Step back into time and visit a great revolutionary period tavern after touring Monticello. This restored building, a Virginia Historic Landmark, features tavern workers dressed in period dress. The period wood interior and the use of steel plates, cups, and plateware all add to the historic charm of this place. The tavern offers a buffet style experience where one can choose from coleslaw , black eye peas, mashed potatoes, turnips, Southern fried chicken, cornbread, buttermilk biscuits, hickory flavored pulled pork and soup. Soda and apple cider are available as well all for one fixed price ($28). The area waitress or waiter will come around and offer refills on both the food and drinks and deliver to your table. Service was friendly and quick. If one wants to indulge in traditional Southern cooking this is the place. The 1784 pub ( located in the oldest part of the tavern) offers wine, cider and local beers along with special events. There are several restored period buildings on the property one can visit including a gift shop housed in one of the old historic structures. Michael Tavern, relocated and restored by Josephine Henderson back in 1927 to the current location, is a wonderful period landmark to stop in and enjoy some delicious Southern fare while taking a step back in time. read more

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The gift shop is so big. Lots to see. The store is nicely designed and clean. I was very happy to find a Fresh Cut Card. The lady was helpful in helping to pick the right one for a birthday card. The one I had was the smaller one but she went and got me a big one. For $5 more it was so much nicer. My friend loved it. If you are in the area, you should stop in. I am visiting from NC but plan to go back in Sept and try the restaurant. read more

It's a cool stop in just for the experience. This is a buffet only eating experience so if you don't like fried or baked chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, sweet mashed potatoes, beets or canned green beans then you are out of luck. The service of our "2nds runner" was amazing she made sure we had more food if we wanted it and was super kind and lovely. The ambiance well- it's a period place with a homestyle feel from the 1784. Yet it had a nice modern restroom. This is a tough walk if you have mobility issues. There is handicapped parking but it's still strenuous if you have poor balance. Otherwise cool for a one time! read more

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It was fun to stop here and have a nice buffet lunch in the middle of my road trip. I didn't have a lot of time so the speed of a buffet was a plus for me -and the fact that the food was delicious was a bonus. Service was great - Dylan was my server and he was knowledgeable and attentive, making sure I had everything I needed. Good food, quick and delightful service - great atmosphere .... What's not to like! read more

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Very cute property, I was a bit disappointed in the price for what you got. A normal $30 buffet would include ice tea and dessert. For $30 you get 2 types of chicken, BBQ pork and a few sides. No salad or soups. It's a buffet but once you do your first pass a server gets the rest of your food. The time appropriate uniform was a nice touch. Very friendly service. The female parking lot greeter was especially friendly and gave some nice information. All in after tip spending $45 for fried chicken and mash potatoes has landed this place on a do not return location for our group. read more

Very hearty meal after touring Monticello. The ambience is befitting the day of historical tours, and the food was good. Friend chicken was moist and very flavorful. Wished they had Mac and cheese on the buffet just as a nod to Thomas Jefferson but alas they didn't have it this day. Our servers were very attentive and responsive; our cups were always full. My only minor complaint was the tables had stools (no backs) which for someone with a bad back isn't the most comfortable but the fact that we were able to cool off in the a/c made up for it. Would definitely recommend for post Monticello or Highlands lunch. read more

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Worth a stop if you're in the area! Plenty of parking, even for tour buses, and seems like there is plenty of seating in the nooks and crannies of this historic space. Take a step back into time as you get welcomed by the nicest tavern workers, even dressed the part. The wood interior and use of silver/steel plates, cups, and plateware all add to the historic charm of this place. You go through the buffet line ONCE and also order drinks as well. You can load up on green beans, beets, beans, stewed tomatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy fried chicken, oven baked chicken, pulled chicken, cornbread, biscuits, and a soup. Your waiter/waitress will come around and offer refills of whatever you'd like and also bring refills of drinks and/or jams/jellies/butters/hot sauce etc to your table. Service was quick and so so so friendly. The price is $28 for the buffet and I didn't think it was the absolute best meal I've had but I loved the history behind it. I wish we got seated in the main dining area but I guess we'll have to come back another time as well! Charlie, our server, was an absolute gentleman and so attentive to our group! We even got a bowl of ice cream with some scotch John sauce as it was insisted we had to try. Will be back again when in the area :) read more

