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, Canter Valley duck…”

— Mario Rodrigues, Head Chef

The quaint bistro surrounded by lavender sits just outside of town, offering tranquil lake views and beautiful sunsets. An ideal way to spend your evening.

“Indulge in the classics from our À La Carte menu such as French Onion Soup, Beef Tartare or Crème Brûlée.

Why not spend the day sampling local award-winning wine here at the Maude Tasting Room and book in for dinner.

Menu

Bienvenue au Bistro Gentil

TRUST THE CHEF 3-COURSE TASTING $79 pp

Indulge in a culinary journey curated by our talented chefs. Sit back, relax, and let us surprise you with a thoughtfully crafted 3-course menu highlighting seasonal ingredients and inventive flavours.

WEDNESDAY CLASSIC TRIO $79 pp

Join us every Wednesday for a delightful 3-course experience at Bistro, featuring some of our timeless classics for just $79 per person. Enjoy a French onion soup, a perfectly cooked reserve beef filet, and a decadent crème brûlée to finish. It’s a midweek treat you won’t want to miss!

APPETISERS

  • Chicken liver parfait cigar, quince paste, ash/8
  • Rosemary ciabatta and Bistro’s compound butter/9
  • Manuka smoked olives/8
  • Wild mushroom croquette, aioli/11
  • Oyster, mignonette/8

POTAGES

(GIVE ME A TASTE, OR JUST HAVE ONE!)

  • French onion soup, gruyere crouton/13/21
  • Soup of the day/11/18

ENTREES

INDIVIDUAL OR SHARING

  • Aged beef fillet tartare, radish, egg yolk, soy gel, miso mayo, crispy shallots, croutons/24
  • Stracciatella, edamame, walnut pesto, lemon gremolata, raw seed crackers, green strawberries/23
  • Seared swordfish, smoked buttermilk, kaffir lime oil, orange gel, pickle daikon, squid ink tapioca/26

  • Earth board, selection of 3 cheeses, house chutney, walnut, croutons, ciabatta/35

PRINCIPALS

  • Market fish, sautéed leeks, calamari, smoked cream, chorizo oil, chives, buckwheat/46
  • 200g reserve beef fillet, garlic mash potatoes, spinach, onion caramel, blue cheese butter/57
  • Lumina lamb rump, cauliflower, broccoli, white bbq sauce, puffed rice, crispy potato/47
  • Roasted beetroot, hazelnut rye crumb, sumac labneh, smoked beetroot purée, fennel seed/38
  • Red Tussocks venison, carrots, peach chutney, kale, harissa & garlic oil/47

ACCOMPAGNEMENTS

  • Bistro’s signature truffle fries/14
  • Winter vegetable medley, maple glaze /15
  • Sautéed asparagus, fried egg mayonnaise, pecorino/15
  • Peas, shallots, bacon, crispy kale/13
  • Creamy mash potatoes with confit garlic & chives/13

DESSERTS

  • Vanilla crème brûlée, peanut crumb, strawberry gelato/20
  • Lemon roulade, hazelnut praline, lemon gel, candied hazelnut, limoncello ice cream/19
  • Choux pastry, mascarpone, blackcurrant gel, sponges, pistachio ice cream/19
  • Selection of house made ice cream and sorbets /18
  • Dame blanche, vanilla ice cream, hot chocolate ganache, nuts/18
  • Mini Bistro dessert /8
  • Affogato, vanilla ice cream, espresso, liqueur of choice /23

Feel like a sweet wine?

  • Pegasus Bay Finale Noble Sauv Blanc /18
  • Campbells Rutherglen Muscat /16
    Bon appétit !

  • star rating  Situated near the Golf Club,a bit out of town,this establishment is a wine tasting room by day & a beaut restaurant by night specialising in local produce...We particularly enjoyed the... read more

    avatar thumb john241Caloundra
    May 15, 2018
  • star rating  Spent a week in Wanaka early December and had the great pleasure of two delicious dinners at Bistro Gentil. Interesting menu - beautifully prepared.Absolutely wonderful - the best food... read more

    avatar thumb Tessa C
    December 31, 2018
  • star rating  The most inventive and delightful meal I've ever had - and I've been coming here once a year, every year, for the last four years. And each year surpasses the... read more

    avatar thumb Maz H
    May 19, 2018
  • 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  In a tourist town its not always a good sign when you see a bus at your dining destination. Some things feel best kept off the package-tour radar. ... read more

    avatar thumb Jo R
    May 3, 2019
  • 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  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

    avatar thumb Goodandsimple
    May 22, 2021
  • star rating  We are Wanaka locals and have dined at BG many times over the past 6-8 years. Some time ago, I found that while the food was amazing, it was often... read more

    avatar thumb Ski_Wanaka_NZ
    October 3, 2018
  • 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
  • star rating  This was an awesome dining experience.
    I ate off the menu and wife tried the “Trust the chef” option and was most impressed.

    avatar thumb peterw812
    November 6, 2022

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 to Saturday 6pm till close

To Make a Reservation
Click here

For Inquiries
Ph: 03 443 2299
Email: bistrogentilwanaka@gmail.com

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