Bistro Gentil

  Take a stroll up past the golf course to find this charming little restaurant with a view even better than down by the lake shore ( those snow capped mountains... read more seem closer, somehow!)

A lovely menu with a good selection of dishes providing vegetarian,fish and meat options, small to larger portion sizes so you can share, or choose soup and a generously sized entree instead of a main course ( and then have room for a gorgeous crème brûlée)

Professional service, tranquil location, great food - and good value too. And a nice after dinner stroll back down past the golf course.

What more could you want!

Highly recommended.

  Before we went here we had only reviews to go on. The website suggests going up in the afternoon, enjoying the stunning views of the lake over a wine-tasting and... read more staying for dinner. So we did.
The views are lovely and the sun shining in on us was warming as we were welcomed by a wonderful host for our wine tasting. In the end, over a little over an hour, we enjoyed three tasting trays between the two of us before moving on to dinner. Our wine host was knowledgeable, helpful but never in our faces or the slightest bit pushy. It was all about enjoying the day.
Our dinner also proved to be stunning with great but again not in-your-face service. We enjoyed beautifully presented and delicious amuse bouches, tartare for entree, the duck for main, a delightful palate cleanser and creme brulee that I have to rate as the best I have ever tried. All the food was amazing. And the wines included a wide range of Maude wines but also a wide range of wines from other vineyards.
Rather than just a night out, this turned into the pinnacle of our 4 days of dining and wining around Wanaka.

  3 of us opted for the 3 courses for $69. The beef tartare, asparagus with the goat's cheese etc and the beef belly croquette with the torched goat's cheese all... read more proved to be top quality and very flavoursome. The fish of the day was monkfish and voted the best of the 3 mains although the beef fillet and lamb backstrap were also praised by all. Everyone was also happy with their dessert.

Service was nicely paced and friendly and the ambience was very pleasant. We thought, given the quality of the food that the price was good value. We hope to return on our next trip to Wanaka.

  A final night dinner for our first trip down preparing for a big race later this year. The whole experience from arrival to completion was flawless, the atmosphere is very... read more relaxed and the staff do a great job at keeping it that way. Great decor and layout, the gentleman who advised it’s warm under the heaters outside was spot on. Food was sublime and we enjoyed the 3 course offer plus a few wines. Will definitely return.
On a side note I beloved you were understaffed last night but your staff made it seem easy running on the 2 front of house staff.
Will return next time for sure

  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 even more, the service is very good, a rarity in New Zealand.

  Spent a week in Wanaka early December and had the great pleasure of two delicious dinners at Bistro Gentil. Interesting menu - beautifully prepared.Absolutely wonderful - the best food... read more in South Island.

  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!

  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 children/younger teens (no kids menu) it’s more for adults wanting fine dining experience - Bistro Gentile is in a fabulous location and even better if it’s a nice day/evening and you can reserve a table with lake view - dine in or on the covered outside area - lovely decor inside - can get chilly on the outside covered area but there are heaters overhead or take a shawl if it’s going to be a chilly evening/day - staff are super friendly - GF diners be wowed as nearly everything on the menu can be made GF (it does not say what’s GF or DF etc on the menu which would be nice and makes it more easy but staff are super helpful) the food is amazing cooked to perfection whatever your choice is - the food presentation is fabulous - a lovely selection of wine, cocktails and soft drinks - we were a party of 4 - our choice ratings best: tartare or soft goats cheese or salmon all totally amazing - mains: beef fillet or hanger steak or market fish accompanied with french fries with yummy truffle salt, spring carrots again totally amazing - we couldn’t leave without me having my all time favourite: creme brûlée which was and always is exceptional - if you’ve got time to treat yourself or a special occasion then this is the restaurant to dine at in Wanaka, it’s exceptionally the best. Okay you may pay more but it’s totally worth it. Well done to Bistro Gentile for being such a fabulous restaurant.

  One of Wanaka's top rated restaurants with fine dining, Bistro Gentil didnt disappoint. Nestled on a road above the town - we walked two miles there - it was packed... read more full. For starters we had tomato and chilli soup and a seared salmon starter and...More

  The setting is beautiful with views to the lake and mountains beyond. The food is spectacular, every course was delicious, so fresh and amazing combinations of flavors, was definitely one... read more of the best meals we've ever had and we've eaten all over the world. Merci for making our 10 year anniversary special. If you don't eat here you're missing out big time.