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Our family visited Michie Tavern after touring Jefferson's Monticello during Spring Break after reading all the great reviews of the restaurant. We were not disappointed! The experience was like stepping back in time with the architecture of the tavern, historic decor, cheerful ambiance, and staff dressed in period costumes. Our party of 10 was greeted warmly, seated promptly, and enjoyed the buffet meal (and dessert!) thoroughly. We enjoyed visiting the gift shop after lunch as well, finding history-themed souvenirs for all ages. This family-friendly stop is definitely worth adding to your tour itinerary! Note: it is important to plan your arrival to align with the Tavern's operating hours, as they only serve lunch. read more

I thought this restaurant was so much fun and it felt like I actually took a step back in time. I could imagine travels and locals alike stopping into this old tavern for a bit to eat or even a pint of suds. Cleaners and better kept than I would have expected of the real era, gladfully so. The Michie Tavern is a come as you are restaurant and is a great stop after visiting Motencello. The wait staff all are dressed in period attire (given the wait staff were all clean and had newer clothing) and were buzzing around the seating area taking orders and refilling drinks. There's a buffet style line where you go for food and you can go back for seconds or even thirds if you choose. The food was good, not great, but it was a fantastic experience. read more

Our server was a man named Dylan. He was very attentive! The food was outstanding buffet style serving. My only thing is bring cash for the tip on my check there was no name for your server to give them tip money. I gave a 20 dollar tip on my credit card because I didn't have cash and I hope my guy actually sees it. It's a fun little place! read more

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It's a cute idea and a great location. But I have to agree with the review that said it's a $28 piece of chicken. The breast I took had just come out of the fryer so it was hot and really good. Nothing special but definitely a decent piece of chicken. The rest of the stuff was just ok. The line was disorganized because there was a new guy working and people didn't stay together. So it was pretty slow and the area to get your food is very cramped. The highlight was the guy checking on us. His history knowledge was impressive and entertaining. read more

We had an enjoyable lunch today at the old, charming Michie Tavern. It's staffed by people in period costumes, like Colonial Williamsburg. The food is a simple southern buffet, with coleslaw, green and black beans, beets, roasted tomatoes, mashed potatoes, and chicken or barbecue. The food is very good and the old tavern setting charming. The only issue I have with it is the cost, $76 for two self serve chicken lunches, a little excessive in my view. They are squeezing the last nickel out of the tourist appeal! read more

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We had lunch here after our tour at monticello. We were greeted by a hostess in colonial attire, who took us to our table of choices. This is a southern food buffet which was good overall. However, being it a buffet, the food area was small and there was someone who asked what you wanted to drink at the end of the buffet. She gave us a ticket to place on our table and 5 min later a server came over and told us when we were ready for seconds to tell her and she'd go fetch the 2nd round for us. I only took a few things off the buffet to start and when she came to ask what else I wanted I didn't remember what was on the buffet line. I would prefer to get it myself. Its very dark inside and hard to see in the main room. The food was ok but pricey for the one plate we took. Sodas and desserts are extra. For $28 I don't think it was worth it. It wasn't bad but it didn't have us leaving feeling like we ever need to return. If you decide to go look online to download the coupons! read more

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Got there at opening on a Saturday. A pleasant lady met us at the top of the stairs and inquired as to whether this was our first visit. It was and she gave us directions to the door to the tavern. There, we had a lady come to the door and ask how many was in our party. Once there was room, we were allowed inside, with further directions to the buffet line. The entry was definitely from the late 1700's with tables and chairs representing that era. Food selections included Cole slaw, beets, green beans, fried chicken, baked chicken, BBQ pork, and a few other items. We chose our own seats. Servers met us and said they would get refills and more food items upon request. It was a very pleasant repast. Great fried chicken! We finished off with ice cream on a chocolate cookie. Food and the usual beverages were under the initial price. Alcohol and desserts were charged extra. The service was exceptional. read more

Michie Tavern - One of the dining areas. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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was told this place is a must do after a trip to monticello so I listened, and I am glad I did! It's for sure a unique stop that perfectly rounds out a day spent at Monticello. Old style tavern, perfect cozy vibes. I visited right before Christmas so their decorations were very cute. Came here for the lunch special they offer till 3:00pm. Food is buffet style, but you can also ask the waiter to bring food directly to the table. The star is the fried chicken which would get 5 stars from me. The sides range in quality so I would give them 3-4 stars. The beets, stewed tomatoes and black eyed peas were my favorite. Mashed potatoes were flavorless to me, and biscuits + cornbread were too dry. Drinks and dessert are not included. For dessert, we all shared the "scotch john" which is like an ice cream covered in a cinnamon-y sugary spicy sauce. Delicious! would get again if I come back. read more

