Bistro Gentil

  The best food in Wanaka by far.
Great location, great view and great menu.
Clean and just yummy, i recommend it to anyone wishing to have a decent diner away... read more from the usual pub food all around town.

  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.

  Another great recommendation from our Airbnb Host, thank you!! Bookings essential as it is very popular!
What a lovely surprise to walk into this restaurant. So warm and cosy on... read more a horrid Summer Night that was as cold as any winters evening. The waitress had the common sense to keep the door closed that lead to the covered outdoor area to keep us in the restaurant cosy - thank you not many consider to do this! The chairs I loved - they had a sheepskin cover over them and added to the comfort. We had Pinot Wine from the Maude Winery to drink a perfect compliment to our meal. Soup was had for a starter - good old fashioned French Onion with a lovely cheesy top, Wagyu Steak was just melt in your mouth cooked and the lamb backstrap was worth the visit for sure. Unfortunately too full to enjoy desert but will be back next time to try this! Thank you all for such a memorable night!

  We had dinner here and it was super! Up on a hill with views out to the lake and across from a golf course. Beef tartare , fish and sorbet... read more with local wine. Delicious meal with great friendly service.

  Wow! Top class food that is probably one of the best in NZ, friendly and attentive service and to top it off outstanding views. Can not recommend this any higher!... read more Thank you Bistro Gentil for a great evening and appreciate you fitting us in last minute too!

  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.

  This delightful bistro is about a 10 minute drive from the lakefront; and sits up on a hill with gorgeous views of Lake Wanaka. Sit outside on the patio if... read more the weather is nice. Nice menu variety - lamb, monkfish, duck. Everything is so tasty...More

  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.

  We had high expectations for our meal here, and Bistro Gentil delivered on them. We did the works. I had french onion soup, steak, and a canele for desert. The... read more steak was brilliant-perfect quality thick fillet, cooked exactly as requested. Blue cheese sauce, potato dauphines with an onion caramel and onion jam, washed down with a glass of Cote du Rhone. And all with a view to the majestic lake and mountains of Wanaka. Highly recommended.

  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.