This adorable & quaint cottage is tucked between a hardware store and a barbecue truck directly off of Highway 151. I had been excited to visit this restaurant since hearing such great things about it - it did not disappoint! The menu changes daily so check the website to ensure you like what's being offered. Most often you will. All entrées are served with a salad and bread, and the same sides of a starch and vegetable. This Saturday night I had the yellowfin tuna and it was so tender and cooked perfectly. M husband had the chicken, and while he does not prefer chicken thighs he really enjoyed his meal. We enjoyed a glass each of "house" Pinot noir and since wine is what they do very well it was a great choice since we didn't want a whole bottle. The ambience is country comfort and the service was charming and welcoming. This is after all a small town; the food quality was fresh and delicious. Will be back, and next time with friends. read more

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We've driven past here several times while in the area and finally decided to stop in this winter. I'm glad we did. We also ate here this spring. Both times has its charms! Food (5/5): Best grilled cheese! We always split one and get the daily soup. We've not been disappointed. If you get a bottle of wine you pay a corkage fee. Service (5/5): Always nice service here! Ambiance (4/5): This reminds me of being in an eclectic country house. The rustic decor reminds me of a grandma- perfect for the country grandma vibe! read more

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Delicious food! Delicious wine! Amazing cheese! And they spoiled my puppy! The staff was so nice too! 100 percent will make the drive again! read more

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This quiant cozy little hidden gem was the perfect spot for Father's Day Brunch! We will be back again! I cant wait to try dinner! And my dressing is bought was delicious! read more

Cozy and loveable little eatery and wine shop. Great place for lunch or brunch. I've eaten there a half dozen times and rarely disappointed, although the last time it took them 20 minutes to bring out my brunch although they weren't busy. read more

The people who work here are so sweet and helpful and the food was delicious. We had the cheese plate as an appetizer and I got a Ham sandwich. The back patio has the best vibes and is dog friendly! They even brought ours a plate of turkey and cheese read more

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Food was great, atmosphere was amazing, food service!!! I highly recommend this gem. We will return. Be patient with waiting for your food, small, one man kitchen. read more

Basic Necessities - Roast beef sandwich special and French grilled cheese. So good!!! - Specialty Food Near Me - Nellysford, Virginia

Amazing food and great service! My favorite place to eat! Mae is the best I definitely recommend the grilled cheese!

Went for lunch with a large group of girls for my friend's bachelorette party! The restaurant was so lovely. It had a quaint, homey vibe. We had ten of us and even though there was only one server working, she was really wonderful and attentive! They set up the tent in the backyard for us. They even decorated it really nicely with fairy lights and a table cloth! The food was also awesome. Lots of options for vegetarians! If we were there longer we would have loved to go for a wine dinner! read more

Basic Necessities - Grilled cheese and soup of the day (roasted red pepper) - Specialty Food Near Me - Nellysford, Virginia

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Go! A hidden jewel with exceptional food, staff, wine selection (for purchase too) and items to go. Every meal is a real treat - first place to make a reservation when guests come to town. Lovely live music which is appropriate - allows you to still converse and enjoy your meal. A must for the area and can't be missed !!!! GO! read more

Was visiting Charlottesville, VA for a bday road trip with my closest friends and made a reservation here. This place did not disappoint. The ambiance is cute, cozy and like country-ecletic. The staff was super duper friendly, and accommodating. The restaurant is very small and we were laughing carrying on having a good time, and we didn't seem to disturb anyone. Then some of my girl friends preferred sweet wine instead of mimosas for brunch and our waiter let them sample a few before they decided on a bottle. I had the english muffin breakfast sandwich - which was literally the best english muffin I've had in life. We were told they were made right up the street at a local bakery the day prior. They were doughy, a little crispy and just delicious. We all were given a small cute bowl of granola for our appetizer -- also delicious. If you're in the area I would plan to stop here for a meal. read more

I was excited they had a vegan sandwich option so the family could stop here on a trip to Afton. And I was doubly excited when I discovered it was a delicious sandwich as well! Chips were great too. They have a great outdoor dining space in the back, plus ample parking. Great service, looking forward to coming back! read more

Such a great little fund. Worth the drive, which is also very nice. The food was fantastic and the jay's back and inviting atmosphere made Mother's Day a wonderful treat! read more

