Claudia Sanders Dinner House
3202 Shelbyville Rd, Shelbyville, KY, 40065
Claudia Sanders Dinner House Menu
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Address :
3202 Shelbyville Rd
Shelbyville, KY, 40065 - Phone (502) 633-5600
- Website https://www.claudiasanders.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Claudia H.
I am not from Kentucky - the only reason why I was there is because somebody paid me to go for a meeting. But since I was there, I figured I should go to a restaurant that offered real local food. Honestly, i am not sure how much of a touristy trap this restaurant is - but I have the impression that it really isn't. First of all, is in the middle of nowhere, second, everybody inside there looked local. Anyway, the place is charming and didn't smell like old people's house. They take you to a big room that has a large fireplace and regal portrait of the Sanders! The Colonel and lovely Claudia. I ordered the Hot Brown - and I was not disappointed. It was my first Hot Brown ever, and this was delicious! Sinfully full of cheese, and ham... melted on my mouth. For Dessert I had "the best" - pecan and chocolate pie. I can usually eat a whole dessert no problem, but this pie was so incredibly rich. That I was not able to finish it. My visit to this restaurant was the highlight of my visit - and a place that I would probably visit again if I am ever in Louisville again.
(4)Richard F.
When we have company in from out of town this is the first place we head when they say they want to eat good southern cooking. We love to eat the buffet and the fried chicken is absolutely delicious. The service is very good and friendly. We enjoyed a great meal here last weekend but, it was a little crowded. If possible try the weekdays as it is much easier to get in.
(4)Nicole W.
This place is our place for "out of town guests that want 'real Kentucky food'." 5 Stars for location. Take the drive with daylight and enjoy the green pastures, miles of stereotypical fencing, and big houses. Relaxing drive before a relaxing dinner. 5 Stars for the chicken. I love me some tasty fried chicken, and this place has got it. 2 Stars on service. Because so many menu items are all you can eat, they have mastered the process of stalling out guests and taking forever to bring your seconds. Don't get the all you can eat, save the money and get a good plate of what you want. 2 Stars for the "8 sides". I think they used to come around and serve the 8 sides. Now, you get little bowls on your table of each, and it takes forever to get more of the few you want. Good. A little pricey for the amount, but tasty chicken and sweet tea none the less.
(3)Mr J.
I'll never of my own volition return here. We came on a Sunday due to a birthday lunch. There is better quality food at a Golden Corral. Honestly, I cannot understand why the place is popular. The lunch buffet was an $18.95 lazy conglomeration of what would be considered comfort food (if prepared correctly). I'm from Kentucky, I know how Kountry Kookin' is supposed to taste. I'll give the dinner rolls an accolade, they tasted the way they were supposed to. Shake my head...
(2)Jorge T.
The fried chicken tastes like I hoped! Imagine if Colonel Sanders had you over at his house for Sunday dinner. Need I say more! Every time I come to Kentucky I will come back to this place. I promise lol
(4)Jessica H.
While in Louisville, I had to have some southern cookin' so I headed to Claudia Sanders Dinner House. This was quite a drive from my hotel in downtown Louisville, about 30 minutes, to Shelbyville. I was expecting it to be closer for some reason. In 1959, at the age of 69, Colonel Harland Sanders and his wife, Claudia, moved from Southeastern Kentucky to Shelbyville. Prior to this, the Colonel had spent many years in Corbin, Kentucky, developing his now world-famous chicken recipe. His move to Shelbyville was prompted by the opening of Interstate 75 which bypassed Corbin and his restaurant. It was however, from this very building that Kentucky Fried Chicken grew into a world-wide organization. The one hundred twenty five year old dwelling, Blackwood Hall, which is adjacent to the Dinner House (and it was took dark for a picture), served as the Sander's residence and the base of operation for Kentucky Fried Chicken after their move here. The expanding business soon brought a need for office and warehouse space, so they constructed a building, later to become Claudia Sanders Dinner House that burned in May 1999. In 1964, Colonel Sanders sold Kentucky Fried Chicken and the company offices were moved. And Claudia's Dinner House was born. Now, the food. I expected a lot from this meal, especially the chicken, because I was in the south and it was Claudia's Sanders recipe. But I was disappointed. I got Claudia's Chicken Special for $10.99. Not a bad price at all! The best thing on my plate were the hot rolls they continued to shove down my throat (much appreciated) but the chicken was dry, the gravy too runny. None of the sides I had (potatoes and mock oysters/eggplant stuffing) really knocked my socks off. I did enjoy the chicken and dumpling soup and salad that also came with the meal. You get a lot for what you pay for, that's for sure. I took most of it to go! Now, the food might not have been the best but the interior was elegant. A little old and outdated but nice. The room was FULL of people and the waitresses were very kind and attentive! It was a unique place to visit because of the historical aspect but I don't think I'd return.
