During our drive through Virginia in early September my huband and I plan to stop and tour Ashlawn Highland. We are looking for a place for lunch in the area. Has anyone eaten at Mitchie Tavern? How is that, or are there any other nearby restaurants you can suggest?
Thanks.

Do not under any circumstances consider eating at the Mitchie Tavern. It is an abomination masquerading as food. While the decor looks charming, the food is lukewarm glop, hugely overpriced, and served cafeteria style.

After touring Ashlawn, consider going into Charlottesville for lunch. There are plenty of fine places there. The Bluebird Cafe is one of my favorites. There is a pedestrian mall downtown with lots of options for dining.

I don't think the leaves will have started to change colors in early Sept, but that part of Virginia is lovely almost any time of year.

That should be a nice time to visit - hopefully the fall colors will be out! The tour of Ashlawn Highland is nice and informative and the gardens are pretty. Be sure to visit Monticello while you're there, too.

We've eaten at Mitchie Tavern (pronounced 'Mickie') twice and enjoyed it both times. It's all you can eat buffet style, but once you've gone through the line the first time there are servers to bring more for you. The food is mostly fried chicken and various side dishes and pretty good. It's a fun place to go because the servers dress in period costumes (Jeffersonian type era) and the dishes are pewter or tin. You can tour the tavern itself and it's wine cellar. It's isn't terribly exciting, but kind of fun to do at least once. If you haven't found it already, the website is: http://www.michietavern.com.

Enjoy!

I really like the Michie Tavern. Yes, it is cafeteria style, but the attraction is that all the food served would have been available in colonial times. Stop by and take a look, if you don't like it you can always drive into Charlottesville.

I was disappointed in Mitchie Tavern. My kids liked it but then they would rather eat at KFC than anyplace else.

Try eating at the Kluge Estate, it is a winery with a small cafe. Food is great, wine is good, setting is beautiful.

Or try eating in Cville, there are some truly amazing restaurants, especially on the downtown mall.