The Michie Tavern is a charming place that provides wonderful seating in a window filled room. The table host was very pleasant and removed our son's meal when he took one bite and said, ummm no. I wish he could have done the same for us! The selections were limited to pulled BBQ and fried chicken, editable, but no more. The potatoes were in my mind awful, the texture nearing that of potato soup. The greens were wonderful and sadly the highlight of the meal. So in the end, one star for ambiance and one-half for service, with the other half for the greens and chicken. For the price and quality, I'm sure there are many better options available a short distance away. read more

We have been coming to Michie Tavern for an annual Christmas Party now for several years. It never disappoints! The setting, ambiance, and history all add to the experience. Michie Tavern is famous for its fried chicken and biscuits. They are the best around! This is just a small part of their buffet. The food and service are second to none. We look forward to coming back every year. read more

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Who knew that 18th century technology was so advanced? I seriously had no idea that in Colonial times, they had a metal cup that would keep hot beverages hot and cold beverages cold. Drinking out of, and then purchasing, one of these silver cups was worth the price of the buffet alone. This miraculous invention lost to time aside, the buffet is pretty delicious. Of course, as a vegetarian, I did not partake in the chicken (but it smelled amazing) but their traditional sides just felt like southern perfection. The cole slaw was tangy and creamy, the biscuits were hard (in a good way like they were made from scratch), the vegetarian black eyed peas were cooked to a slightly mushy inside but were still firm on the outside. The stewed tomatoes were, um, interesting. Anyway, at least I learned that I do not like stewed tomatoes. While I'm not sure if it could be considered a proper vegetarian meal since there was, realistically, no main course, at a discounted $10.95 for all you can eat sides, I was a fan. The one thing that I have a small problem with here is the service. To avoid confusion, you're supposed to ask the waitstaff (who, while dressed in period clothes speak modern English to make it not too weird) to bring more food if you run out. Which wouldn't be a problem except the waitstaff are usually too busy bringing big bowels of chicken around and suggestive selling drinks to take an order for more sides. They seem to try hard but the system doesn't work if you want fast seconds. Walking around the entire campus around the restaurant was a good way to burn calories after a large meal and I loved the fact that they had a traditional toy store with games dating from "period" times to the present. The landscaping is wonderful and, all in all, Michie's Tavern is a great day out just outside of Charlotteville. I would definitely gorge here like George Washington again soon. read more

Michie Tavern - Ye olde sides for the buffet at the tavern. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Southern Buffet restaurant, food was good but not worth the price and all the hipe about the restaurant being one of the oldest places to eat. read more

We decided to give Michie Tacern a try and I'm glad we did! Fun, historical experience in great setting! I was pleasantly surprised how tasty the food was!! I'm not a buffet person however this would be my exception for sure! Loved the stewed tomatoes! read more

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The absolute BEST fried chicken ever! Hot, delicious seasonings and plentiful! The buffet has cole slaw, mashed potatoes, black eyed peas and so much more. All delicious!!! read more

My groupmates and I grabbed a late lunch/early dinner here on the way to a field trip at Monticello! It was a perfect day out, 75 degrees with a slight breeze. We chose the seats in the patio-ish section (they just have the entire windows open so it's essentially a patio) and the view is so beautiful. The trees are just so green and it is very quiet up there. This really made my meal great. The fried chicken and baked chicken were both amazing and everything else was just pretty good. The fried chicken was perfectly fried and crispy but still tender inside. The batter was also the tiniest bit sweet which really added to it. The baked chicken was really tender which I really liked. The coleslaw, green beans, and tomato grits were alright. I thought the entire concept was just really cool and a whole experience. The inside was literally like a cabin and had no overhead light fixtures in the dining area. The staff was dressed in colonial garb and everyone was so friendly there. I really enjoyed the meal and experience! I'd say it was a bit on the pricey side, though. read more

Michie Tavern - View from the open-air seating. Beautiful scenery! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Authentic 1700s style- on a cold and wet day- fire in the fireplace and food was excellent. Atmosphere was as it was in 1780- and thoroughly enjoyed the food! read more

