Bistro Gentil

  We came here on the recommendation of our hotel, and had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The views were stunning (although we wished we could have sat on the terrace area... read more to fully appreciate the views), and the food was very good. We ordered the tasting...More

  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.

  Absolutely amazing food - it's art designed to wow your eyes and taste buds.
Definitely recommend for a date night, but also as a special occasion place to treat yourself... read more and your loved ones, or amaze a potential client or business-partner.

  My wife and I had a wonderful Sunday evening meal at Bistro Gentil. The food and service were exquisite. The atmosphere was perfect, not too loud, nice music but at... read more a proper volume. The highlight of the evening was the excellent food. The menu was short but everything we were ordered was impeccably prepared. My wife and I both ordered the fish entree which was brill with a cauliflower purée. We also ordered a couple of other mains and an appetizer which were delicious. Great wine selection. Highly recommended, best meal we’ve had in New Zealand so far.

  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 selection of wine on an enomatic machine so you can try a number. Highly recommend...More

  This restaurant was recommended by our hotel. We sat outside on a covered patio with heaters. Fabulous views overlooking Lake Wanaka. The kitchen is open as you walk in,... read more and is a hive of activity. There is a wine machine for the local wines, which...More

  There have been a few places we have eaten in that were memorable but this is certainly one of them. Nothing we ate or drank came short of the mark... read more and the service attentive and overall experience notable. We both had the Ora King Salmon, tempura soft shell crab, avocado, soy glaze, grapefruit gel, pickled radish, fennel. Remarkable and perfect in every way. Our mains were the free range pork belly, crumbed rib, tomato relish, bok choy, broccoli, hot sauce, white bbq sauce, crispy kale, and the aged beef fillet, red onion relish, onion caramel, café de paris, potato dauphines. Both were faultless. Desserts were unbaked fig cheesecake and the salted caramel set mousse. With all this came a complimentary amuse-gueule to start and a surprise course for our wedding anniversary (which I had casually mentioned when I had booked). All in all a huge treat and one of the best meals out we have experienced (and we have a surfeit of restaurants in Wellington to compare). So nice to read that other reviewers have felt the same way. Keep on doing what you do!

  Had a fabulous dinner last night at Bistro Gentil. Our waiters Richard and Scott were super friendly and very quick to help out on dietary allergies. We were seated next... read more to the fire so were warm and cosy. The ambience was lovely. We felt very VIP and the chef served up some amazing entrees, mains and desserts that looked and tasted extra special. Richard recommended some lovely wines to accompany dinner. Thanks to all for such a fine dining experience ❤️

  Lovely location with great views. Food delicious. Outside eating. Loved the "credit card" and wine dispenser

  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.