I first encountered Basic Necessities when I was graduating from UVA and my parents were looking for a place to go for dinner the day of the ceremony. We had procrastinated far too long to get a reservation for a classic Charlottesville spot like C&O or Duner's, so my parents somehow found this place way off the beaten path in Nellysford. I must confess that I wasn't too impressed when I heard the name; I thought I'd heard of all the fine dining establishments in the area. I was about to be proven wrong. Upon arriving, we found out that Basic Necessities is a gourmet wine and cheese shop with a small cafe attached to it that resides ina small converted farmhouse off the Rockfish Highway. Most of the tables are on the the house's back porch. Eating there is like going to a friend's house for dinner; the person who greets you in the shop up front or helps you pick out a wine from the shop may the the same person who waits your table. This results in a wonderfully casual feel to the restaurant as well as a staff that is very knowledgeable about the wine list, which skews toward old world selections. On the weekends, they usually have some sort of musical entertainment, which in this particular case was a girl with an acoustic guitar playing pleasant but unintrusive folk songs. The menu is what the name implies. They serve mostly basic bistro fare, but do it well, and they use a lot of local and organic ingredients. As I mentioned before, what makes dining there really special is the wine selection-- since the restaurant is attached to a full wine shop, you have the ability to browse the wines before you're seated, or take advantage of the helpful staff. Also, you can order any bottle from the shop with your dinner at its standard price plus the $6 Virginia corkage fee, a fact that I didn't truly appreciate until after I dined at an unnamed DC restaurant and saw my favorite Chilean red at a 300% markup. Under these circumstances, our dinner was impressive-- all the dishes turned out well. I'm not a huge believer in wine pairings, but our server picked out a brawny 2003 Chateauneuf-du-Pape that was magical with my pork tenderloin, roasted with dried fruits. In summary, Basic Necessities is a hell of a find, and worth a trip ithe country if you've got some time to spend in the Charlottesville area. read more

If you are from the area and have nothing to compare high quality french cuisine to then you may consider this a top notch sunday brunch spot. However, for someone who came as an out of towner from hampton roads virginia I have experienced much better. The portion sizes are tiny for the 19 dollar brunch price tag. The menu descriptions are deceiving, giving high class names for basic items. I.e. crem fresh when its just soft whipped cream. I was underwhelmed and left starving which when told to the waitress, she laughed it off. When I return to the area I will surely go elsewhere. read more

See all

The first time we went, we had the tortellini and pesto. But only after the spaghetti ran out, as well as the spaghetti sauce. The tortellini was no better than the pasta I would microwave at home and slather pesto on. The salmon was the better entree by far. Although I was fighting an intense bout of allergies, I could taste enough of the salmon to tell that it was fantastic. Coming from Florida and cooking salmon myself, I have a pretty picky salmon palate. The wine was amazing; the cake was nothing special. We picked up a bottle of the Lovingston pinotage on our way out of town. The wine glasses were as large as fishbowls, and we later found out they were extremely pricey Riedel glasses, which explains why the wine bouquet was showcased so well. The bread appetizer with mushrooms was great. The salmon appetizer wasn't as good as the mushroom one, but it was still a good starting dish. Unfortunately, the last time we went, there was no musician, which made me sad. If you can go on a Saturday night and catch the music man, it can make your trip a five star experience. read more

Super charming! Don't be fooled by the businesses around it. They have great wine, wonderful cheese and charcuterie to take home, and a small but delicious menu. The house wines are also very good! read more

I stumbled upon this restaurant, sandwiched between a gas station and a lumber store, out of pure luck while driving from NJ to NC. Ever since that first visit a year ago, I've been back 6-7 times and look forward to making the long trek because I know I'll get to eat at this adorable little cafe! The menu changes frequently and they often have specials. On a recent Friday afternoon I came for lunch and had the pear buckwheat panini with swiss cheese, prosciutto, and peach chutney with a side salad. I also came for a late brunch on Sunday and enjoyed a feta, spinach, and tomato frittata that came with a heaping side of fresh fruit, breakfast sausage, and toast. Both meals were great. This is a great spot to stop for a cup of coffee as well. They usually have 2-3 cakes available for purchase by the slice to supplement that. read more

