Bistro Gentil

We had dinner at Bistro Gentil tonight and honestly, it was the best meal we’ve had on this trip — hands down. This French gem in Wānaka delivered on every level. We went with the Trust the Chef 4-course menu, and it was the perfect choice. Every dish that came out was beautifully presented, perfectly balanced, and full of flavour. It felt like the kitchen was telling a story, and we were lucky enough to sit and listen. A special mention goes to the lamb — and I say this as someone who almost never eats lamb. It was unbelievably tender, full of depth, and cooked to perfection. I’m still thinking about it. The setting is elegant but relaxed, and the service was warm, knowledgeable, and just the right level of attentive. If you’re in Wānaka and looking for a dinner that feels like an experience, not just a meal — this is the place.

Amazing! Loved this cozy restaurant setting. Heating and blankets supplied. Was husbands desired place for his 50th birthday and the food was so good. I have some dietary requirements and the staff were so lovely and accommodating. Red wine I ordered from a Wanaka estate was delicious too. Highly recommend! Parking is at the back. They were kind enough to let me bring in a vegan carrot cake too that was specially made for the birthday.

We tried all the popular restaurants in Wanaka and this one is definitely the best! We had an amazing birthday meal and the service was excellent. The servers were attentive and very friendly. It is located on top of a small hill so if you can have a table next to the window you'll have the best view of the lake and mountains in town. The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious so you can comfortably enjoy the great food. Hightlights were the swordfish and beef tartare as starters, the venison and the beef as mains and the seasonal rhubarb for dessert! Thank you to the chefs and the wait staff for an unforgettable evening! ☺️

We went with the Trust the Chef four course menu at Bistro Gentil, and it was mind blowing! Easily the best meal we had in New Zealand. The restaurant was really cozy, and the service was impeccable. A must-do if you're ever in Wanaka!

Fantastic experience. We came here for a special occasion and we couldn’t have been happier. Food was delicious and the service was exceptional. Bryce looked after us so well, very impressed with his knowledge of the wines and the food, and just generally he made the night so enjoyable. Couldn’t recommend this place more (make sure you order the steak and ask for Bryce!).

We had a very disappointing experience with this restaurant. The space was beautiful, the wait staff wonderful, and the food delicious. It would have been nice to have a couple of different options for the kids as they were all given fish and chips, but the ones who don't eat fish ate the chips and were happy enough with that. The problem was, at the time of booking we were told we needed to have a set menu for our size group and staff handed us a physical menu with a 3 course Trust the Chef for $59 (photo attached), which we booked in good faith. When we paid the bill we were actually charged $92 per adult, essentially making our bill over 150% of what we were expecting. When we questioned the staff they told us that's the cost, and that we were wrong, and there was nothing to be done. It unfortunately soured the whole experience, it felt deceptive and their treatment of our query felt dismissive. I certainly can't recommend anyone book without triple checking ahead of time what you're actually going to be charged for, and hoping the narrative isn't changed while you're at your table. It's hard to remember a meal fondly when it ends with an an expensive unpleasant surprise.

Our second visit to Bistro Gentil. Both visits have been exceptional and we will be back. All 3 courses were superb and lovely wines to choose from. Special mention for the swordfish entree which was absolutely delicious. Forgot to take photos of the mains!

We had quite high expectations of Bistro Gentil.. Fortunately, we were not disappointed! Excellent service, delicious food and a handy (albeit small) wine list.. I highly recommend the Venison Tartare and Rhubarb dessert..

Wonderful experience at Bistro Gentil. This restaurant serves up delicious food with a gorgeous view. Excellent service and overall ambiance. My only call out is be careful when choosing your seat - this patio is spectacular but in the sun for part of the afternoon and it gets quite bright and hot. About halfway through the meal I found myself baking in the sun, which wasn't as comfortable as I would have liked.

Quaint, cosy, friendly. The team at BG are always out to impress and deliver an amazing meal and dining experience. by far the best fine dining in Wanaka. Make sure you book!

This is a must if you visit wanaka. Is a little of of town but don't let that stop you. This is great. Good service, great atmosphere, food fresh. Local, with a kiwi French Twist. really good. They have a hood wine list, by also have this wine dispenser that you can Just good up to and get a 1/3,.1/2.,or full glass of many different types of wines . Great idea. And otago has some great wines , world class.

I was recommended this restaurant and took my special guest for what appeared a lovely dinner. We both had identical meals of entre and mains. My guest spent the night vomiting and I woke up with mild diarrhoea. We had not eaten anything other than a scone all day so we had no doubt where the food poisoning came from. I notified Bistro Gentil of this and hugely disappointed in their response. Said they were sorry but not convincing in there reply. I would be reluctant to eat there again. I could not recommend this restaurant as a safe place Tor dine and I am sending report to Council Health Officials.

Just extraordinary. The staff is the definition of nice. Such good service. The restaurant itself is intimate and quiet. Lovely place to have a nice dinner. We found great food to eat dispite that the menu is not that big. The wine menu was really good. They also have special wine dispensers. You can have tastes from different types of wines for a fair price. The food itself was tasty. Really good use of spices and fresh ingredients. This is a must if you're in Wanaka!

Was quite disappointed with Bistro Gentil. I had been really excited to try this restaurant and had booked in advance. The staff are lovely and know the menu well but the food was very average. Meal sizes were tiny compared to the prices of the meals. We had the duck and the pork and to say I was upset with the food would be an understatement! Maybe I just had big expectations? The wine list however is lovely and they have an amazing machine in there that you grab a glass and get a card and you insert the card and choose a wine and you can get either half a glass, full glass or a taster all for very reasonable prices

Absolutely OUTSTANDING!!! Great warm, spacious cozy seating. The tables were not too close to the neighboring tables. Service was prompt and the staff was very knowledgeable about the foods and wine! We started with oysters, DEVINE!!! Fresh with iced lemon on top! We shared the lamb which was melt in your mouth flavorful and texture! A side dish of peas, kale and bacon was cooked to perfection!!! The wines would make Bacchus envious!!! EAT HERE!!!

Absolutely amazing experience. Wonderful staff and the food is incredible. Love the wine tasting which you can self serve however you'd like. The manager Kenny was exceptional and gave us interesting tid bits on all the great art in the restaurant. Great place, highly recommend it.

Stopped for a quick afternoon snack. Fantastic food and wine selection and amazing views.

Friendly upscale restaurant with overdecorated food This restaurant is located adjacent to a golf course a little outside of Wanaka proper, with nice views to the lake in the far distance. The decor is modern and warm. Our table was on the terrace which had been enclosed with plastic screens. The restaurant offers an array of wines that one can buy by the glass or taste; this approach allowed us to explore our own wine pairings. The food was all stylishly presented, for the most part with too much visual garnish. For the most part, the main ingredients of the plates of the tasting menu were agreeable. However, by the end of the meal, it felt as if the energetic approach to busy garnishing overpowered the main flavors of the dishes. The cheese plate at the end of the meal epitomized this over-decoration. Our advice would be to tune down the visual garnish and let the ingredients speak for themselves.

This is a charming restaurant with very attentive servers, a small but delightful menu, and exquisite food. The seafood and the lamb were extraordinary. We particularly liked the self-serve wine bar that permits you to have a small taste or a full glass of an entire array of wines. This was as fine a dining experience as we had in New Zealand. The prices were high but the experience was really superlative.

Beautiful spot! The service was sweet and friendly all night. We did wait a wee bit for our food but it was so worth it. Lamb cooked to perfection and a delicious choc fondant. Gorgeous evening, loved it.