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.
Bienvenue au Bistro Gentil
Wine pairing /60 pp
+ 4 oysters /32
Course 1:
Beef croquette, hot sauce mayonnaise
OR
Mushroom croquette, aioli
Pairing: Maude Méthode Traditionnelle NV, Wanaka, NZ
Course 2:
Soup of the day
Pairing: Matawhero 2025 Pinot Gris, Marlborough, NZ
Course 3:
Beef tartare, radish, egg yolk, soy gel, miso mayo, crispy shallots, croutons
OR
Seared yellowfin tuna, buttermilk dashi, wakame, pickled fennel, citrus kosho, sesame tapioca cracker
Pairing: TWR 2022 Riesling, Marlborough, NZ
Course 4:
Wildshot venison, caramelised cauliflower purée, brussels sprouts, crispy bacon, roasted hazelnuts and marmite jus
Pairing: Le Gentil 2022 Pinot Noir, Wanaka, NZ
OR
Market fish, prawns, potato darphin, parsnip purée, bouillabaisse lobster sauce, spring onion and chives
Pairing: Maude 2025 Chardonnay, Wanaka NZ
Course 5:
Chocolate crémeux, meringue, berry jam, hazelnut praline
Pairing: Campbell’s Muscat, Rutherglen, Aus
Bon appétit!
We are visiting NZ and I wanted somewhere really good to take my wife for her 60th birthday. This place definitely did the trick! The service was friendly and first... read more class! I'd mentioned my wife's birthday when I booked. This had been noted and when her dessert came it had 'Happy 60th Birthday' inscribed in chocolate sauce! A very nice touch. The food was also first class. There was plenty of atmosphere and at least two other birthday celebrations happening.
Geoffrey M
Having been locals for over 5 years now our special treat has always been Bistro. Seasonal, fresh ingredients backed by a creativity that's second to none! They never cease to... read more amaze. It's definitely the best restaurant in Wanaka for its consistently mind blowing inventiveness. I...More
Moanin M
Bistro Gentil shares the restaurant space with Maude Wines. The restaurant is intimate and cosy, not too spacious but they utilise the outdoor area with overhead heating, making it an... read more extra outdoor but enclosed room.
Staff were friendly, especially Richard, very knowledgeable and explained each dishes with extra detail. We had the beautiful bottle of Maude Pinot Gris, lovely wine to complement our meal. My husband had the lovely pork belly and I had the tiger prawns with calamari on a small bed of beautiful broth/sauce and a small bun to soak up the sauce. For main, we had the lovely lamb with sausage. Accompanied by French fries and peas and bacon. We finished with ice cream to cleanse our palette.
If you love a nice meal, you definitely need to visit Bistro Gentil.
brettnjess
Outside of Wanaka but worth the drive up. Great view across the golf course to the lake and the mountains beyond it. Food was very good but on a busy... read more night this restaurant can get quite noisy. If it is a quiet night, this would be a great choice for a romantic dinner while watching the sun set.
jamesl680
Saturday night was a wonderful experience, lovely surroundings, greeted with a friendly smile on arrival, seated and offered a drink, completely unhurried to decide what you would like, mouth watering... read more flavoured food, when your food is placed in front of you, a full eplaination of what your plate contains is given by the wait staff.
Wait staff all gentle lovely people and very attentive.
You must make reservations before going.
Totally recommend this restaurant. Will certainly go back.
Suziqs
This is now probably the best place to eat in Wanaka. We tried the competition but this place wins. The onion soup is a wow - even a teenager would... read more like it. The rest of the menu is carefully curated and will not disapoint.
Dave And Nicky B
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 and it was lovely. Wine recommendation was superb. Would highly recommend you try this place.
94suey
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 so gentle and romantic, lovely place for dinner. The waitress was lovely and so accommodating...More
Really great place. We loved the location very much. Friday night and lots of locals there. Very friendly staff. Food tastet exquisit. Wonderful wines. It is a small place so... read more you do have to make a reservation. And it is a bit out of town.
Christine8046
Visitors to Wanaka, Bistro Gentil had been recommended to us by our AirBnb host as somewhere top rate to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Hands down, one of our best... read more dining experiences. Ever. A glass each of Maude bubbly started us on our way, whilst the...More
peter2780To 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:
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!
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