I came here with a friend on a weekend. It's a small, cute stand-alone restaurant near the mountains, and the menu was really promising. However, given the price of the meal, we were both very disappointed by the quality (good, but nothing special) and quantity (tiny) of the food. A fair price would have been a half or a third of what it was - after tax and tip, a slice of frittata and a mimosa, with the tiniest bowl of fruit and a few leaves of salad, cost $30. I actually ate an energy bar afterwards because I left hungry. Additionally, the hostess was strangely unwelcoming to us when we initially arrived because we didn't have a reservation, even though the place was half empty even when we sat down. read more

3 1/2 STARS Cute & quaint comes to mind. Just finding this place and taking a seat at a table in the small back room just down the hall from the deli is half the pleasure. We stopped for an early lunch on a Saturday. The four of us had the quiche (2), saucisson sec salami and the cheese plate with salad. Everything was quite lovely - good but not great. Atmosphere - 4 STARS Service - 3 STARS Location - 4 STARS Food - 3 STARS read more

Prosciutto, Asian pear, Gorgonzola, arugula panini and grilled cheese for an adult. A glass of wine and a table in the garden. Who would have thought when we had to make an unexpected detour that we would find such a hidden gem!! read more

what a great place for a quiet dinner. it is quaint inside and has friendly staff. the meals are made from scratch so just like they say, sit back, relax and take a few breaths. the meals were wonderful. we will definitely be back! read more

What a great find! After previous visit to the wintergreen area- we have found the food lackluster. We found a gem in Basic Necessities last night. A tiny house by the hardware store - we were welcomed by the gracious hosts. Offered delicious wine and bread, followed by a house salad. A limited menu of 4 changeable entrees, my super picky mate found his choice with pork tenderloin with apricots and I got seafood newburg. His comment about the pork entree -AMAZING. This is a man who has not used the word amazing to describe any restaurant meal!! My newburg was creamy and flavorful served in a scallop shell packed with shrimp, scallops snd sweet crabmeat. From the guitar player, to the tiny quaint building to the creamy, crunchy chocolate praline tart and the English muffins from their pantry shop. A perfect meal. We will be back for many meals to come. read more

An adorable, French cottage style cafe with eclectic style decor and a cozy fireplace. There's a garden for outside dining on a warm day. There's a small gift shop area with wine, cheese, local goods, and fresh baguettes. Service was attentive and the waitress was very friendly and charming. The food was fresh and delicious. The lunch menu has salads, soup, quiche, sandwiches, paninis, and desserts. Definitely check it out! Located by the hardware store. read more

See all

An adorable café and gourmet shop that features a tiny dining room at the back of the building adorned with colorful Provencal linens and earthenware, a simple-yet-sophisticated menu that highlights local and organic ingredients and a thoughtful selection of off-the-beaten-path, competitively-priced wines. The café serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday and brunch on Sunday. Menu selections include antipasti, soups, salads, sandwiches and grilled meats. We purchased a nice rose but regret that we could not sample BN for lunch, as we had just dined elsewhere. But we will return to this lovely place shortly... read more

This place is a so cute. The food is delicious and the desserts were amazing. The staff was very friendly and attentive. I would definitely recommend this as a nice place to go for lunch or brunch. I hear on Sundays they have a harp player. It's a little hard to find at first. After you pass Wintergreen on the left there is a BBQ place with a pig on the sign. Basic Necessities is behind that next to a hardware store it's a little house. read more

See all

Great place to take out your friends and family for Brunch and Dinner . Wine list is fantastic , Food is excellent and the top rated restaurant in Nellysford . if you're a tourist from wintergreen make sure to visit this place and enjoy a nice dish , be sure to buy a bottle of wine on your way out . read more

I picked up some sandwiches to go from here. They were very friendly, and it looked like they had a good wine selection. We ordered the vegetarian sandwich, which was essentially a few pieces of roasted veggies (red bell pepper and artichoke) but was mostly lettuce. It was about 4 inches long on a baguette and almost half of my bites were just bread or lettuce. The sandwich was $10. I almost substituted a small salad for my potato chips, but that was another $5(!!!). I recommend going to Greenwood Grocery instead - the sandwiches are about the same price, but you get significantly more food, and the quality is better. read more

Came for a quick bite! Loved it. We had bagels and lox. The prices were affordable. They stop serving at 10:30 so come before then or have lunch. Delightful wine and cheese shop as well. Eclectic decor. Super cute place for a bite to eat. read more

