Bistro Gentil

  We always make Bistro a priority when we visit Wanaka, as the food is always spectacular. The meals are imaginative, well balanced and of course, delicious! Three of us dined... read more last night and ordered off the menu. We had the calamari, steak tartare and pork belly entrees. For mains we had the duck, market fish which was bream and the lamb and chorizo. All of the food was incredible but the lamb and fish dishes were something else! We left with full bellies and big smiles on our faces! Thank you to Mario and his creative team, we will continue to sing your praises and recommend you to others visiting Wanaka.

  Like Kika, really really good food. Great atmosphere, great local produce, sophisticated dining and delicious meals. Highly recommend if visiting Wanaka.

  Loved the food, the wine, the atmosphere and the service. The steak and the pork were amazing, the chefs dessert converted my partner to desserts, and the wine was lovely.... read more Would love to come back again

  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

  We went on a Friday night and there weren’t many people perhaps because it’s not in the downtown area. There’s inside and outside seating in an attractive setting. We had... read more the beef tartar and tuna apps with the lamb and fish special. All were memorable. One of the best meals on our trip.

  You would be a fool to miss this restaurant. It is an absolute hidden gem. The food is to die for, perfectly cooked and plated beautifully. The ambience here is... read more so gentle and romantic, lovely place for dinner. The waitress was lovely and so accommodating...More

  Visitors to Wanaka, Bistro Gentil had been recommended to us by our AirBnb host as somewhere top rate to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Hands down, one of our best... read more dining experiences. Ever. A glass each of Maude bubbly started us on our way, whilst the...More

  Oh. Wow. Came here with my parents (75 & 80), and we were simply blown away.
Incredible view and lovely staff who genuinely seem to enjoy working there. ... read more />
My mother normally “chooses badly” even in top London restaurants. Here she was just bowled over. I can’t remember the last time that happened.
The cauliflower soup was incredible. Her lamb was the best of a faultless main selection.

Just an extremely rare experience.
I often love the food in NZ restaurants but this was simply on a different level.

  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 was excellent with great service.
One wee complaint the room temperature was a bit too cold to dine with out a jacket on

  This was a return visit to Wanaka and dinner at Bistro Gentil the first thing booked. Though a Monday, the bistro was open, but not busy. All diners accommodated easily... read more in the outdoor terrace section, for a glorious sunset. It's easy to get too comfortable in the woollen-rugged chairs. Service was attentive but not rushed. We had 'space' between entrees and main to sit and relax and imbibe.

Starters were oysters (fresh!), chicken liver parfait (made into 'cigars' and served in glass ashtrays - incredible), and soft shell crab (yum).

For entree we both had the French onion soup. This was a no-brainer and didn't disappoint. I had thought about going large but the waitress assured me the small size would give me space to complete mains. She was right. Tick.

For mains we had the duck (special) and I had the Red Tussocks venison, with truffle fries. Just divine, and both cooked just enough.

For dessert I had the vanilla brûlée. OMG what a treat.

The wine list was smaller than I remembered and a bit odd. Mostly wines made by the winery upon which grounds the bistro sits and provides wine-tastings for, but some others including one from Italy and one from France. I chose the Clos Marguerite Pinot Noir 2019 and it was sublime.

Overall, our expectations had been high and they were met.