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

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
  • Roasted butternut, walnut pesto, smoked mozzarella, tamari seeds, sundried tomato, lemon/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, squid ink emulsion, cauliflower textures, prawns, beurre blanc, chives/46
  • 200g reserve beef fillet, garlic mash potatoes, spinach, onion caramel, blue cheese butter/57
  • Lumina lamb rump, butternut, tamari seeds, sun-dried tomatoes, chorizo /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
  • Fried Brussels sprouts, apple dressing, hot sauce mayonnaise, peanuts /14
  • Peas, shallots, bacon, crispy kale/13
  • Creamy mash potatoes with confit garlic & chives/13

DESSERTS

  • Vanilla crème brûlée, peanut crumb, boysenberry burst sorbet /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  The restaurant is in a great location overlooking the town, with easy parking. The tables are well spaced for easy conversation and the service was quite excellent, polite and well... read more

    avatar thumb IanfromRAK
    November 18, 2023
  • 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  We dined at Bistro Gentil on Sunday 18th February, and it was an amazing culinary experience. The French Onion soup was very tasty and rich, but this was surpassed by... read more

    avatar thumb collette t
    February 25, 2024
  • star rating  Fantastic location. Panoramic views of Lake Wanaka & Southern Alps. Excellent choice of beverages (including local wine) at reasonable prices. Great menu selection. Food and Service were excellent. Highly recommended

    avatar thumb Coralea56
    December 2, 2020
  • star rating  Absolutely surprised by the stunning food and ambience! The French onion soup was epic! 11/10 worth the visit alone...and the steak !

    avatar thumb Glen C
    July 23, 2020
  • star rating  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

    avatar thumb evets1232016
    February 19, 2024
  • star rating  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

    avatar thumb Imapepper79
    January 27, 2024
  • star rating  Joined friends for dinner and enjoyed a superb meal with a great selection of local wines.
    One of the best dining experiences we have had in Wanaka. Starting with the... read more

    avatar thumb dajeck
    January 3, 2020
  • star rating  My partner and I celebrated a birthday and a wedding anniversary at the Bistro Gentil. The Food was just superb, but it was the attention to service that really made... read more

    avatar thumb Russell W
    September 9, 2019
  • 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

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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