I really wanted to like this cute French cafe, but I was very disappointed when I ordered a quiche/salad special for lunch listed on the blackboard. It was nothing special, and when I went to pay I was told that my bill for the special and iced tea was more than $18. The quiche was $15.98. The most expensive ordinary small piece of quiche I've ever had. This was way out of line with the rest of the prices on the menu. Beware of specials! Make sure you know the prices. read more

First, I really want to like this place. I really, really do. It's a little cottage at the foot of Wintergreen Resort that has a wonderful wine selection for purchase with fair prices. I've eaten here twice -- once for brunch, and once for a prix-fixe dinner. Brunch was lovely, but the prix-fixe dinner was kind of a bust. It's a French-themed restaurant, no baguette was offered with dinner and we had to ask which seemed to annoy the server a bit. To be spending close to $300.00 for two out of a party of four (with take home bottles of wine), the service was almost a bit surly. We had a table of four and had to ask to have empty glasses and plates be removed between courses -- we had no room left on the table for another saucer or glass and we were knocking things over trying to navigate our wine glasses between sips. Between courses, our silverware was not marked and the server would disappear -- leaving us to figure out how to eat soup with a salad fork. I ordered my steak medium-rare and it came out well-done. I hesitated sending it back, but a well-done filet is just not palatable to me. And then I was told after the fact that the chef agreed it was over-cooked. While I appreciated the fact that we were in agreement over the over-cooked filet, I was just made to feel awkward that I just didn't eat the dried-out lump of meat and keep my mouth shut. Like I said, I really, really want to like this place, but the last experience there was off-putting. The entire table of four felt as if we should feel privileged to be there instead of being properly attended to on a very special occasion. We are not full-time residents of Nelson county, but I don't think I can give this place another shot when we are on the mountain. It has a loyal following and perhaps we just aren't are a part of the local crowd on a first-name basis with the staff. The experience of feeling like a burden to our server, whom we tipped 20% on top of the entire bill (that included take home wine that wasn't served to us at the table), leaves a lot to be desired. read more

I took my wife to Basic Necessities for a special occasion. We were both delighted with the warm and intimate atmosphere. It has the ambiance of a french country restaurant. The hostess and servers were lovely and attentive. The harpist played our wedding song! I had a delicious meal of borscht, scallops, salad and chocolate mousse. The wine selection is excellent. We'll be back! read more

Loved loved loved Basic Necessities. A friend of mine took me there on the way to the Farmer's Market. I love the grounds and the building - charm all the way. Walking in.. I was greeted so wonderfully by the owner.... walked through a room with cheeses and wines and coffee to purchase to the back .. where we were seated in a charming room.. very reminiscent of small french walk-ins.. tucked away. The menu was rather simple but delicious for Saturday lunch. The cuisines is french influenced with something on the palate for both. We tried the cream of squash soup and this is what farm to table ought to taste like. Yummy goodness. My eye was caught by something called the Piggeries Plate... pate, sausage, mustard, cornichons and salad... oh uhm yes please. My friend got the fluffy quiches - a dream ... a bubble waiting for float away ti was that delicate and divine. Chased with a few mimosas.. easy on the OJ of course! We then moved right on along to buying some wine... they have a wonderful selection of wines available.. of course the markup may be a bit much but to be expected for someone like me who collects wines and buys them in DC.. and this is in rustic central VA... still had to buy a few bottles including some love Grand Cru blanc de blanc... All in all a lovely experience in beautiful surroundings with exceptional service. I want to go back for dinner next time and hope to. Definitely a fan! read more

See all

What a wonderful evening. I wasn't expecting much based on some of these reviews as far as atmosphere, but it was so nice, warm and inviting. Not to mention there was a guy playing guitar - nice old-school blues. My wife had pesto lasagna and I had a delicious barramundi. Two desserts- delish. read more

Charming little spot. Can't wait to come back in better weather and enjoy the garden seating. A nice price fixe menu with several brunch options - The only options are mimosas or tea or coffee with your entrée A harpist provide some very soothing background music. Apparently she's been there every week for over a decade and as part of the family read more