(2)Briggs A.
Dear Col. Sanders: If you were still among us, you would be absolutely delighted with the five-star service that Andi provided our family tonight! Andi is among the rare breed of servers who gets you what you need before you know you need it. Oh, and BTW, the food was amazing, too..especially the chicken (shocker), the rolls and the corn pudding! Two suggestions, Colonel: Put the mock oysters to pasture (they suck out loud!) and give Andi a big fat raise (she rocks!)!!!!
(5)Michelle S.
We went in the evening about 8pm. Ordered the family meal plus salad bar. The food was tasty but only luke warm and the chicken was probably sitting for a while. Rolls were yummy and hot! They closed the salad bar up at 8:20, eventhough they don't close until 9:00. There were several other tables that weren't happy with this either. All in all, I would say if you go during the busy times you might be OK. If not, I would order something that requires fresh cooking. A Kentucky icon for sure.
(3)Gregory G.
When friends from California want a "real taste of Kentucky," the Claudia Sanders Dinner House is about as good as it gets. For $13.50 you can get an all-you-can-eat fried chicken dinner which comes with soup or salad, fresh rolls and eight country style "vegetables." Located in Shelbyville, KY, it takes about 30 minutes to get there and if you're not careful, the ride back to Louisville can be really, really painful. The dinner house itself is pretty large, large enough that on one occasion there were two wedding receptions taking place. The chicken is pretty good -- 3.5 out of 5 stars. (The chicken at Cottage Inn in Louisville is still the best.) It's always fresh, but in my mind it has a bit too much batter and it's a bit salty. The rolls are amazing -- 5 out of 5 stars. And the "vegetables" are all pretty good -- 4 out of 5 stars. Our favorites include the creamed spinach, the corn pudding, the green beans and the mock oysters. My wife also loves the fried apples which are a nice compliment to the heaviness of the fried chicken. (On a side note, who in the world are they kidding? These aren't vegetables!!) On the downside, while the servers are always friendly, it sometimes takes awhile to get more chicken/sides. They start you off with two pieces of chicken and you need to ask them in order to receive more. Also, while we almost exclusively order the all-you-can-eat fried chicken, my wife once made the mistake of ordering their chicken and dumplings. That was a mistake as the chicken and dumplings at Cracker Barrel are better and cheaper. The Claudia Sanders Dinner House isn't perfect, but it is the perfect place to take visitors. It allows them to experience a little "Southern Hospitality" while clogging their arteries with decent fried chicken, buttery rolls and "vegetables." If only they imported their chicken from Cottage Inn...this place would be a surefire 5 stars.
(4)Aww S.
