisfy my tastes and feel comfortable dining in - the portions are just the right size, not too small or... read more large, and the atmosphere was warm and cosy, not to mention the vegetarian main was to die for. It’s incredibly difficult to make nice vegetarian/vegan food let alone amazing vegetarian/vegan food! its almost a shame there weren’t more vegetarian options on the menu to explore but they seemed very accommodating to special dietary requirements checking in with me numerous times before preparing the dishes and serving. You could tell that they really paid attention to great flavour combinations when crafting the menu, not just for the sake of coming across experimental.
I tend to struggle with regular dining experiences because of stomach issues but the food was easy for me to stomach without sacrificing unique flavour. Bonus - there is a mock tail of the moment (different every time) and you get a surprise amuse bouche between each course.
Overall I was thoroughly impressed and can’t wait to visit again!

  We had excellent food our entire wonderful Backroads trip but Bistro Gentil was my favorite.
Beautiful setting, comfortable seating, elegant casual decor. Servers were excellent, even serving our group of... read more twenty.
Great vegetarian options - I am pescatarian. Loved all three courses, had a goat curd and leak appetizer, moki fish entree - fish cooked perfectly, and creme brulee with sorbet for dessert. My husband had a cauliflower based entree that he loved.
Wine was good - like everywhere in NZ.

  Saturday night was a wonderful experience, lovely surroundings, greeted with a friendly smile on arrival, seated and offered a drink, completely unhurried to decide what you would like, mouth watering... read more flavoured food, when your food is placed in front of you, a full eplaination of what your plate contains is given by the wait staff.
Wait staff all gentle lovely people and very attentive.
You must make reservations before going.
Totally recommend this restaurant. Will certainly go back.

  We are Wanaka locals and have dined at BG many times over the past 6-8 years. Some time ago, I found that while the food was amazing, it was often... read more a little too fancy in the fact that the dish comprised of too many flavor's...More

  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

  This place is amazing. We sat out on the terrace and the view of the mountains and lake is lovely.
The food is to die for. We had the... read more Bistro Classic which we loved . French Onion Soup is fantastic, beef cooked to perfection (medium rare) and creme brulee had a lovely crunch and perfect custard inside

Service is attentive without being obtrusive. We highly recommend.

  Great food
Great service
Michelin star quality
Innovative chef
Welcoming waiters
Great experience
Good choice for gluten free diet
Limited amount of tables - get your... read more reservation ahead of time.