At Basic Wine Store, to be basic means boiling things down to the essentials: a good bottle of wine, a platter of food, and a room full of great company. (We’d expect nothing less from the team behind Table & Apron and Universal Bakehouse.) Here, it’s easy to step outside your tried-and-true grapes; the chillers and shelves stock a curation of small-batch natural wines, which you’re unlikely to come across at most spots in the city, such as Cantina Giardino, amongst a handful of pioneers that paved the way for the making of wines with no additions. If you can’t commit to a bottle, there are options available by the glass.
Pair with European comfort fare and small bites from the menu, or Jose Gourmet tinned seafood goods served with bread and pickles. Be sure to always ask if the chef has any specials for the day. FRFR, we love the service here; at every visit the staff have been attentive and easygoing with on-point recommendations.