The food was so bad that it disappeared before it arrived Just kidding It was excellent and I didn't have time to take pictures before eating. Definitely, recommend it. Our server/owner was very pleasant and polite. Just imagine to overhear people next table coming for 27 years and 13 years to this restaurant wawwwww! I never experienced any such loyalty! The food is excellent and I highly recommend it read more

Basic Necessities - All dishes that were on the menu, but now gone - Specialty Food Near Me - Nellysford, Virginia

Wonderful service, and delicious food. The space is cute and cozy. They also have outdoor seating on a little backyard/garden area. Looked like they sold some good wines, chocolate and other items in the store at the front. Definitely worth stopping in. You may want to make a reservation since the dining room is small. read more

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Nice atmosphere,good menu,nice cheese choice,artsy crowd, I always buy bottles off Prosecco This business was first atmospheric in this area (but a lot changed since then) read more

We travel between NC and PA frequently. As we our retired and in no hurry ... it is an 11 hour leisurely constructed trip that travels through the Shenandoah Valley tracing the Sky Line Drive through oak forests. Our absolute favorite stop is Basic Necessities along Rockfish Vally Road in Nellysford, VA. This is a quaint french restaurant offering organic wines, great local cheese, local breads, wonderful lunches and occasional dinners ... and outdoor seating which makes our small dogger quite happy. This is what dining is suppose to be. read more

I was with some friends in early November for a weekend getaway. I'm lucky to have a friend who has a home in Wintergreen and is generous in inviting others to join them. They've owned their house for 12 years and know the area well. One of the must-go restaurants for them is Basic Necessities, so we made a reservation for Saturday night. This place is so cute and rustic...a real quaint bistro cafe feel. There are just a handful of tables so make a reservation. The menu is limited and based on what they can buy. On the night we went, they had butternut squash soup and seared scallops for appetizers and barramundi (white fish), chèvre-stuffed chicken, greens pie and a fettuccine Alfredo with chorizo. I ordered the scallops and barramundi. We also ordered a bottle of rose. The scallops were very good and well prepared. They were serves with a purée and frisée. The barramundi was served with potatoes, green beans, broccolini and a citrus beurre blanc. Really good. The fish was super fresh. Forgot to mention that the prices are totally reasonable for the amount and quality of food. You get bread, salad and sides with every entree. They also have an acoustic guitar player, which really made the atmosphere lovely. I felt bad that my back was to him, but it didn't mean I wasn't enjoying his talent--I was just savoring a great meal. read more

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We were looking for something we had not tried before and found the little jewel of a nice lite lunch with wine. We had a bottle of French Syrah Grenache with 4 courses that we split 4 items. The Spinach and Feta Quiche, French Grilled Cheese, Watermelon Gazpacho, Cheese Plate with salad. It was great!!!! read more

Shopped here on a recent trip and assembled from their selections a sumptuous spread of meats, cheeses, and other goodies - along with some beautiful wines. Next trip, we'll try the restaurant experience! read more

Wow wow wow! A Diamond in the ruff, literally. We got away from Wintergreen for a couple hours to get away from the crowds for lunch and found this gem about 18 min from the slopes! Delicious fun French cafe ! Service stellar, food great. Very authentic. read more

Very unique atmosphere, nice people, good service and food. Recommend this place to everyone read more

Basic Necessities - Very Charming Quaint Dining Experience in Nellysford VA - Specialty Food Near Me - Nellysford, Virginia

This restaurant is awesome! Total jewel off of route 151 in Nellysford. The food is all local and from scratch. The wines are fantastic and they have a great international variety. The staff are so helpful. My husband and I had a great time and felt like family. Thanks! read more

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Quaint and homey little brunch/breakfast spot and shop. Recommend stopping in for a quick bite and coffee. Friendly staff.

Cozy place with nice food and service! They also have wines and handcrafted vinegars and goods.

Sounds weird to say but it is absolutely hands down the best grilled cheese sandwich I have ever had. The watermelon soup was awesome too. Great little spot! I'll be back read more

An absolute gem but tiny so don't come with more than 4 maybe 6 folks. Incredible food and wine list.

