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. 

Menu

Bienvenue au Bistro Gentil

Appetisers:

  • Oyster, mignonette/8 ea
  • Manuka smoked olives/8
  • Rosemary ciabatta and butter/9
  • Mushroom croquette, aioli/6 ea
  • Salt cod croquette, preserved lemon mayonnaise/7 ea
  • Chicken liver parfait cigar, quince paste, ash/8 ea
  • French onion soup, gruyere crouton/16 small/23 large
  • Earth board, selection of 3 cheeses, house chutney, walnut, croutons, ciabatta/36

Entrées:

  • Wagyu beef oyster blade (MBS-4-6), parsnip, truffle, garlic harissa dressing, crispy kale/25
  • Seared swordfish, ginger ponzu, pickled mandarin, wasabi mayo, nori tapioca cracker/26
  • Baked goats cheese, walnut crumb, marsala mayonnaise, roasted parsnip, peach chutney/24

Principals:

  • 250g Peppered ribeye, creamy mash potatoes, black garlic jus/57
  • Market fish, smoked mussels and prawns, lemon cream, spinach, herb oil, almonds/48
  • Red Tussocks venison striploin, celeriac purée, red cabbage, sundried tomatoes, sunflower seeds/52
  • Pressed Lumina lamb leg, pumpkin and kumara puree, yams, curry oil, crispy shallots/51
  • Salt-baked beetroot, whipped ricotta, smoked beetroot purée, aji verde, puffed rice/42
  • 200g Angus reserve beef fillet, red onion relish, potato dauphines, dijon dressing, onion caramel/65

Accompagnements:

  • Bistro’s signature truffle fries/15
  • Creamy mash potatoes, chips/16
  • Roasted fried brussel sprouts, medlar dressing, hazelnuts, aioli/16
  • Steamed brocoli, provolone and blue cheese sauce, pumpkins seeds/16

Trust The Chef:

  • 4 courses/65
  • 5 courses/75

Desserts:

  • Mini Bistro dessert /8
  • Vanilla crème brûlée, peanut crumb, berry sorbet/20
  • Rum baba, praliné mousse, poached pear, salted caramel ice cream/20
  • Espresso semifreddo, mascarpone and amaretto espuma, savoyardi, cacao/20
  • Dame Blanche, vanilla ice cream, hot chocolate ganache, nuts/18
  • Selection of house-made ice cream and sorbet/17
  • Affogato, vanilla ice cream, espresso, liqueur of choice /24


Bon appétit !

  • star rating  So nice to have a restaurant that is not so big and noisy.
    We never got a chance to admire he views due to the bad weather however the food... read more

    avatar thumb kruuza
    August 16, 2021
  • star rating  Thanks again to the team at Bistro for making our evening truly enjoyable and one to remember. It’s not often that every box is ticked when you go out for... read more

    avatar thumb Wanderer789290
    August 29, 2022
  • star rating  Another great recommendation from our Airbnb Host, thank you!! Bookings essential as it is very popular!
    What a lovely surprise to walk into this restaurant. So warm and cosy on... read more

    avatar thumb sayithowitisnoholds
    December 10, 2019
  • star rating  So glad we were able to snag a reservation at this lovely restaurant on our last night. The food was outstanding, the wines delicious, it had a lovely cosy atmosphere... read more

    avatar thumb JodieS397
    February 14, 2022
  • star rating  We had dinner here and it was super! Up on a hill with views out to the lake and across from a golf course. Beef tartare , fish and sorbet... read more

    avatar thumb Imapepper79
    January 27, 2024
  • star rating  Great location . Good wine. Service standard but food worst in our experience in New Zealand - esp. For among the high end restaurants. Everything was overpowered with mayo type... read more

    avatar thumb Mary L
    December 6, 2023
  • star rating  Fantastic location. Panoramic views of Lake Wanaka & Southern Alps. Excellent choice of beverages (including local wine) at reasonable prices. Great menu selection. Food and Service were excellent. Highly recommended

    avatar thumb Coralea56
    December 2, 2020
  • star rating  A final night dinner for our first trip down preparing for a big race later this year. The whole experience from arrival to completion was flawless, the atmosphere is very... read more

    avatar thumb Antof88
    April 10, 2022
  • star rating  We sat outside in this lovely, relaxed restaurant and had a really delicious meal, taking the “chef’s choice”menu. All 3 courses were delicious - well balanced and a good size.... read more

    avatar thumb Anthea D
    March 5, 2019
  • star rating  We were recommended this restaurant and it didn’t disappoint, good food, well presented with excellent service. It did not disappoint.

    avatar thumb 1806
    March 13, 2020

Reservations

To 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:
1. Booking is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice.
2. Guests do not show up for the reservation (bookings will be considered no-show after 30 minutes)
3. Party size is less than the original booking by 2 or more guests without notice.
The cancellation fee will be deducted from the registered card on file and the person responsible for the booking will be notified by email.

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!

Contact

Opening Hours

Tuesday to Saturday 6 pm – late

Closed Sunday & Monday 

To Make a Reservation
Click here

For Inquiries
Ph: 03 443 2299
Email: bistrogentilwanaka@gmail.com

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