Memorial & Celebration-Of-Life Luncheons At Claudia Sanders Dinner House

A memorial or celebration-of-life luncheon at Claudia Sanders Dinner House gives the family a quiet, private room to gather after a service. Our staff handles the food and the setup so the family can be together, share memories, and focus on one another rather than on logistics.

The setting is warm and unhurried — the kind of place where a family can settle in and visit. Simple family-style or buffet menus keep the meal easy and flexible, with platters of fried chicken, scratch-made vegetables, and homemade rolls that suit a range of tastes and appetites. The private rooms keep the gathering separate from the dining room, giving the family space to be together without interruption.

We understand that these gatherings often come together on short notice. When rooms are available, we welcome short-notice bookings and will work with you to arrange a meal that fits the family's needs and timeline. The venue's heritage — founded in 1968 beside the historic Blackwood Hall home — gives the gathering a sense of warmth and place that matters on a difficult day.

These luncheons suit families who want a private space to gather after a funeral or memorial service rather than a crowded restaurant. It works for both intimate gatherings of close family and larger groups that include extended family and friends. The private rooms keep the gathering separate from the dining room, giving the family space to share memories and be together.

Families from Louisville, Southern Indiana, and across Kentucky often choose Shelbyville for a central gathering point after a service. The venue's warm, character-filled setting offers a measure of comfort that a generic banquet room cannot, and the unhurried service lets the family visit at their own pace without feeling rushed.

Choose a room based on your family size and whether you want a seated meal or a buffet.

For a memorial luncheon, the Thoroughbred or Saddlebred Room (up to 55 each) suits a close family gathering, while the Kentucky Room (up to 150) with its fireplace and family-room feel works well for a larger group. The quiet, private setting lets the family visit without interruption, and the rooms can be arranged to suit a seated meal or a more open gathering.

We offer simple, flexible service formats so the meal fits the family's needs and the day's timeline.

Family-style and buffet formats are the most common choices for memorial luncheons — they keep the meal easy and let guests serve themselves at their own pace. A plated lunch is also available for a more structured gathering. Every menu is simple and flexible, built around the family's preferences.

Menus include platters of fried chicken, scratch-made vegetables, and homemade rolls. Homemade pies and cobblers are available for dessert. The full bar serves beer, wine, and cocktails for adult family members, with beverage service priced by the drink or by the bottle.

We understand that memorial and celebration-of-life gatherings often come together on short notice. When rooms are available, we welcome short-notice bookings and will work with you to arrange a meal that fits the family's needs and timeline. Call (502) 633-5600 to check availability and begin making arrangements.

We can coordinate with a funeral home or service schedule so the family arrives to a ready room without a long wait. Tell us the timeline when you call, and we will do what we can to accommodate the family's needs, including arranging the room and the meal service around the service schedule.

Because the venue is closed Monday and Tuesday, we will work with you to find a time within our posted hours — Wednesday through Sunday — that fits the family's timeline and the service schedule.

Planning starts with a call to (502) 633-5600 or a message through the contact form. Tell us the date, the family size, and any food preferences, and we will help you choose a room and arrange a meal.

Because these gatherings often come together on short notice, we will work with you to find a time and a room that fits the family's timeline. Our staff handles the details so you can focus on being together, and we can coordinate with a funeral home or service schedule so the family arrives to a ready room.

If the family has food preferences or traditions they want to include, let us know and we will build them into the menu. The goal is a meal that feels right for the family and the day.

Before the luncheon, share your expected guest count, any food preferences, and the timeline for the day. Let us know if the family is arriving from a service so we can have the room ready.

• ✓The family arrives to a ready private room.
• ✓Our staff sets up the meal, tables, and service equipment.
• ✓Family-style or buffet formats let guests serve themselves at their own pace.
• ✓Our team handles service and cleanup so the family can be together.
• ✓The private room keeps the gathering quiet and separate from the dining room.

On the day, our team manages the meal and the cleanup so the family does not have to think about logistics. The private room keeps the gathering quiet and separate from the dining room, giving the family space to share memories and be 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.

Memorial luncheons most often take place on a weekday or weekend after a service. We will work with you to find a time within our posted hours — Wednesday through Sunday — that fits the family's timeline and the service schedule.

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 memorial luncheons below the 50-guest reception minimum, ask about a private-room meal with a family-style or buffet menu — we can often host smaller families with a reserved room and a simple, flexible menu that suits the day.

When a family gathers after a service, the last thing anyone should worry about is the meal. Our staff handles the service and cleanup so the family can simply be together, and the warm, quiet rooms give the gathering a sense of privacy and calm. The scratch-made Southern food is familiar and comforting, and we can keep the menu simple or customize it to the family's wishes. Call (502) 633-5600 to make arrangements.