If you want a great fried chicken dinner, head into town and go to Wayside. If what you want is a cliche expensive touristy experience, you are in the right place. The setting is charming. It is an authentic tavern dating back to the times of Thomas Jefferson. The menu is Colonial Virginia featuring fried chicken, pulled pork barbecue, mashed potatoes and several varieties of stewed vegetables, plus biscuits and cornbread, all served buffet style from the "Keeping Hall" for $17.95. Beverages and desserts are extra. Quite frankly, I would expect to pay extra for soft drinks and alcohol. But for iced tea and coffee, that should be included in my $17.95 (its not). Seconds helpings and dessert are brought to your table by a friendly waitstaff, which is definitely a nice touch. Then again, I am paying $17.95 + $1.95 for iced tea. Even though my review sounds kind of cranky, I did have a nice visit with my out of state guests. We especially enjoyed sitting out on the back porch having our lunch. So if the weather is nice, take your tray and head out back as well. read more

Michie Tavern is good and fund spot close to Monticello. I was in a group of ~40. The staff was well-organized and made us feel welcomed. Enjoy a southern food buffet, especially the fried chicken, biscuits, and cornbread. read more

went here on school thingy and loved the food absolutely bustin service was great other than this one lady who didn't bring me my peach cobbler they also sell guns in gift shopi got a t shirt that says michies and i will wear it in my grave ambience was also very good felt like i was in the hobbit cool. read more

Wonderful experience that takes you back in time. Experience a unique form of dining that is warm and pleasant. The country/soul food was just super satisfying. Don't miss it! read more

$50 for 5 pieces of fried chicken and 2 cups of water. The other food choices were cold, bland, or inedible. read more

I was searching for a out of the usual place to take my mother out to lunch while I was in town visiting from Florida. Came across this on a "Things to do in Charlottesville" google search. I am so glad we went here. The food was delicious. I put as much as I could on my plate! The staff will come to your table to see If you need drink refills or if you want any second helpings from the buffet and they will bring it to you. This place is right next to Carter Mountain Orchards so it's great to hop over there for some donuts and hard cider while you're at it. read more

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Of course it 's a tourist trap, that's why all those tourists are there, but like some similar "traps", a real foodie has to go at least once, and some times you can run into good food - this is one of those, imho. On our three visits here, we have been served very good to excellent Southern cooking, including really nice fried chicken - one of the two bench marks for judging the quality of Southern food, the other, of course, being the flavor and richness of the brown gravey that will inevitably rest atop real mashed potatoes. This is an all-you-can-eat , modified buffet affair, and I have found that a lunch visit is the best time to come here - and early, while the tourist buses are still on their way here to get trapped. The pulled pork is ok, nothing special. Most of the sides are nice - black-eyed peas, potatoes are real, and the stewed tomatoes are nice. Biscuits and baked chicken are nice, but if I'm gonna have chicken, I like it fried. This a an attractive, historical setting, with several rooms to choose from for your dining pleasure. The service is excellent - friendly and attentive. The price with drink will run you $20+, so bring an appetite, and eat your fill. read more

Hands down one of my favorite landmarks in the area! The food is amazing! You sign up for a group seating then go in through a buffet. Load up on fried chicken, stewed tomatoes, green beans, and more biscuits and cornbread than seemingly possible! Everything is so authentic. You get to drink sweet tea out of tin cups, servers come around to bring you more of any food that you want dressed in colonial attire, and you sit at old fashioned tables. Each of the rooms even have fireplaces! We are having our rehearsal dinner here. Everyone was so wonderful and accommodating to work with. Its going to be a really unique experience for my friends and family visiting from California. I highly recommend doing the tour of the house before hand. Its a historic tavern that was moved piece by piece to here. It is filled with period games, clothing, and furniture. You even get to participate in an old fashioned Virginia reel! read more