The owner and staff are all incredible people! They are friendly and help you pick the right wines you are looking for. This place is a hidden gem in Nellysford and I highly recommend that you stop by. read more

We didn't eat here, but my spouse got a cup of coffee and I got us a baguette for when we got home. We stopped on a long drive between Virginia and North Carolina. Spouse is fussy about his coffee and said this was quite good; the car definitely smelled like good coffee! The baguette was amazing. Definitely français in origin - crunchy crust and soft inside. The two of us gobbled it up quickly when we got home. It reminded me of a real French baguette - merci bien! read more

such an adorable little eat and shop. very rustic vibes .. we had a quick bite and it was oh so good! read more

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This is truly a hidden gem with a wonderful garden that is dog friendly. Our second visit - always a risk after a memorable first meal. The second time was just as good. Generous pours of wine. The grilled turkey and pear panini was just as good as the spinach and mushroom quesadilla. Friendly service was not overbearing. The breads are awesome - the sunflower seed (?) bread was great. Vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. read more

Basic Necessities - Outdoor garden - Specialty Food Near Me - Nellysford, Virginia

What a hidden gem this cafe is. The night we went the offering was small plates. But HUGE in flavor and culinary twists. Stuffed grape leaves were sliced and filled with a garlic aioli. Chicken skewers exuded a wonderful dipping sauce. Salmon crostini - utterly delightful. Simple fare prepared with great care. Note that they only serve dinner if they get reservations , and can only accommodate about 20 diners. You will not be disappointed. read more

This beautiful cozy intimate place is my favorite in this entire area (I own a home on wintergreen mountain so I have been everywhere. If you've been to France, this restaurant reminds me of what is found there in the non-touristy spots. House wines are outstanding with a very generous pour. Alternatively they have a wine section where you can pick your own and have that served with your meal (small corkage fee). Or take home a bottle and pick up some bread and cheese and interesting stuff to go. You will have a basket of warm homemade bread to start things off, and with most meals a small salad comes next, then your perfect meal. They grow their own herbs and some veggies as well, so if that's in season you will be eating straight from their garden. Kay is the owner, and she's a writer as well, you will see so,em of her books for sale in the quaint little shop. With things made locally for sale, too. Jams, sauces, salts and herbs, sometimes kitchen things, handmade cards. Sunday brunch is wonderful too, sometimes live soft music, my favorite is Virginia who plays a harp like an angel. Do make a reservation in season, it's a small place. Service is impeccable, with casual flair. Food is cooked to order so there's no rush here, if you're in a big rush this won't work for you (well you could get a glass of wine and a soup of something :-) This place is not to be missed. read more

Stopped in for a Sunday brunch. Inside seating is limited so we had a bit of a wait (outdoor seating more plentiful). Our meals were filling and fantastic, especially the dried fruit granola. Service was very good We will definitely return. read more

We have been coming here for over 20 years. Our favorite place for brunch and lunch. The wine selection is phenomenal. Highly recommend!

Excellent dinner. Kids enjoyed it too. Well curated wine pairings and very reasonably priced.

Amazing French Food and wine! Literally everything was perfect especially the divine praline chocolate mouse cake. The service was so amazing as well as we enjoyed dinner in the garden. The store front was also super cute with amazing goodies. read more

This place has friendly staff but food is subpar and way too overpriced. $15 for a tiny breakfast sandwich that came with a "side" of fruit, which was one orange slice. Not to mention the various hairs I found inside the sandwich and baked into the bread...nasty. read more

I can't believe this place doesn't have 5 stars! It's been almost two years since some friends and I visited the area to do some hiking, and we ended up at Basic Necessities for brunch. It was magical. There was a harp player! I could stop there and never forget my experience. The meal itself was also incredible - I had shrimp & grits, and remember it being delicious and full of flavor. I hope i get the chance to dine here again soon. And shop the wines they sold by the entrance! In a word, I'd describe Basic Necessities as charming. read more

Stopped in to ask directions to somewhere else and had no idea what we'd stumbled into. Great teas and coffees. Excellent selection of wines and an absolutely outstanding lunch. Friendly people and, despite its nondescript outer appearance, a very pleasant and inviting interior. Very popular with the locals. We generally stay on the highway when heading to and from Richmond but have agreed to reroute all our future trips to include Basic Necessities. It's worth it. read more

Basic Necessities - Great cup of fall seasoned tea. - Specialty Food Near Me - Nellysford, Virginia