Michie Tavern - My first plate - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Historic tavern near Monticello. Buffet service. All you can eat. Fried chicken, baked chicken, green beans, baked beans, mashed potatoes & gravy.. Great food, especially the fried chicken. They promised great fried chicken and delivered. There is a server checking if you need extras on anything. The apple cider was delicious too! We sat on the closed in porch, which didn't really have an old time tavern feel, but it was still a great experience. read more

Michie Tavern - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Visited Michie Tavern with a few friends for a luncheon while we were in Charlottesville and it definitely lived up to the hype! Known for their southern cuisine buffet, Michie Tavern has been around since 1784 and is known for its rich history. The menu consisted of southern fried chicken and baked chicken, stewed tomatoes, black eyed peas, hickory smoked bbq, green beans, mashed potatoes, homemade biscuits and cornbread. Everything was phenomenal. I even wrapped up my meal with peach cobbler and ice cream. So delicious. Service was top notch. The staff was friends and I loved how you are able to get as much as you'd like the first time, and additional food is served to you from your seat. So glad I was able to stop in right before Christmas because the decor and ambience was beautiful. I now have a spot in Charlottesville that I can stop in whenever I'm nearby! read more

Michie Tavern - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Solid !! In this hot weather, cold Gazpacho soup was a huge surprise !! Very Southern menu.

Such a great find! Old building with lots of history. Serves a small menu of pub food. Enjoyed the pimento cheese ($7.50). Service was friendly. Has tons of dining rooms and rocking chairs on the front porch. read more

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We went in for the all you can eat buffet and the food is amazing! Probably the best fried chicken and biscuits around. The service is excellent and very comfortable dining. The oldest tavern around! read more

Took my son here so he could experience some excellent fried chicken before heading back to college food. We both loved the chicken (both the grilled and fried versions!), along with the sides of mashed potatoes with gravy, savory green beans!!, mouth-watering vegetable soup, biscuits that melt in your mouth, and an especially big shout-out for the hot apple cider that tastes so incredibly good. Ben and I both love hot apple cider and have high standards for the perfect flavor...well done! On top of the excellent food, the service, atmosphere (oh that wonderfully warm fireplace on a cold day!), and fun option to wander around the property and visit two gift shops (the goat's milk lotion is divine!) it was exactly what we needed at the end of my son's winter break. Look forward to returning soon! read more

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The service is good and the ambiance is fun. The food is average at best. It is a limited southern food buffet (fried chicken, salty pulled pork, mushy green beans, Cole slaw that needed better shredding, flat biscuits, and sadly no fruit items)for $28 with drink and dessert extra. Those in my party did not get seconds. The $28 only makes sense if you are planning on eating a lot. The history is interesting. Also there are trails in the area besides the draw of Monticello. read more

One of the oldest pubs around (1784!) and the perfect spot to sit back and relax on the front porch and have a drink after spending the day at Monticello. Zoe was the consummate hostess. read more

Michie Tavern - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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This place is super cool, and we only did go for dinner so did not get to enjoy the buffet. The vibe is so cool with it being historic. You had to order at the bar and sadly nothing is on tap which would have been really cool. The fried chicken was solid and good enough for 2 people if they are not too hungry. Overall, it was a cool place to go visit. read more

Very unique experience. Would love to visit every time I visit Charlottesville. Fried chicken is amazing. True tavern like feel. read more

Well this was a cool experience! Is it a tourist trap? Absolutely! But I was also happy with the visit. The ordinary is a buffet set up to serve hundreds of people without feeling like it--there are half a dozen smallish rooms so it never feels crowded or gets too noisy. First relax about the buffet thing, it is a flat price and there is a waiter to refill drinks and bring you seconds. Second let me recommend the gazpacho. It is at the end of the line and easy to miss, but it got universal acclaim. The desserts cost extra but one cobbler with ice cream will serve two or more. (made fresh every morning). Minimal wait, pleasant staff, decent food. They don't discuss costs until you leave. ($25.95 for Buffet and 6.95 per dessert.) $4 off for military. read more

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Very decieving on pricing. The push ypu to the buffet. We had three adults and one child was $120. That was a typical $9.99 per person buffet. It was an experience, just pay attention that the only pricing listed is for desert, that is NOT part of the buffet pricing read more

We love taking friends and relatives to the tavern. The food is amazing and the staff is so kind and attentive.