Michie Tavern - Panoramic view of the back room for large groups - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We bought the "Neighborhood Pass" tickets for tours of Monticello, James Monroe's Highland, and the Michie Tavern. The tour of the original building was interesting, and we decided to stay for lunch---as there's not much else around that area, anyway! The outbuildings included cute shops, too, so we enjoyed that. The food was traditional Souhern cooking: fried chicken, biscuits, green beans, etc. It's served buffet style for your first pass, but it's tight quarters, so the wait staff will bring you any additional food or drink you desire. The food was just OK. I mean, I feel like we really went for the history rather than the food---so I'm glad I wasn't anticipating five-star dining. But it was PRICEY for what it is. It wasn't inedible, but I wasn't begging for seconds. So It's a place to go when you need a place to go, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny! read more

Came here for lunch with a large school group. We are from out of State and have been traveling and eating at places that could handle a big group of eight graders. No where else has been as great an experience as here! Incredibly well organized and friendly. The food is delicious. They come around once you are eating and offer extra helping nag so that you don't have to go back in line. So impressed with how they run their establishment. Thank you! read more

My daughter and I ate here on a school field trip. Service is awesome and friendly. Your normal buffet items....fried chicken, taters, green beans, black eye peas, peach cobbler, sweet tea, water, coke products. This place is okay....nothing to rave about. Atmosphere is neat. read more

If you're interested in having a meal at Michie Tavern, you'll need to arrive between 11:15 and 3:30. You'll go to the top of the hill and look to the right of the white house. There's a wooden door and a small sign that reads "The Ordinary ". When inside you'll notice a small dining area with a fireplace and wooden tables. Your only option is a buffet which includes around 6 items. As others have said, you go through once and if you want seconds, you'll ask one of the ladies roaming around in Colonial garb. Although most of the food was good, we didn't believe it justified the steep cost of around $18 per person plus beverages. Once your done with your meal, you can visit a few small shops. One sells weaponry and original items, the other sells works of metal including cups, plates and jewelry. At the bottom of the hill is a two story store with a mix of items like wine, candy, tee shirts, jams and similar items. Michie Tavern is an interesting way to kill a few hours but could become expensive for a family. read more

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While I was surprised that it was buffet style serving, the food was excellent. And, for as much food, it really was reasonable for a touristy place. Excellent fried chicken and bbq. veggies were delicious. The staff was very helpful. Very enjoyable for us first timers to Montecello. read more

Perfect place to visit after exploring Monticello in a hot summer day! We did not go into the museum but ate at the restaurant and check out the shops. The restaurant was nice and cool inside. We were fortunate there was no line and was able to be seated fast. The buffet had a good arrangement of Southern fair and everything was fresh. My favorites were the mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, friend chicken and green beans. Try the stewed tomatoes! They were good too but different then anything I'd had before. They also had excellent brewed tea. I do think the restaurant was a little expensive. $44 for two adult dinners and two teas. We enjoyed checked out the shops! Lots of interesting things to see and buy and nice shady walking paths. All staff we encountered was very friendly. read more

Michie Tavern - My delicious Southern Lunch! Mmmmmm! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Goody was good, but pretty simple. Staff was very nice and polite, convenient spot for a spot before or after Monticello.

Michie's Tavern is a superb establishment. I traveled here with an east coast class trip for lunch. The interior is very comfortable, and it truly feels like a homey tavern. The meal consisted of many delicious items, but what stood out to me were the creamy mashed potatoes, green beans, fried chicken, cold milk, and peach cobbler with a brown sugar topping. There severs are kind and they dress in bonnets and aprons. I talk about Michie Tavern all the time to my friends and family. Due to the fact that I do not live nearby, I went out of my way to find and recreate the peach cobbler recipe at home. read more

This was horrible. We should have listened to the other reviews and bypassed this restaurant. The fried chicken was greasy and dry and the service was mediocre. If you are thinking about trying this restaurant, please take a hard pass. This was not worth $100 for 3 people for lunch. read more

Charlie is the best; kind and attentive. He completed an excellent southern meal on a beautiful day. The fried chicken is so juice and well-seasoned that makes you happy. The complements are fully cooked and fresh. read more

