One of Charlottesville’s most popular tourist destinations, right up there with Monticello, is Michie Tavern. Unquestionably Charlottesville’s oldest restaurant, Michie Tavern was established way back in 1784 by a Scottish Gentleman, William Michie. The Tavern was first sited in Earlysville, then moved near Monticello in 1927.
At Michie Tavern, waiters and waitresses in period attire greet and serve each guest as if they were the only guests to serve. From the moment you enter the tavern, you are waited on literally hand and foot.
Michie Tavern has a wonderful buffet with fried chicken, grilled chicken and barbeque. The sides are superb – pickled beets, green beans seasoned with ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamy cole slaw, stewed tomatoes and baked beans, plus homemade biscuits and corn bread. The desserts are scrumptious – featuring peach cobbler, chocolate cookies with chocolate syrup and ice cream and several other wonderful choices. Food and drinks are served on steel plates and in metal cups. It’s an all-you-can eat buffet.
We ate there last Sunday, and for the first time, I left disappointed. The chicken was overcooked, greasy and it appeared they had the oil too hot. As we were eating, we saw at least 5 buses pull up. Obviously, they had cooked the chicken for the buffet way in advance to be able to handle all the buses.
But everything else was extra good. I chalk that up to one bad experience out of a number of great meals there. I will go back.
A hint if you go. You will see many things you will want to eat and put on your plate, but just take a couple vegetables and maybe a couple pieces of chicken. As you are finishing one of the sides, ask the waiter for another side and they will bring it in a separate bowl, as many sides as you want. If you want to try some barbeque, grilled chicken or more bread, they are happy to bring that as well.
This is a wonderful place to bring an out-of-town guest to get a taste of both fine food and of how things may have been over 200 years ago.
Michie Tavern is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Midday Fare is offered 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Reservations are not required.