DEMO — built by Glass Umbrella for Basic Necessities

Nellysford, Virginia · since 1997

Eat, drink, talk, laugh & enjoy the moment

An off-beat café, wine and cheese shop nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Reserve a table See this week's menus

The yellow facade of Basic Necessities behind its lavender garden

The week at Basics

Three ways to sit down.

Rotates weekly

This week's menus.

The bistro and dinner menus change every week — what's on the table Friday and Saturday was chosen for this week only, each entrée with a wine pairing at the retail bottle price.

The brunch harpist at her concert harp beside the teal windows at Basic Necessities

What's on

Music with your dinner.

“Reservations are advised for Friday and Saturday night dinners where guests find creatively-prepared dishes and musical entertainment.”

Sunday brunch frequently features a harpist, and Kay hosts wine tastings on the enclosed back porch — “Call for a reservation, space is limited.”

See what's on at Basics →

The cheese case at Basic Necessities

The Shop

A wine & cheese shop first.

“There is a $7 corkage fee for bottled wines served on premise. But ‘it’s a great way to try a wine that might be prohibitively expensive in a restaurant, at retail cost.’”

In their own words: “we encourage you to treat us as a wine bar.” Browse the cellar, pick a bottle at the retail price, and bring it to your table.

Step into the shop The cheese case →

Basic Necessities at dusk, strung with lights

Reservations

Reservations recommended for dinner & brunch, lunch reservations only for parties of 6 or more.

We confirm every request personally — by phone or email. Prefer to call? 434-361-1766.

Reserve a table Hours & directions