I loved this place! My friend and I went on a rainy Tuesday in March. It happened to be spring break so it was packed. We did not have to wait long though. While you wait you can look around the gift shop so that was nice. We went in and went through a buffet line. We tried some of everything but the black eyed peas, stewed tomatoes and peach cobbler were our favorite. Every bite was delicious. Our server was great. She even gave us a sample of a dessert we were hesitant to try. You can have as much food as you want, your server will bring it to you. We also enjoyed touring the old tavern. read more

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

Reading these yelp comments is extremely frustrating and concerning. After eating at Michies, I immediately decided I needed to express my discontent with this small, historical tavern of death. I have no idea how good things can be said about this place. If you are considering going to Michie's, STAY AWAY. RUN!!!!!! michie's can be fatal. To begin, let me give my backstory. I am a young traveler seeking historic adventure. I came to D.C. with my school class and was told the food would be phenomenal. The first day, after a long long bus ride, we were touring the Monticello estates. After that, we were stopping to eat at Michie's tavern. All of the teachers were raving about how good Michie's was. I was expecting the best fried chicken ever. Also, it is important to note that I do not have stomach problems frequently. It takes some serious stuff to mess up my tummy, and Michie's MESSED ME UP. My first step into Michie's was an awful sight. After climbing the huge hill to get to Michie's, I wanted a nice, relaxing setting. The room I entered was like a cave. Bring a flashlight because it's dark in there. It was also super musty. As soon as I entered, sweat shot out of my armpits like a squirt gun. Now, let me discuss the food. Looking at the boiled tomatoes was like looking at someone who had just blown some chunks. They were so unbelievably disgusting. The other main side dish was black eyed peas. I'm sorry, but I don't got a feeling about those. The chicken was the nastiest of it all. The size was inconsistent. Some pieces were tiny, and the piece I grabbed probably weighed two pounds. When I cut into my huge piece of soggy fried chicken, there was a huge blood clot. I was so disgusted. Finally, the mash potatoes were watery, salty, and awful. Everything served at Michie's was worse than eating straight out of the dumpster. Michie's also has their own set of black Chrysler mini vans. Like black vans with the Michie's logo on the side. What is this? The CIA???? It was so scary and why would Michie's need their own personalized cars. When you see those black vans coming, move far far away. Lastly, I want to speak about the emotional and physical impact Michie's has left on me. As I write this yelp review, I am sitting on a charter bus, feeling so sick. As I mentioned before, this is unusual for me. I don't know what Michie's did, but my bowels are not liking it. My stomach burns and aches. Not only did Michie's taste horrible, it has left me feeling awful hours later. I beg the public and those around me to trust me. They need to understand how dangerous Michie's is. I issue my warning, and I encourage you to take heed of it. read more

I have been coming to eat at michie tavern for over 40 years. I go 3 to 4 times a year. It was my most favorite place to eat. I went today and the food was all different. The fried chicken is dry, it used to be the best in the world. The mashed potatoes were thin and watery, it used to be perfect. The gravy was light colored and not rich, it was very bland, before it was so good, dark colored and creamy. I was so disappointed. After 40 years what happened. Did it change owners, change staff, change cooks, i wish i knew. Even the ham I ordered to go was different, it was dry and cut too thick, I did not specify biscuit cut, so the thickness was my fault, but I was not asked plate cut or biscuit cut. But it still was dried out. Not enough waitresses. The one we had, just could not get it right, brought wrong food or did not bring it at all. $30.00 with tax, tip and water to drink for one person, It used to be worth the price, not anymore. $60.00 for two lunches, honestly kfc, chicken mashed potatoes and gravy would have been just as good I guess. I will try there next time i want fried chicken. It is just so sad to be so disappointed, i had looked forward to going for quite a while. I won't go back. I will remember how good it used to be. read more

The food wasn't bad, however it was nowhere worth the price per plate. I felt trapped, almost claustrophobic, even though we dined in a covered outdoor area. It reminded me of the old chuck wagon western dinners we used to go to in Colorado, but without the cowboy entertainment. Scenery is amazing, servers were attentive, however I couldn't get over the feeling that I had stumbled into a classic tourist trap. read more

