Bistro Gentil

  We are a group of 19 people taken dinner in Bistro Gentil in Wanaka on 17 April 2019. This is the BEST and DELICIOUS restaurant we have in New... read more Zealand since April 11. The food presentation is beautiful. Desserts are very attractive and very high...More

  Fabulous meal, thet best we have eaten in a long time. Easily beats the #1 rated place.

Best on a nice day, to eat outside.

  What a delicious meal. We all had Trust the chef, and we’re not disappointed. Service very friendly and wine was spot on, a good variety to choose from. Will definitely... read more be back!

  Lovely French restaurant on a hilltop. Probably our best meal in NZ.

Energetic noise level vs. the quiet candlelight affair I would have expected. Our group had fun... read more dining here enjoying thoughtfully prepared food and good wine.

I didn’t pay the tab so I can’t comment on value but this is probably considered a fine dining experience in Wanaka.

There’s enclosed patio at the front of this restaurant. I’d try to get a seat in there next time, better views.

Service was very attentive. All 12 of us enjoyed everything we ordered so it’s hard to say what I’d recommend after only a single visit but there’s a goof chance you’ll find something good on the menu when you go. And you should go

  Bistro Gentil is described in a major tourist brochure for Wanaka as '...our award winning restaurant ' and came up as #1 on Trip Advisor reviews. The online menu looked... read more exciting too, so off we went for dinner.
Now I don't like writing negative reviews but I really was disappointed.
Wild venison carpaccio as an entree had about as much venison as a single thin slice of prosciutto. And with more than that in the form of poached pear, cranberry gel and sun dried tomato, I just couldn't taste the venison. It's not that these things don't go with venison, but the dish was so mean on the venison that it just got swamped.
It didn't get much better with the fish main. Three tiny pieces of monkfish, while tasting good, just didn't show the character of the fish. The celeriac puree was good, and could have been the main counterpoint of the fish with maybe one other flavour. But add prawns, leek, orange and bok choy to a tiny serve of fish and it just got lost. Somewhere there was apparently black garlic butter too... I've had many entrees that were more generous.
On the plus side, the garden salad was good and so were the wines (though a bit on the high price side by the glass).
Overall I think Bistro Gentil is trying too hard, maybe to hold or rescue some past glory. But the meanness of the and better balanced than this.
A French onion soup was sweet but maybe at the expense of some flavour of the onion. It was saved by a crust of gruyere but we're still trying to work out where the crouton was.
Overall the meanness of the feature ingredients in the serves, and the overcomplicated and overcompensated accompaniments, really it down.
I'm hoping they were just having a bad night, as their menu should really set you alight.

  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.

  The best view anywhere in the world! We soaked up the view and clean air whilst we waited for our table. The food was yummy and presented beautifully. It is... read more a popular place and needs to be booked, we can see why. It is more upmarket and a little bit out of town so if you’re walking you may need to stick to something closer. An enjoyable dinner.

  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 with local wine. Delicious meal with great friendly service.

  The restaurant is in a great location overlooking the town, with easy parking. The tables are well spaced for easy conversation and the service was quite excellent, polite and well... read more informed. My wife has a garlic allergy but nothing was a bother and lots of options were made available with no fuss. We all agreed that the menu had great variety and local interest, and the food was beautifully cooked and presented. Maude wines are hard to beat and reasonably priced. Just a memorable evening and highly recommended.

  Stumbled upon this gem on our last night and was very impressed with everything on offer. From the cosy setting to the genuine service! I did the Chef's Choice and... read more he didn't disappoint! Yes, the food is a little pricey but you get your money's worth. Plus the wine list was great, I was impressed with all my selections including the local MAUDE wines. When I'm back in NZ, I'll make the trip to Wanaka just to eat here again!