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
  • Chicken liver parfait cigar, quince paste, ash /8 ea
  • Mushroom croquette, aioli /6 ea
  • Salt cod croquette, preserved lemon mayonnaise /7 ea
  • Beef croquette, onion caramel, spicy mayonnaise /7 ea
  • Duck croquette, parsnip purée, plum kasundi /7ea
  • 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
  • Cured salmon, horseradish buttermilk, daikon, dill chickpea cracker /27
  • Fresh asparagus, slow cooked egg, goat cheese espuma, puffed buckwheat /25

Principals:

  • Deboned duck leg, creamy leeks, mushroom & duck breast, rhubarb chutney, cider jus/53
  • Market fish, prawns, fennel, tangelo beurre blanc, peas, sorrel, dried red peppers, puffed wild rice /50
  • Royalburn lamb rump, courgette pesto, cucumber & courgette, pickled red onion, mint oil, polenta crisps /55
  • Roasted yams, whipped cumin sour cream, pickled beetroot & relish, spiced grains /44
  • 200g beef fillet, red onion relish, potato dauphines, café de paris butter, onion caramel/65
  • Glazed confit pork belly, raw spinach maifun salad; shiitake mushrooms, celery gel, cider jus, almonds /53
  • Alpine venison striploin, creamy savoy cabbage & bacon, roasted kumara, harissa dressing, kale /56

Accompagnements:

  • Rosemary ciabatta loaf & butter /9
  • Bistro’s signature truffle fries/15
  • Garden salad, medlar dressing /14
  • Fried brussels sprouts, medlar dressing, preserved lemon mayonnaise/15
  • Roasted pumpkin. ricotta salata, crispy shallots/16
  • Roasted yams, whipped cumin sour cream, spiced grains /16

Desserts:

  • Vanilla crème brûlée, peanut crumb, berry sorbet/20
  • Kiwi fruit textures, almond dacquoise, mascarpone/20
  • Dark chocolate mousse, chocolate custard, crumbs, sea salt tuile/20
  • Lemon curd slice, confit lemon, coconut crumb, vanilla ice cream/20
  • Dame Blanche, vanilla ice cream, hot chocolate ganache, nuts/19
  • Café gourmand, selection of 3 mini bistro desserts served with coffee or tea /25
  • Selection of house-made ice cream and sorbet/17
  • Affogato, vanilla ice cream, espresso, liqueur of choice /24

5 Course Tasting Menu /99 pp

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

Cured salmon, horseradish buttermilk, daikon, dill chickpea cracker

Pairing: TWR 2022 Riesling, Marlborough, NZ

Course 4: 

Glazed confit pork belly, raw spinach maifun salad; shiitake mushrooms, celery gel, cider jus, almonds

Pairing: Le Gentil 2022 Pinot Noir, Wanaka, NZ

OR 

Market fish, prawns, fennel, tangelo beurre blanc, peas, sorrel, dried red peppers, puffed wild rice

Pairing: Maude 2025 Chardonnay, Wanaka NZ

Course 5: 

Chocolate crémeux,  meringue, berry jam, hazelnut praline

Pairing:  Campbell’s Muscat, Rutherglen, Aus

Bon appétit!

  • star rating  The food was spectacular. We both had the duck with the maple syrup yams and it was all exceptional- easily 10/10. It was one of the best mains we have... read more

    avatar thumb bris1234
    July 25, 2018
  • star rating  Warm welcome on a cold and rainy night. The food was excellent, the staff friendly and helpful and the wine selection great. Well worth the drive.

    avatar thumb Barms1005
    May 17, 2018
  • 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  We came here because of the good review but was very disappointed by the terrible service. The waitress with curly ponytail serving us this evening probably shouldn’t be working in... read more

    avatar thumb Cherche3
    February 19, 2024
  • star rating  We really enjoyed the food last night which was exceptional. I cannot thank the staff enough for making the night extra special for our engagement and I appreciate the little... read more

    avatar thumb roryk839
    November 18, 2018
  • 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  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

    avatar thumb brettnjess
    July 14, 2022
  • star rating  My partner and I went to Bistro Gentil for our anniversary and had a lovely experience. There is an option on the menu to "trust the chef". This was such... read more

    avatar thumb 868chrystalb
    October 20, 2022
  • star rating  Outstanding food and out on terrace was exceptional. They even had hats until the sun dropped enough. Great local wines to enjoy as well as many others.A lovely garden and... read more

    avatar thumb H349ORpaul
    February 27, 2020
  • star rating  This place was a gem. The food was superb, particularly the tartare and confit. Same room for dessert . The Maude wine selection was good. ... read more

    avatar thumb SteveK62
    April 22, 2019

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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