The food was great but one problem the bathroom the urnals there was a wall on the left of it so you can look over and see there part

Gluten free - great experience. I was able to have all but two items at the buffet. Fantastic service and great food!

2 people dine and having served our selves from a limited buffet drank diet coke from a tin mug. Cost 67.00, not counting tip. Drinks were a separate 7.00 charge from food. Sat on wooden bench seats ambience was supposedly rural tavern. Food tax and sales tax. I could've had a v8. Well not there. read more

Did the price measure up to the meal? Not to me, but it was a good lunch after visiting Monticello today. Show your Monticello ticket for $2 off your meal. I got the apple cider to drink, and it was very good (free refills). Mashed potatoes & gravy, fried chicken and cornbread were good. read more

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Went to Monticello for the tour AMAZING. And decided this was the place to go for lunch - saw and heard a lot (as a tourist). Waited outside the door for it to open, really busy place. Ambiance reminded me of a school cafeteria but worse - metal plates and cups. Food is sub par - best thing is the fried chicken. Everything else is like food I could get at the nursing home. Pretty views & neat history, however come once and never again. Oops the service was great! Super super friendly just not a foodie place. read more

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I didn't make it in time for dinner, but I stopped in for a drink and ended up buying a bottle of Mitch's wine -- and wow, it was fabulous. I honestly wasn't expecting much, but it turned out to be a really great wine. What truly made the visit memorable was the ambience. They have a gorgeous porch with rocking chairs and a beautiful view. It was incredibly relaxing to sit out there, sip my drink, and unwind after a long day. Even without dinner, the atmosphere alone made it worth the stop. I'll definitely be back -- next time I'll make it in time to try the food, too read more

Mmmm mmmm good! Went here for Valentine's Lunch. Our waiter Charlie was so nice. We really enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant and the friendliness of all the staff. Now for the food. It's like eating a home cooked meal at grandmas. Fried chicken, baked chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, stewed tomatoes are top notch. It's definitely worth the drive. read more

Michie Tavern - Fried chicken breast and a baked chicken leg. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I visited Michie Tavern on a Sunday afternoon and surprisingly it wasn't busy. Upon arrival, I was greeted by friendly staff who guided me through the process of ordering. The food is buffet style and you are allowed one trip through the buffet line. If you'd like more servings, the waiting staff will bring it to you. The buffet area is small so I could see it getting backed up on busier days. There's plenty of seating, I believe there were three different rooms for seating. The food was great, I tried everything and the only thing I didn't like was the sweet potato mash (I believe that's what it's called.) The buffet is about $20 per person, not including drinks or dessert. There was also a vegetarian buffet option which I believe was around $12. Apparently they used to have other activities on site but they haven't had enough staff since Covid to open up any activities. Also, I learned that they were bought out by Monticello so it'll be interesting to see what kind of changes are in store. read more

Michie Tavern - Buffet meal - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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First timers. (Mid October 2024) We drove up to see the fall leaves change and I had my sights set on trying Michie out. We arrived just minutes before they officially opened. The restaurant is Colonial and definitely gives that tavern vibe. Someone opens the door to greets you and asks how many in your party. If you haven't been before they give you a quick overview. It boasts buffet style dining, but it's more like a cafeteria style line and then table side service for refills. I say the food is in the comfort country style cooking category. Fried chicken, pulled pork, baked chicken, and all the sides. It was decent. The fried chicken was the highlight for me. The service was top notch. Super friendly, and steady hustling to make sure we all had plenty of everything. This place is pretty pricey. $$ It was a pretty good experience overall. I think this will be a one and done visit for us. You should check them out. read more

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Food as usual is excellent and the service today was better than on previous occasions. Definitely a must visit if you're visiting Charlottesville. read more

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One of my favorite places to eat in Charlottesville. The food is very southern which is right up my alley. Served warm & delicious. You can tell they are meticulous about it. We always have the nicest service when we come here. Very accommodating and kind, but not overbearing. Like you're talking to a friend. The restaurant itself is BEAUTIFUL and very historic, which makes for a unique experience for history & non history lovers! The only thing I don't understand is the $25 firm price tag for one dinner, but overall it's my very favorite. read more

This is rated 4 stars because the staff was amazing... and the chicken was delicious!! Green beans seemed a little under cooked. This was the first time I had stewed tomatoes and let me tell you.... DELICIOUS.... The only thing that could make this restaurant better is better side dishes... but they are known for the chicken and it's a great thing for them to be known for. I will be back with my husband. It is worth the trip to go back. read more

Michie Tavern - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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