Dinner tonight @ 5pm. Menu print is very small, too small for most to read. Especially my grandfather. Open room, comfortable seating and welcoming atmosphere. Ordered dinner special. Steak medium rare, baked potato, creamed spinach and salad with sweet tea. Steak cooked as ordered, with surprised bacon strip wrapped around it. (Wasn't informed about pork) Baked potato had nice melted cheese and crisp skin ( some would say over baked) creamed spinach had green beans mixed in for some reason. Salad comes pretty scarce with options of about 5 pre packaged (super cold temperature) dressings to choose from. Was left with my butter knife to cut the steak until I requested for a steak knife directly. Dinner rolls were soft and dough-y undercooked. Beautiful building and history and I was excited to attend dinner for the first time but won't be back. Not impressed.
(2)Linnea E.
We all decided it would be neat to try since we were on vacation. However once we arrived we quickly realized it was not going to be a very enjoyable experience. It took our server about 15 minutes before she came and got our drink order, then once she got that it was another 10 minutes before she came back to take our actual order and by the way we had three little kids that were starving. A hostess finally brought us some rolls. When the server finally came back to fill up our drinks she filled it up with nasty sprite water instead of water. It was 45 minutes before we got our food and we had to complain to the manager for that to happen. She offered us free dessert that we never were offered or given. We had all ordered their specialty "the fried chicken meal" and is was ok at best. Nothing Colonel Sanders would be proud of. The sides were ok pretty much what you would expect. Finally once we had spoken to the manager our server tried to get us more chicken and sides in a timely fashion since it was all you could eat. At this point the kiddos were ready to go and it wasn't worth being there any longer. We had hoped this would be a fun neat little experience since we were on vacation, sadly we will probably never return if we head back that way.
(1)Jovan M.
True Southern food, setting and hospitality. Fried chicken is juicy and tasty, and the fried livers are done right, as well. The sides are even better, like having Sunday supper! The corn pudding and creamed spinach were my favorites. Can't forget the mash potatoes and gravy, either. The fresh bread/rolls are addictive! The chicken and dumplin soup was a great start. Be forewarned, the all you can eat dinner will fill you up, just with the veggies
(5)Andrew P.
First "southern" place I ate at on the way to New Orleans for spring break (and mostly to get chicken). Found this place by chance while traveling on the interstate and loved it. Not very expensive, the chicken was delicious, the mashed potatoes and gravy were good, and the rolls were perfectly cooked. My girlfriend loved the pie as well. Planning a trip back to the south in December and trying to figure out a way to work this place into it.
(5)Martha J.
This is not a gourmet restaurant by any stretch. But the service was very good, and the food was okay. The bread was pretty amazing, in sort of the "wonder-bread" way. We don't eat plain white bread often, so that may have been part of the appeal, but it was delicious. The table had 2 trouts - both said that it was awesome, but it was simple and baked. We had one pork chop which was thick and wrapped in bacon, and delicious. One fried country ham that was VERY salty and dry (but I actually like it that way, go figure), and one lasagna that was pretty bad with uncooked noodles, jarred-tasting sauce, swimming in a gratin dish full of cheese grease. The side vegetables were rather disappointing as well. Mash seemed suspiciously as if from a box, the mock oysters (eggplant casserole) was odd and the breaded stewed tomatoes were apparently just canned tomatoes with bread dumplings. Or something. The salad was average and the dressings were bland. AVOID the deserts! They were really terrible! The ambiance was interesting. Big dining rooms all closed off from each other, with wonderful large round tables. The whole place needs a deep cleaning though - it had that kind of "sticky" feel to it. But it was charming and almost elegant feeling. There was a really bad musty odor by the front door, and strange pictures of some girl's wedding and other non-sanders memorabilia. I believe the girl may have been the current owner's daughter, but there was no explanation offered. All that said - I would go back again if I was in the area. It's not GOOD food, but it is an experience, and it's not BAD food. It's kind of like eating at the home of someone's grandmother, if you get my drift. It's all edible, the feeling is comfort and if your company is good, then all is good!
(4)Jules Wolfers D.
O.M.G... the comfort food- very good. So when people ask me if I eat at KFC, I tell them no..I eat at something much better. They get a kick out of this that this place is where KFC originated from! Service is very pleasant and friendly, and there is a buffet if you are in mood- the dishes are good.
