What Makes Claudia Sanders Dinner House A Shelbyville Landmark?
A look at the restaurant Colonel Sanders and Claudia opened in 1968 and why guests still drive to Shelbyville for it.
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Family-Style Southern Cooking, Served The Way You RememberIn Shelbyville, KY
Fried chicken, Kentucky Hot Brown, sugar-cured country ham, scratch-made vegetables, and homemade pies — served family-style since 1968.
Now serving breakfast Saturday & Sunday from 8 AM
Welcome To Claudia Sanders Dinner House
Claudia Sanders Dinner House is a Southern, country-style restaurant, caterer, and event venue at 3202 Shelbyville Rd in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Colonel Harland Sanders and his wife Claudia founded it in 1968 as The Colonel's Lady. The kitchen still cooks the way the Sanders family did — breads baked every morning, soups and salad dressings made in-house, croutons cut by hand, and eight scratch-made vegetables served family-style with unlimited refills. Every plate is cooked to order, with breakfast on weekends, carry-out, catering, and banquet rooms for up to 450 guests.
More Than A Restaurant
Claudia Sanders Dinner House is a gathering place for families, friends, and celebrations of every kind. With private dining rooms and a banquet facility, we host everything from corporate dinners to weddings.
Start with the dishes people drive to Shelbyville for — our Family Dinners include all-you-can-eat fried chicken, four scratch-made vegetables, soup or salad, and unlimited homemade yeast rolls.
Our Popular Dishes
Claudia's Kentucky Pie is made with pecans and chocolate chips. The bread pudding comes with Kentucky bourbon sauce. Salad bar Wednesday through Friday.
Fried Chicken
Pork Chops
Sugar Cured Ham
Fried Chicken Livers
Kentucky Hot Brown
Classic Side Dishes
Homemade Pies And Cakes
New York Strip Steak
"One has to remember that every failure can be a stepping stone to something better."
— Colonel Harland Sanders, co-founder of Claudia Sanders Dinner House
Restaurant, Caterer, And Event Venue
Parties Or Events
Four banquet rooms seat 55 to 450 guests, with standing room for 1,000 in the Colonel's Quarters. Weddings, corporate meetings, birthdays, tour groups, and happy hours — with a full bar and room for a live band.
See the venue →
Catering Across Kentucky
We cater Southern buffets, carving stations, and appetizers in Shelbyville, Louisville, Southern Indiana, and the surrounding area. Fried chicken to prime rib, plus the same vegetables, rolls, and desserts we serve in the dining room.
See catering menus →
Holidays At The Dinner House
Family dinners and office parties in a landmark setting, with menus we can customize for your group.
Holiday calendars →
Carry-Out For The Whole Table
Order 2- or 3-piece boxes, 8-, 12-, and 16-piece family meals, a 20-piece barrel, or a 50-piece chicken box, plus sides by the pint or pan. Order ahead online and pick up at 3202 Shelbyville Rd.
From Our Table To Yours
Kind Words From Our Patrons
"Step back in time to authentic Southern hospitality! The fried chicken is perfection—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. The yeast rolls and Hot Brown are absolute must-try dishes when visiting Shelbyville."
Mary R.
Recent Google Review
"Wonderful historic dining experience. The Colonel Sanders legacy lives on in every dish. Great family-style dining with generous portions, incredible side dishes, and warm, friendly service."
David L.
Recent Google Review
"We hosted our family gathering here in one of their private rooms. The atmosphere was elegant and homey, and the catering staff took amazing care of us. Don't leave without trying the homemade pie!"
Sarah & Mark T.
Recent Google Review
Frequently Asked Questions
- ?Who founded Claudia Sanders Dinner House?
- Colonel Harland Sanders and his wife Claudia opened the restaurant in 1968 as The Colonel's Lady, beside their Blackwood Hall home in Shelbyville. It was later renamed in Claudia's honor and is independently owned.
- ?What days is Claudia Sanders open?
- Wednesday through Friday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 8 AM to 8 PM, with breakfast served on weekends. We are closed Monday and Tuesday. Holiday hours may differ — call (502) 633-5600 to check.
- ?Does Claudia Sanders have all-you-can-eat fried chicken?
- Yes. Our Family Dinners include all-you-can-eat fried chicken with four scratch-made vegetables, soup or salad, and unlimited yeast rolls. All-you-can-eat applies to chicken entrées for dine-in guests only.
- ?Can I order Claudia Sanders online for pickup?
- Yes. Use the Order Online button to order carry-out through Toast, including family meals, barrels, sides by the pint, and homemade pies, then pick up at 3202 Shelbyville Rd.
- ?Does Claudia Sanders host weddings and large events?
- Yes. Four banquet rooms seat from 55 to 450 guests. If we cater your wedding reception, use of the facility for your ceremony — indoors or in the courtyard garden — is free of charge.
- ?Where is Claudia Sanders Dinner House located?
- 3202 Shelbyville Rd (U.S. 60), Shelbyville, Kentucky 40065, east of Louisville. Parking is on site, and tour buses are welcome.
Stories From The Dinner House
Where Did Colonel Sanders Live In Shelbyville?
The history of Blackwood Hall, the 125-year-old home where the Colonel and Claudia lived after moving to Shelbyville in 1959.
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Can You Host A Wedding At Claudia Sanders Dinner House?
Old Southern traditions for your special day, with free ceremony space for catered receptions.
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As Featured In
Claudia Sanders Dinner House has been featured in national and regional publications — a testament to the Southern hospitality Colonel Sanders and his wife Claudia have shared with Shelbyville since 1968.
Claudia Sanders Dinner House has been featured in The New York Times, Associated Press, ABC News, NBC News, Fox News, USA Today, The Washington Post, People, Good Morning America, Business Insider, Fortune, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, The New York Post, Los Angeles Times, Louisville Courier Journal, PBS, Mansion Global.