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, 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, café de paris butter, 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
  • Fig cheesecake, poached pear and syrup, biscoff crumb/19
  • Rum baba, praliné mousse, poached pear, salted caramel ice cream/20
  • Tiramisu parfait, 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  We dined here this week and not only had wonderful food but the service was exceptional as well, in fact the best on Wanaka. We choose the chefs choice menu... read more

    avatar thumb 94suey
    August 1, 2019
  • star rating  Highly recommend reservation to avoid disappointment - parking at the rear or on the front or better still get a taxi - this is not really a place for young... read more

    avatar thumb MagicRoundabout365
    January 9, 2022
  • star rating  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

    avatar thumb Bri1966
    December 12, 2019
  • star rating  We are lovers of French food so picked this place while in Wanaka. Maybe we got it wrong but we found it more Modern and less French. I opted for... read more

    avatar thumb WZVZ
    August 20, 2022
  • star rating  We enjoyed a very special meal in a spot with great views. The staff were very friendly & looked after us very well.

    avatar thumb KerryL148
    March 5, 2020
  • star rating  We came here because of the good review but was very disappointed by the terrible service. The waitress with curly ponytail serving us this evening probably shouldn’t be working in... read more

    avatar thumb Cherche3
    February 19, 2024
  • star rating  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

    avatar thumb vm183
    June 28, 2018
  • star rating  Both indoor and covered patio areas offer casual elegance in atmosphere. Go around sunset and you will hopefully get beautiful glowing skies from the patio. The food is superb. And... read more

    avatar thumb portlandorer
    March 17, 2020
  • star rating  Delicious food, stunning view! Reasonably priced given the quality of food. Would definitely visit again.

    avatar thumb Christine R
    October 4, 2018
  • star rating  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

    avatar thumb Mcfetties
    February 8, 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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