Cute location with a great staff! Outstanding selection of local and international wines! While all I had was a sandwich and cheese plate made to go, it was amazing! Fresh bread and roasted veggies were spot on! I wish I could have gone back for dinner, because they had a vegan option that sounded amazing. I will be back! read more

We went on a stunning fall day with hopes of eating outside in their charming backyard. We were told we couldn't eat out back and receive service, we would have to get our food to go. And as such we couldn't order wine. What a fail. We were so disappointed. The place is so small inside so using their outdoor space seems like a miss. Too bad. Was really hoping to like this place and come with family. Food was fine, not French at all. Really nothing special. Sandwiches, charcuterie, soup, chips. Perhaps a glass or two of wine would have elevated the food. Overall, not a positive experience. read more

This place is just the greatest ever. The managment is very accommodating and pleasant. Delicious food, good service, what else can you ask for? read more

Basic Necessities - Wine and Cheese Bistro - Specialty Food Near Me - Nellysford, Virginia

We had an excellent dining experience! The food was fresh, original, home-cooked, and creative. This is a very intimate atmosphere, in the French style, and is quite unique and romantic. This establishment also boast a very nice wine cellar for off-sale and a respectable assortment of baked goods. If ever in the area again, we will DEFINITELY go back. Kudos! The only thing wrong with this restaurant is their very weird name. We almost didn't come here because of this reason. read more

This quaint store does not look like much from the road. but do not let that deter you. Inside is a homey shop full of wines and cheeses. In the back is the dining room. We stopped in for breakfast and I am happy we found this place. With Wintergeen so close you get some places that suffer from a lack of personality at times. I had the tartine. A basic toasted baguette but the homemade jelly was to die for. I also had hot chcolate. Wow! European style all the way and oh so good. My boyfriend had the egg, cheese, and tomatoe bagel. The thing was huge and yummy. I would have been envious if not for that awesome jelly. The prices to dine were great. The dining room itself is country style and homey. There is a fireplace on one side if it is cold out, which it was for us. You will be sorry you missed this place. :) read more

This little French place is absolutely sensational you will love the food and the wine selection.

Tucked between an old gas station and True-Value hardware, this place may fly under the radar for a lot of people, but it is truly a gem. The owner Kay is welcoming, kind, and made excellent wine recommendations for our meal. The menu is french inspired, modest, but with good selections and made from scratch. I've had food at the same price point that just doesn't compare. The cozy space exudes charm, the music was live and tasteful, and the service was on point. The store front and kitchen are a labor of love for the staff and I would love to return when the weather is better to enjoy their patio! read more

Great little store and cafe tucked away from sight. Nice simple brunch menu with warm service. A little gem of a place.

The most quaint, lovely, kind service. Delicious food. Amazing wine. My favorite restaurant when I come to wintergreen. Have primarily come for lunch and brunch. read more

April 4. 2015 wow! New owners I guess. They are having a rough go of it. The food was great as usual but the staff is totally unorganized and the check out procedures are sophomoric. Check your bill. read more

We've eaten there 3 times, stopped in to purchase wine 2 or 3 more times - mostly to give the restaurant a chance to perform better! The restaurant is cute and could be a regular place to eat, however, I don't believe they ever clean. Not one time was I there that they had cleaned the windows, front or back. The floors were always dirty. The rooms cluttered & dusty. What must the kitchen look like??? The food? Not good. $90.00 for breakfast for 4 - substandard! One day, with my sister, I ordered a sandwich with garlic. 2 cloves of RAW chopped garlic on it. Very unpleasant! Even in France, I never have seen this! Please, you're serving food to the public. CLEAN IT UP! read more