My family and I ate at the Michie Tavern for lunch after our morning tour of Monticello. The atmosphere was nice and brings you that 1700s feel. The tavern was originally on another road and moved later to its current location. There are some shops and other buildings to explore as well. The food was a "southern" buffet. You go through the line and fill your plate. Any seconds are retrieved by your server. Drinks and desserts are not included and the buffet is limited in items. There was fried chicken, baked chicken, pulled pork, cold soup, cornbread, biscuits, green beans, beets, mashed potatoes, gravy, cole slaw and black-eye peas. The best thing was the fried chicken, very good. The other stuff was....meh. The service was good, until I went to pay. There was a line of about 5 people waiting to pay at the register and the person at the counter got into a conversation with the person in front of me paying. They started going into their life history for about 10 minutes, while everyone else was waiting to pay and leave. Another employee came over and said she would help, but the lady at the counter dismissed her and said she was good and just continued talking. The other employee caught my eye and saw the desperation of help, along with the line that was growing and stayed to help anyway. She checked all of us out while the other lady just continued to talk about her nails. I'm sure the customer was was discussing her heritage with was happy, but the rest of us were less than enthusiastic about the situation. Anyway, the cost is about $20 for an adult and about $9 for a child. However, if you go to their website and look under lunch discounts, they have some deals. All you need to do is show them the deal at checkout. Saved me $8. If your in the area and in the mood for some good fried chicken, try it out. Otherwise, move on. read more

Our family stopped for lunch after touring Monticello. It's buffet style with plenty of sides to choose from. The fried chicken was delicious. I have three picky eaters and all of them found plenty to eat. We loved the atmosphere and food. It was a great way to end our day! read more

We have lived 25 minutes from here for 15 years. I have actually done work as a contractor in the kitchen here years ago, but after working in most restaurant's kitchens, it usually takes me years to ever want to eat at them. But it has been a long time since I did restaurant kitchen work, so the disgust has ebbed over the years and I can eat out without the image of whats behind the scenes messing with my head. I have had some friends rave about the fried chicken at Michie Tavern. Best in the area, best ever...whatever...I love fried chicken so I've been wanting to try this place for awhile. My wife scored a couple coupons to make it less expensive, so we went today. And thank goodness we didn't have to wait and it wasn't crowded otherwise, because this review would have been worse. How can anyone give this food 5 stars? Only someone who doesn't know better is all I can figure. Sure, its basic southern fare. There is nothing terrible here, but its not worth $18 a person by a long shot, unless you consider the historical nature of the grounds the place sits on, and its all you can eat...and you plan to eat a LOT. It's dark, has a fireplace, several interesting dining rooms and sort of "Olde Taverney"...but the ambiance stops there. This is a tourist trap. Its sad because Jefferson is one of my favorite American Patriots...I wonder what he would think about it? Food: You can see the fare on the menu online...it doesn't vary much, so no need for me to get in to detail...its almost always the same over the years I have been checking in to it. The fried chicken does a have slight something special about the flavor of the coating. They sell the coating there in bags to take home. They dont tell you the herbs and spices, but maybe its the sodium aluminum phosphate in the ingredient list that gives it that special something (it's a leavening agent, but doesn't sound very "olde tyme" does it?). That doesn't seem "authentic". I didn't buy any...my own or House Autry's is just fine with me thanks...at a LOT less money. Anyway, the fried chicken is good, but for us this day...waaaayyy too salty. And I love salt! I'm not a salt paranoid person. In fact the other disappointment was the salt shakers barely allowed any salt out of the tops so you looked like a nut shaking and shaking forever to get some salt on your other food... ...which by the way was bland! After the $18 you can plan to spend $2 per basic drink like tea, and dessert is NOT included as part of the buffet...or the cost of it. We spent $30 with a coupon for two adults and got no beverage other than water and skipped dessert. We are not total cheapskates, but not impressed. We walked in and were greeted by a nice young lady who told us it was buffet, we could seat ourselves. Family style at many tables, so if you dont want to eat with strangers, you'll need to get lucky and have your own table. We were lucky...at any time you could be treated with sitting at or near a long table with a family of children you dont know otherwise. We dont hate kids, but that is a roll of the dice with parenting these days. So we did as instructed. We got some food and sat down. Then suddenly there was a bonnet wearing woman (hey I get it, you cant have a "Ye Olde Taverne" without tavern wenches!) introducing herself as our server. We were confused and I joked, "did we do something wrong? we already got our food and water!". The tavern wench was NOT getting the humor and told us that's what she has to say, and proceed to pretty much sourpuss us the rest of the time, but to her credit did check in on us and brought some more water and a few things for us. What was missing was some period acting. They could take some clues from Williamsburg and have some fun with some over the top period accents and pageantry and maybe some humor, but nope, just 21st century people being pretty normal and boring. If they had some "showomansmanship" it would have made a better deal. I suppose wanting servant "boys" as well, like the historical period facts would have been waaaayy too non-PC! But would've been cool and historically accurate. So all in all, on the merits of the food and service, it was no better than any decent buffet anywhere. The food was not bad, but nothing to rave about. After 15 years we have finally done it and wont likely do it again or bring anyone else here. Let the tourists have it. We have an old locally owned grocery store 10 minutes away with better fried chicken at a fraction of the price, and we easily cook as good or better sides at home all the time. If you get a good attitude about the sightseeing aspect of Monticello, and want to embrace the full deal with a simulated "Olde Taverne" meal complete with metal cups and plates you dont see everywhere, give it a shot. We appreciate your contribution to our local economy...after all you ARE paying a total of about 9.7% taxes total to the state and local governments, and we appreciate the revenue. read more

