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Michie Tavern -Ca 1784

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nilgun
nilgun
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
3
Reviews
16
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Editor Pick

Michie Tavern Ordinary

  • December 16, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by zabelle from Portland, Connecticut
Michie Tavern Ordinary

Michie Tavern is a very historic tavern. Originally located about 17 miles down the road it has an interesting history. Today you can take a tour, do some shopping and have lunch. Tours begin on the half hour so we decided since it was 1:25pm it made more sense to take the tour first even though we were hungry. By 2:15pm we were really hungry. There is a sign outside that says "wait to be let in", we barely reached the porch before the door was opened for us to enter.

Lunch is served from 11am to 3pm, this is the only meal they serve. It is served buffet style and I had no idea what to expect. You grab a pewter style plate, silverware, and a tray, and start serving yourself. Coleslaw was the first offering and it looked as if it had been put together within the minute, it was that fresh. It was followed by potato salad, green bean salad, black-eyed peas, stewed tomatoes, pulled pork, fried chicken, biscuits, rolls and corn bread. Drinks other than water are extra. We had water which is served in a metal cup.

So far there was nothing really unusual happening here other than the fact that one of the drink choices was cider. You take your tray and try to find a seat. Unfortunately we couldn’t sit in the more historic part we did however find a table on the porch. My only complaint is that the seats are benches. Not great on my back but really it is a very minor complaint.

I am about to rave about the food. The chicken was wonderful, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside and I had a huge breast, Al had two legs. Oh did I forget to mention that if you want seconds your serving wench will bring them to you. Everything we tried was good and some of them were really good. The stewed tomatoes were... I am at a loss, divine. I don’t know what they put in them but they are sweet.

I asked our wench if the menu is always the same and she said yes, except the potato salad becomes mashed potatoes and the green bean salad becomes green beans and they add vegetable soup. For dessert they offer peach cobbler with or without ice cream and an ice cream sandwich. We shared a peach cobbler ala mode. It was wonderful, warm and sweet with the cold ice cream melting all over. I added a steaming cup of coffee again in the metal cup. Remember, don’t grab the cup, only the handle. Very satisfying. Now historic satisfaction doesn’t come cheap. The basket buffet is $14.95.

From journal Captivating Charlottesville

The Ordinary at Michie Tavern

  • May 23, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by daph24ne from Alexandria, Virginia
Eating at the Michie Tavern is a must when in Charlottesville. While the food is good 18th century "Southern" fare (fried chicken, homemade biscuits, fruit cobbler, etc.), visitors really go for the atmosphere.

The Michie Tavern has been standing for over 200 years. When you arrive, you have the opportunity to take a tour of the tavern with a costumed guide. They greet you as "stranger"—a term for traveler used many years ago. I found it very interesting to tour through the tavern and see how many of the artifacts were used.

We took the tour first, and then ate lunch. It was definitely a high point of our trip to Charlottesville. They also have a gift shop on-site, and we found it very cute.

From journal Virginia in the Fall

Editor Pick

The Ordinary at Michie Tavern

  • June 23, 2002
  • Rated 3 of 5 by nilgun from , Virginia, Turkey
The Ordinary at Michie Tavern

The Ordinary is the dining room of the Michie Tavern, which is an old Tavern that was established in 1784 by a Scotch man called William Michie. (The name Michie is pronounced as Mickey).

The restaurant only offers lunch that is served buffet style. It serves from 11 AM to 3:30 PM. It is said that the recipes date from the 1700's. We had fried chicken, black eyed peas, cole slaw, corn bread, potato salad, beets, stewed tomatoes and drink soft drinks and apple cider. In winter they serve mashed potatoes instead of potato salad, and also hot vegetable soup. The cups and plates are made of pewter. You can either eat at the old dining area, which used to be the slave quarters, or at an enclosed patio. The waitresses serve in the old attire and if you encourage them in the old accent.

The price is fixed for the buffet except the desert and drinks. It is 12.95 for adults. Children under 12 have a discount and children under 6 eat free.

The tour of the tavern is $2 off when you eat at the Ordinary.

From journal Historical Charlottesville

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