My husband and I were staying in Wintergreen for our anniversary weekend and made reservations here when we saw that they have vegan options. We were so excited to find somewhere that could accommodate us close to where we were staying. The restaurant is adorable and the decor was very personal; I could tell that a lot of thought went into it. I spent quite a bit of time thinking about writing this review because I am always appreciative of restaurants delving into vegan cuisine, but I do think that the management and potential customers should know about our experience. I ordered the wheatberry paella and asked for them to prepare it vegan, as they had offered this option on the menu (it was listed vegetarian, or vegan without the aioli). A few moments later, a waitress came back to the table to confirm that I did not want the aioli, and again I requested that they omit it. Shortly after, our salads came and had cheese on them. Not wanting to be difficult, I tried to push it to the side and overlook this mistake (although they should clarify this if they have a customer requesting a vegan entree). Then our dinner came and my entree had the mayonnaise on it anyway. Again, I scooped it off and put it to the side, but was feeling pretty frustrated at this point. (I did not send it back because I do not like to be wasteful in these situations.) After waiting an unreasonably long time to get our bill, I told a waitress (and later, the girl that rung us up - because she asked how everything was) about the issues with my meal and only got a half-hearted apology. I thought that $19 was really steep for a bean and grain dish to begin with, but to not even receive what I ordered made me feel completely ripped off. In summary, I would not recommend this restaurant for anyone with dietary restrictions, either allergies, or by choice, as they seem to not grasp the importance of respecting their customers requests. The customer service was unacceptable and we should have been comped for my meal. I hope that they are able to offer vegan options more successfully in the future. read more

I have been in the area many times for the breweries and wineries. Came for Lunch based solely on Yelp review and returned today for dinner. Fantastic! Basically a wine and cheese shop that serves European influenced gourmet food on the enclosed back porch. Had a fantastic dinner! I recommend dinner reservations as they only have seven tables. read more

Cute place-eclectic (Christmas lights still up and junk in the backyard-not pretty to look at. I felt like I was in hillbilly country) but cute for a stand alone. They have a lot of good wine but it's not stored properly. The food was ok but it was the strangest thing-we walked in and the lady with long black hair greeted us with hi. We said can we have a table. She looked at us like we had 4 heads and we were a total imposition. She asked if we had a reservation and we said no. She was pissed! The restaurant was half empty!!! We sat and she could not have been more rude when we ordered. Then she glared at us because we didn't clear our plates. I ordered the breakfast hash ( it was burnt toast, burnt crumbly sausage dregs). We could have gotten past the food but she was so incredibly rude we will not go back. We didn't even want to go up and ask for the check because we were afraid she was going to bite our heads off. read more

My family dined here early February 2013 and simply had a marvelous meal. The restaurant name exemplifies the whole experience, simple and basic, yet, if you understand the concept, think provincial France, it is simply amazing. Rarely in the States do you find a restaurant that sources the finest ingredients, of the season, and offers a few dishes to highlight these ingredients, and executes on this so well. My family of four, my wife and I, and our two kiddos, (8 and 4) dined here during their Mardi Gras theme. Subtle decor as a tip of the hat to the fun in NO, greeted us as we walked in, as did a joyful hostess (co-owner) beaming that we joined them for the evening. As suggested, we did have a reservation( highly recommended, back room only seats maybe 20) and were promptly seated. Make no mistake, the dining room is quaint...but again in a provincial rustic way. We were delivered crusty French bread with freshly grated Parmesan to tide us over while we ordered. Surprisingly, they have a very nice kids menu. Our two both ordered grilled cheeses, which comes with two cheeses (so my daughter said who is a cheese aficionado) in a panini style sandwich, and a side of potato chips. Both kids were all smiles as they happily gobbled their sandwiches. My wife had the crab croquets with an absolutely tongue tingling aioli/ tartar sauce. The croquets were good, some lump crab, but growing up with the Chesapeake Bay as my playground with all its bounty at my reach, I have to say I was not,overwhelmed...to be clear they were cooked properly, well seasoned and very tasty...this is just one of my dishes that I am overly discriminate. The aioli however, was over the top delicious. A perfect amount of acidity from full flavored lemons really drew out the subtle spices the chef added to the mix. I had the jambalaya! Simply scrumptious. Everything cooked to perfection, and the sausage was some of the best I have eaten ever. I did not confirm, but I believe it was from one of the local farms that produces true free range meats(a product that you can truly tell the difference from standard feed lot meats). Complimenting both entrees was perfectly cooked curly kale and corn bread that has no rival. My wife and I couldn't believe how good the corn bread was, creamy on the inside, with chunks of corn and a hint of green and spicy pepper to rival the sweetness. The kale, a favorite of mine, was cooked al dente, perfectly seasoned with allium and spices and holding its texture well not,overly cooked in the way so many of( including me) do. Before I get to desert...we had a perfect small salad with a fresh, tangy and very lite dressing after our appetizer of spinach balls (spinach and stuffing), which I don't think I have had. Quite good, provided you like spinach. Wine! Take your pick of the incredible selection( this is also a wine and cheese shop) or let them serve you a huge glass of the house(which is very good) for $7. We choose to pick a bottle from the cellar, for which you pay retail and a $7 cork fee, not a bad deal at all. To round off the meal, we all shared the pecan bourbon glaze bread pudding, which was simply divine and, per my daughters request, we also shared a hefty piece of King Cake ( remember Mardi Gras theme) ...but no baby for us! You pay at the register, and while up there we also picked out one of our favorite stinky French cheeses. In total, an appetizer, two entrees, two kids meals, Glasses of OJ and Milk, a $50 dollar bottle of wine, two desserts and the stinky cheese to,go, we ended the evening with a bill of $144. This could easily have been $70 without the wine, app and desserts. But who are we kidding. Ambience was very pleasant, open and conversant. A local guitarist was playing and singing which I am usually not a fan of, however, he was playing great classic hits softly, with a low pitched soft voice. We all truly enjoyed his music, my daughter gave him a $20 tip! (From my pocket of course!) Needless to say, we will be back! For next time, per the co-owners suggestion, I will let our Golden Retriever run out back in the fenced in area while we dine. I will also likely stick to the $7 house glass of wine, very good wine(we bought a bottle) and extremely generous pours! Literally fish bowl glasses filled well past half way, i would say easily 10 oz pours. Also, instead of a sweet dessert, probably go off menu and ask for a cheese plate...because wow do they have some cheese! If you like laid back atmosphere, joyous friendly spirit, exceptional ingredients executed well in a quintessential Provence setting, come on down Route 151 to Basic Necessities, just don't forget to make a reservation and don't blink while driving by or you will miss it. read more

