Bistro Gentil

  Outside of Wanaka but worth the drive up. Great view across the golf course to the lake and the mountains beyond it. Food was very good but on a busy... read more night this restaurant can get quite noisy. If it is a quiet night, this would be a great choice for a romantic dinner while watching the sun set.

  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.

  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

  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!

  This establishment is in itself a reason to visit Wanaka. The food was excellent. I enjoyed the best steak I have eaten in recent memory. My partner commented that... read more she didn’t want to finish the meal because she was enjoying each mouthful. We accompanied our...More

  Every thing is not perfect but AWESOME!!!!! Thanks chefs for delicious meals and quality of products & thanks waitress for the perfect service !
Keep this way we'll be... read more back soon

  Delicious modern French cuisine served in a cute restaurant overlooking the hills in Wanaka. Service took a little too long though, but overall was a good experience.

  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 a horrid Summer Night that was as cold as any winters evening. The waitress had the common sense to keep the door closed that lead to the covered outdoor area to keep us in the restaurant cosy - thank you not many consider to do this! The chairs I loved - they had a sheepskin cover over them and added to the comfort. We had Pinot Wine from the Maude Winery to drink a perfect compliment to our meal. Soup was had for a starter - good old fashioned French Onion with a lovely cheesy top, Wagyu Steak was just melt in your mouth cooked and the lamb backstrap was worth the visit for sure. Unfortunately too full to enjoy desert but will be back next time to try this! Thank you all for such a memorable night!

  This is hands down the best meal i had during my entire 14 days trip in the South Island. Definitely amongst the top 10 meals , I had for ... read more past 18 months, which is saying a lot, since i have visited some top tier cities/countries...More

  I went here with a group of people for dinner. I had heard great things about the place so was looking forward to trying it for myself. I had the... read more french onion soup, fish of the day and the gingerbread cheesecake. Every dish was delicious...More