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
  • Duck croquette, damson relish, parsnip purée/7 ea
  • Croque-madame croquette, fried egg mayonnaise, cured egg yolk/8 ea
  • Chicken liver parfait cigar, quince paste, ash/8 ea
  • Earth board, selection of 3 cheeses, house chutney, walnut, croutons, ciabatta/37

Entrées:

  • French onion soup, gruyere crouton/16 small/23 large
  • Aged beef fillet tartare, radish, egg yolk, soy gel, miso mayo, crispy shallots, croutons/26
  • Yellowfin tuna, leche de tigre, avocado mousse, cucumber, pickled red onion, puffed rice, tapioca cracker/27
  • Baked goat cheese, beetroot relish, roasted butternut, walnut crumb, crispy kale, butternut purée/25

Principals:

  • Deboned duck leg, creamy duck breast, mushroom, leeks, plum chutney, parsnip purée cider jus/53
  • Market fish, vongole, potato darphin, parsnip purée, bouillabaisse lobster sauce, spring onion and chives/50
  • Royalburn lamb rump, sundried tomatoes, aubergine purée, fried potatoes, walnuts, pickled onions/53
  • Salt-baked swede, smoked labneh, pumpkin seeds, black garlic gel, vietnamese oil, puffed rice/44
  • 200g Angus reserve beef fillet, red onion relish, potato dauphines, café de paris butter, onion caramel/65
  • 200g Pork tenderloin rolled in bacon, green beans, pickled mustard seeds, celeriac purée, dukkah spices, jus/55

Accompagnements:

  • Bistro’s signature truffle fries/15
  • Perlas potatoes, crème fraiche, parsley, leek ash/17
  • Fried brussels sprouts, medlar dressing, preserved lemon mayonnaise/15
  • Steamed broccoli, blue cheese sauce, pumpkin seeds/16

Trust The Chef:

  • 3 Course $69
  • 4 Course $79
  • 5 Course $95

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.

Desserts:

  • Mini Bistro dessert /8
  • Vanilla crème brûlée, peanut crumb, berry sorbet/20
  • Plum cheesecake, banana chips & caramelised, banana crumb/20
  • Dark chocolate mousse, chocolate custard, crumbs, sea salt tuile/20
  • Pear and blueberry compote, oat crumble, frozen yoghurt, dulce de leche /19
  • Dame Blanche, vanilla ice cream, hot chocolate ganache, nuts/19
  • Selection of house-made ice cream and sorbet/17
  • Affogato, vanilla ice cream, espresso, liqueur of choice /24


Bon appétit !

  • 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

  • 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  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

    avatar thumb shaunsouthern
    January 10, 2019

  • star rating  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

    avatar thumb Alex H
    April 15, 2019

  • star rating  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

    sophie12342016
    July 9, 2019

  • star rating  Joined friends for dinner and enjoyed a superb meal with a great selection of local wines.
    One of the best dining experiences we have had in Wanaka. Starting with the... read more

    avatar thumb dajeck
    January 3, 2020

  • star rating  We had an enjoyable birthday dinner at the cozy and romantic Bistro Gentil. The Chef and his team put much love into their dishes. They are beautifully plated. The menu... read more

    avatar thumb John W
    October 12, 2018

  • star rating  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

    avatar thumb emptyhead
    December 7, 2020

  • star rating  Bistro Gentil is, far and away, the best restaurant in Wanaka. My husband and I have enjoyed a meal here every time we come to Wanaka, but we also had... read more

    avatar thumb Jackie L
    May 27, 2018

  • star rating  Eye watering prices mediocre food. Not fresh not tasty.Very pretentious.They call it french cuisine but I doubt any frenchman would want to make that comparison.

    avatar thumb Rwh011
    November 18, 2020

Reservations

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 & 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

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