Holiday Parties At Claudia Sanders Dinner House

A holiday party at Claudia Sanders Dinner House brings the season to a warm, character-filled setting with fireplaces, Kentucky horse-country décor, and the family-style hospitality the restaurant was founded on in 1968. Office parties and family holiday dinners both find a home here, with traditional holiday favorites or a custom menu built from our Southern kitchen.

The venue's heritage gives the celebration a sense of place, and the fireplaces make the evening feel festive rather than corporate. The private rooms keep the party separate from the dining room, giving the group space for toasts, gift exchanges, and conversation. The full bar serves beer, wine, and cocktails throughout the evening.

Menus are customized to your group and can include a seated dinner, a buffet, or an appetizer-and-drinks reception. Homemade pies and cobblers are a natural finish for a holiday meal, and Claudia's Kentucky Pie is a guest favorite. See the Holiday Calendars page for dates and hours during the holiday season.

Holiday parties here suit both workplace celebrations and family gatherings. It works for a company holiday party with a presentation and reception, and for a family holiday dinner that fills a room with relatives. The private rooms keep the celebration contained, and the fireplace rooms give the evening a festive, warm feel.

Groups from Louisville, Southern Indiana, and across Kentucky often choose Shelbyville for a central gathering point during the holiday season. The venue handles both intimate dinners and large parties up to 450 seated, so a department lunch and a company-wide celebration both fit comfortably.

Choose a room based on your guest count and whether you want a seated dinner or a standing reception.

For a holiday party, the Kentucky Room (up to 150) with its fireplace is a popular choice for a festive gathering. The Thoroughbred and Saddlebred Rooms (up to 55 each) suit a smaller department or family, and the Colonel's Quarters can hold up to 450 for a major company holiday party with dancing.

We offer several service formats so the party matches your style and guest count.

A buffet is a popular choice for a holiday party — it scales easily for a large guest list and lets guests serve themselves at their own pace. A plated dinner works well for a more formal evening, and an appetizer-and-drinks reception suits a cocktail-style party. Family-style platters bring the warmth the Dinner House was founded on.

Menus draw from the same scratch-made Southern food served in the dining room — fried chicken, sugar-cured Kentucky country ham, the Kentucky Hot Brown, chicken livers, steaks and chops, eight family-style vegetables, and homemade pies. See the full menu and the carry-out menu for the dishes that can anchor your event.

The full bar serves beer, wine, and cocktails, with beverage service priced by the drink or by the bottle. Homemade pies, cobblers, and Claudia's Kentucky Pie are available for dessert — a natural finish for a holiday meal.

We offer traditional holiday favorites or a custom menu built from our Southern kitchen. Tell us whether you want a classic holiday spread or a menu tailored to your group, and we will build it from the same scratch-made food served in the dining room. Fried chicken, sugar-cured country ham, the Kentucky Hot Brown, and homemade pies all have a place on a holiday table.

Because the menus are customizable, we can accommodate dietary needs and preferences within the group. Share any restrictions when you plan, and we will build alternatives into the menu so every guest has something to enjoy.

See the Holiday Calendars page for dates and hours during the holiday season, and plan early — holiday dates book quickly as the season approaches.

Planning starts with a call to (502) 633-5600 or a message through the contact form. Tell us the party type, your date, guest count, and whether you want a traditional or custom menu, and we will help you choose a room and build the menu.

Because every event is customized, we do not publish per-person pricing online. Tell us your date, guest count, and the style of service you want, and we will send menu options and pricing. There is no obligation, and we are happy to walk through the rooms and the menu before you decide.

Because holiday dates book quickly, we recommend planning early. Tell us your preferred date and we will check availability and help you secure a room before the season fills up.

Before the party, confirm your guest count, menu selections, and any dietary needs. If you plan a gift exchange, a toast, or a presentation, let us know so we can arrange the room and the timing.

• ✓Choose a room with a fireplace for a festive feel.
• ✓Build a traditional or custom holiday menu.
• ✓Plan the bar service for toasts and the social hour.
• ✓Homemade pies and cobblers are available for dessert.
• ✓The private room keeps the party separate from the dining room.

On the day, our team handles service and cleanup so the hosts can focus on the celebration. The private room keeps the party separate from the dining room, giving the group space for toasts, gift exchanges, and a festive evening together.

Claudia Sanders Dinner House is at 3202 Shelbyville Rd (U.S. 60), Shelbyville, Kentucky 40065, east of Louisville. Guests from Louisville, Southern Indiana, and across Kentucky often gather here, and the Kentucky horse-country setting gives the occasion a sense of place. Parking is on site, and tour buses are welcome.

Claudia Sanders Dinner House is 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. The venue is closed Monday and Tuesday. Holiday hours may differ — call (502) 633-5600 to confirm.

Holiday parties most often take place on a weekday or weekend evening during the holiday season. The venue's Wednesday through Sunday hours give flexibility, and holiday hours may differ — call (502) 633-5600 to confirm hours for your date and see the Holiday Calendars page for details.

Receptions are based on a per-person price for food, beverage by the drink or bottle, and any other special services requested, with a minimum of 50 guests. A Basic Reception includes skirted service tables with serving equipment, china or glass plates, forks, napkins, and tables and chairs for your guests. All other services are at an additional charge.

For holiday parties below the 50-guest reception minimum, ask about a private-room dinner with a traditional or custom menu — we can often host smaller departments or families with a reserved room and a festive, customized menu.

A holiday party is more memorable in a setting with character and warmth than in a plain function room. The fireplaces, the Kentucky horse-country heritage, and the family-style hospitality the Dinner House was founded on in 1968 give a holiday gathering a festive, welcoming backdrop, and the scratch-made Southern food makes the meal a highlight rather than an afterthought. Call (502) 633-5600 to book your holiday party.