Menu

  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 the service industry. She was rushing us to order the food when we first sat down. Every table received a jar of water but because we did not order alcohol she did not bring the water jar to our table even after we requested it. She rarely came to check on our table and when we tried to get her attention by waiving at her a few times she just ignored. At the end I brought her the attention to refill us water on my way to the washroom. She came 10 minutes later and still did not bring us any water until after we ordered the dessert.

Their onion soup was good. Their fish and venison, and desserts have appealing display but tastes average.

  We came here on the recommendation of our hotel, and had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The views were stunning (although we wished we could have sat on the terrace area... read more to fully appreciate the views), and the food was very good. We ordered the tasting...More

  We had excellent food our entire wonderful Backroads trip but Bistro Gentil was my favorite.
Beautiful setting, comfortable seating, elegant casual decor. Servers were excellent, even serving our group of... read more twenty.
Great vegetarian options - I am pescatarian. Loved all three courses, had a goat curd and leak appetizer, moki fish entree - fish cooked perfectly, and creme brulee with sorbet for dessert. My husband had a cauliflower based entree that he loved.
Wine was good - like everywhere in NZ.

  Amazing! We loved this place, great food, wines and service. Right from when you pull in the driveway and see the whole place lit up like a Christmas tree you... read more feel welcome. Inside is nicely laid out, the staff are really lovely and helpful (as...More

  Like Kika, really really good food. Great atmosphere, great local produce, sophisticated dining and delicious meals. Highly recommend if visiting Wanaka.

  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

  What a delicious meal. We all had Trust the chef, and we’re not disappointed. Service very friendly and wine was spot on, a good variety to choose from. Will definitely... read more be back!

  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.

  Great food
Great service
Michelin star quality
Innovative chef
Welcoming waiters
Great experience
Good choice for gluten free diet
Limited amount of tables - get your... read more reservation ahead of time.

  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 About 100% markup on their own cellar door which is a bit rich but nice reserve Pinot.