Southern buffet near Monticello historic site. I have no complaints about the food. Nothing left a lasting impression of how good it was though (I wrote this review 3 months after I visited). Since it is a buffet, the quality is suspect, but I expect, if you visit during the lunch rush, you are unlikely to suffer from food poisoning. The old-timey glasses and plates are fun too, and, if you discount the tourists, the tavern feels authentic. read more

Two times here and loved it. I've been here during the Washington DC trips with two of my daughters. The food is good old fashioned southern food...fried chicken, black eyed peas, cornbread.....you get the picture. It's all very well made and delicious. What makes it a great place is that it is immaculately clean, and the service is fast and friendly. They return to your table numerous times to make sure all is well and if you'd like them to bring you anything else. Great job! read more

This review is more for the 1784 Pub at Michie Tavern rather than the buffet. Although we had originally planned on eating at the buffet, it frankly did not look very good or worth $20/person. As others mention, the selection is very limited. When we got there it was about a half hour from closing and the food was low. It also did not look very appetizing. The BBQ pork looked more like soup. Everything else looked like standard buffet fare. I'm not a fried chicken person so can't speak for that, but it also did not look great. One of the staff mentioned that the pub next door would begin serving food when the buffet closed, so we tried that. We were glad we did. Although it did not have regular meals, there was enough on the menu to fill us up. Bites included pigs in blankets, pretzel bites, BBQ pork sliders, Virginia ham and biscuits, potato wedges, and more. We had all of these and they were pretty good. The atmosphere is also quite historic. Although the total price wasn't much lower than the buffet, the variety was better. I would recommend the Pub for a good place to stop late in the afternoon if you're in the area and hungry. Buffet doesn't look worth it or very good. read more

Friendly staff, good service. Food is average. Their peach cobbler a la mode & their highlander desserts are good.

Michie Tavern at Monticello!! What a great midday dinning experience! Take a step back into the 1700s the food is delicious fried chicken! Stew tomatoes Beats biscuits all right from the period and fantastic. Save room for peach cobbler but if you want something different and absolute the bomb try the Scotch John for desert!! Radon's, pineapple cinnamon cloves in a fantastic sauce over vanilla ice cream!!. Outstanding historical dinning experience. read more

Michie Tavern - Fireplace in the dinning room. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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We love this place. I love the fried chicken, possibly the best in this area, the stewed tomatoes, black eyed peas and green beans. There is actually not much I don't like here. Plus we love the old fashioned setting here and the super friendly people. read more

Very nice place for lunch before touring Monticello's ( Thomas Jefferson's ) home. The atmosphere was very rustic, with its Fireplaces and long guns on the walls. The food was all homemade , served as family style. read more