(4)Amy L.
The salad was fresh, albeit watery. The white chili was good. The rolls were very good. But the mashed potatoes were instant. If you like KFC mashed potatoes then you'll be fine. Fries were good for us, not for kids. Hamburger was dry and way over cooked. With the high prices I expect real mashed potatoes. I can get them at Culvers. I mean, really? Not worth the price. Don't take kids. Bathrooms were nice and clean. The food is what I consider cafeteria food.
(1)Jason G.
last time we went, no one wanted to wait on us because we didnt have the best clothes on, but we went on a whim. the busser said, "hey listen, you guys have been here a while, if you dont care, id like to serve you guys." so he did. meanwhile the girl that was supposed to wait on us was running around screaming "i just got a 30 dollar tip from my big table!!!" our bill came to 23 bucks, i have the kid 65 cash and told him not only to keep the change, but make sure he tells that girl that refused to wait on us what he got for just 2 people who got the buffet and water. the food is always good
(4)Cheryl S.
This restaurant was recommended to us as a good place to experience southern cooking, including country ham on a visit to Kentucky. We went on Sunday night. We were advised by two separate employees that their was a buffet had everything on it that was carried on the menu. The main reason we went there was to experience the country ham. The price for the ham dinner on the menu was only a dollar less than that for the buffet so 3 of us decided to have the buffet. I put some items on my plated but did not see the country ham. When I asked bout it I was told it would be an extra 5 dollars. Since we had been told by 2 different people that the dinner menu items were the same as those on the buffet I asked to speak with the manager. When she finally showed up she flatly denied that we could have been told that everything on the menu was on the buffet. When we all confirmed that that was what we were led to understand she stated that she would fire the hostess and waitress because they had been there long enough to know that was not so. She also stated that there had never been this type of error before. After I begged her to let the girls keep their jobs, after all according to her, nothing like this had happened before, she finally "relented and said she would just write them up. Her solution for the misunderstanding was to knock the price of my meal down to the price of the meal the only member of our party who did not choose the buffet had. There were no adjustments to the meals of the other 2 members of my party. A simple solution to all this would have been to apologize for the misunderstanding and send some ham out for us to try. Instead she was arrogant and self -righteous. She had no problem throwing her employees under the bus for what was in essence just bad communication. She made the whole experience extremely unpleasant. As a final insult, as we were paying the bill one of our party noted that he would have tried more items if he knew what they were. Nothing had been labeled. Her response to this was that we should just ask the kitchen staff if something was unknown to us. There was no one manning the buffet table. In fact there was a carving station with no one there. When a customer snagged a waitress to ask if we should cut our own meat she had to go into the kitchen to find someone to do it and he barely spoke English. This did not hinder his ability to carve but it would have been impossible for him to explain other dishes. We have found many well run restaurants with delicious food in the Louisville area. This was not one of them and we will not be back.
(1)WizardPrang X.
This is our go-to place for comfort food. Whenever my mother comes over from England I bring her here for good solid Southern cooking in a classy but casual homestyle environment. My family are not big eaters, so a couple of chicken dinners can feed four of us. The servers are very good (I miss Chad, wherever he is, I hope he has gone on to better things), the tomato soup is to die for, and the fried chicken is, naturally the benchmark by which all others are judged. This is what KFC once was, and dreams of being again. My one criticism - and it is a minor one - is that there is often nobody at the front to take my money when I leave. This makes me wonder how many people have strolled out without paying. I have been here half a dozen times, and will return... again and again.
(5)Matt L.
