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
Our Trust the Chef menu for May is designed as a true seasonal dining experience, inviting you to step back and let our kitchen lead the way. Available in either 4 or 5 courses, each menu is thoughtfully curated by the chef to highlight the best produce of the moment. While it may occasionally draw inspiration from our à la carte offerings, the dishes are composed to create a more complete and expressive journey.
Bon appétit !
We are visiting NZ and I wanted somewhere really good to take my wife for her 60th birthday. This place definitely did the trick! The service was friendly and first... read more class! I'd mentioned my wife's birthday when I booked. This had been noted and when her dessert came it had 'Happy 60th Birthday' inscribed in chocolate sauce! A very nice touch. The food was also first class. There was plenty of atmosphere and at least two other birthday celebrations happening.
Geoffrey M
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.
christianrD6666CP
Gorgeous cosy space, wine tasting by Maude by Day. Gourmet dinner by night. Special occasion or just treat yourself, this is by far the best restaurant in Wanaka. Staff friendly... read more and attentive, the food presentation and flavour, awesome.
GooseGirl555
Onion soup was wonderful. My husband had the lamb & I had the duck.. both dishes were done perfectly. Service was excellent
Wanggal
The most inventive and delightful meal I've ever had - and I've been coming here once a year, every year, for the last four years. And each year surpasses the... read more last. If you're after exquisitely made food that makes your taste buds melt, then you...More
Maz H
Absolutely surprised by the stunning food and ambience! The French onion soup was epic! 11/10 worth the visit alone...and the steak !
Glen C
We ate here during our three night stay in Wanaka and it was absolutely delicious. Both dishes were perfectly cooked and delightfully flavoured. Service was relaxed and friendly, a good... read more selection of wine on an enomatic machine so you can try a number. Highly recommend...More
Lgyajh1987
Bistro Gentil was absolutely amazing! Price is fantastic, servings are very generous and the staff go far beyond to make your evening so special. I cannot fault one thing about... read more this restaurant. They made our evening perfect, from answering all and any of our questions about the menu, to generously providing us with a glass of bubbles to celebrate my partners birthday. The food was incredible. With every bite, the texture and taste of these meals was even better than I was expecting.
Perfect. Sensational. Incredible. We will be back, time and time again
jkrasmussen26
We had the pleasure of dining here recently during a weekend in Wanaka. The welcome was warm, food was both visually beautiful and delicious, and all three serving staff were... read more kind and friendly. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a dinner out as much. Go team Gentil!
cowgirlNZ
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.
RandiFayeCTo 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 & Wednesday 5:30 pm – Late
Thursday – Saturday 6 pm – Late
Sunday & Monday – Closed
To Make a Reservation
Click here
For Inquiries
Ph: 03 443 2299
Email: bistrogentilwanaka@gmail.com