I really wanted to like Basic Necessities...but it came up short. Out of the gate, the owner (?) /sommelier asked if we were going to order wine. We said 'yes' but our orders (& I'm guessing potential pairings) resulted in her first eye-roll. We then perused offerings and when we mentioned Pinot Noir and a particular Oregon region, we were again given an eye roll because our regional pronunciation was incorrect. We ordered from the day's menu and my gf enjoyed her entree. I ordered 'Shrimp Tamarind' and it was awful. The shrimp was cooked well, but the sauce was (seriously) Kraft BBQ from a bottle. We liked the quirky ambiance and our server was lovely and attentive but between the owner/sommelier food/wine shaming us and the shrimp and BBQ sauce I was less than impressed. Again, I wanted to love a local Nelson business but not Basic Necessities. The owner cares about her ego and not the quality of the food or keeping patronage. read more

We've been coming to Basic Neccessities for years. Friendly, cozy, simple, good food. Dinner two nights on weekends, with nice acoustic guitar/singing music. Lunch is wonderful too. And a terrific wine shop. This is a real find in Nelson County, and a nice change from the brewpubs. read more

This restaurant and wine shop is a little gem in the rural countryside of Virginia near Wintergreen Resort. The owner and chef has wonderful taste and we've never had anything that wasn't marvelous. We've been coming here for over 10 years, and a trip to Wintergreen is incomplete without stopping by Basic Necessities. The concept is French food made with local ingredients. For example, today we stopped by and picked up watermelon gazpacho to go. It was so fresh and tasty, we would kill for the recipe. If you read the Google reviews, one poster called the people there "rude". We have found them to be exactly the opposite. One time we were driving up to our condo in Wintergreen, and there had been a big storm that rolled through, bringing down tree limbs and blocking the road. It happened about 7 pm, and we thought that we would stop at Basic Necessities and eat dinner to pass the time until the road was cleared. Unfortunately, we had our small dog with us, and were reluctant to leave her in the car with all the rain and thunder still rumbling around the mountains. When we asked if we could bring our dog into the restaurant, they allowed us to eat in the front at a small table where our dog stayed right beneath our feet the whole time. For any readers who've been to France, and seen dogs in the restaurants there, you know that a well-behaved dog can be a lot less disruptive than some children. :) The menu here is not like the Cheesecake Factory, but is thoughtful and always enjoyable. The wines are first class without being exorbitantly priced. You can even buy wine to drink off premises, and they are all well priced. In summary, Basic Necessities is a great little place in the Rockfish Valley. Don't tell anyone, cause I like being able to get a table! read more