What a disappointment. I get so excited over some places that promise to be especially good, and they are such a letdown. Claudia Sanders Dinner House is just that. My wife and I got there in the mid-afternoon, and there was no line, but still a wait, since no one was covering the hostess's podium. When we sat down, we were treated well, and even offered our choice of seats, which was very nice. When we got our biscuits and corn muffins, they were cold. How is that? Is this a southern cooking place? How can you not at least have them warm. I'm not asking for piping hot, but at least have the butter melt. We ordered a single meal for the group of us. We ordered a side of fries, and the food was sufficient, but nothing was exceptional or even excellent. The chicken was mediocre, the green beans were mediocre, the the mashed and gravy were mediocre. I was going to give it two stars, since even the staff weren't exceptional to make up for the unimpressive food. However, I will admit, the prices for the sit-down restaurant really were a lot lower than they could have been. Sharing one meal, two adults and a small child got out under $15 including tax and tip. That counts for something. I won't say I wouldn't go back, but I'd probably try one of the steaks next time. The chicken, from the house carrying on the tradition of the Colonel and Mrs. Sanders, was disappointing. If you're expecting an exceptional experience, get ready for a disappointment.
(3)Laura D.
Haven't been here in a few years but boy do I miss it! I lived at Undulata Farm down the road for a few weeks each summer and I LOVED coming here for the best biscuits known to man. Great chicken too, a Kentucky institution. Love all the Saddlebreds all over the walls :)
(4)dane h.
It was like fancy KFC in a banquet hall. The setting is in an old southern plantation. The fried chicken was ok, but had a slightly odd taste. The sides were good, including corn pudding. But it all tasted mass produced.
(3)Sharon M.
So if you read my profile or many of my reviews, I'm a big fan of chicken. Whenever I have a chance to try awesome fried chicken, I am there like Cartman is to Cheesy Poofs. Imagine my excitement when my boyfriend has told me that we were going to Colonel Sanders' WIFE's place for chicken! YEE-HA! So here's the interesting part, the chicken was yummy and it was good but not the greatest. I'm not complaining, I still finished the chicken. But the chicken was upstaged by the sides. Sides, sides, sides everywhere and not a drop to drink (well, because I had finished my water). The sides were AMAZING! And because we stuffed ourselves on sides, maybe that's why the chicken wasn't as awesome? But we just could not get it together because those sides just made use fall apart. I WISH I had brought my camera and see the bojillion sides we have. So, dear reader, when you're in Louisville check out this place and have a taste test fiesta with all these glorious sides. I approve of this message. P.S. Loved the atmosphere. Very Kentucky Derbyish with a little souvenir shop (we bought the cookbook for the cornbread recipe), an upstairs to drink your mint juleps and some paintings for the Colonel and the Missus. Definitely a think to tick off of your things-to-do in Kentucky.
(4)Mr And Mrs G.
MR says... MRS says... i didn't know i haven't written a review for this all time favorite place where southern cooking is at its best. weekend buffets we are a frequent because we just love the unlimited warm biscuits and cornbread with in house honey. when we sit for a regular ala carte we always get the chicken buffalo hot wings. small wings fried crispy yet soaked in the spicy sauce. we wouldn't know about this place until my californian sister came for a visit. we're from metro louisville and to drive here via shelbyville road scenic road on hwy 60 was worth it. view was spectacular as the food we're up to check. so thanks to my sister who introduced us to claudia sanders, the other half of colonel sanders the father of KFC!
(4)Tabitha F.
Excellent service in the diner as the waitress was quick to answer requests. The hostess' could have been more courteous as we walked in meaning giving service with a smile, the only reason for the four stars. Food was well prepared and very tasty, might I add. Upon arrival, food was very hot and fresh, cooked to perfection. The trip to the salad bar offered various selections and everything was very clean and fresh. There was four soup options, which of course I had to try all, no judging. All staff on the floor was very helpful. The management team was passing out cornbread and rolls and each time we ask for more rolls, they were fresh and delightful. Excellent choice to celebrate or just for a night out to not have to cook. Highly recommended.
(4)Barry H.
Awesome, awesome, awesome. Mrs. Sanders definitely kept a few recipes from the Colonel. Her fried chicken was the BEST !!!!! Sorry KFC And the service was fantastic
(5)Jamie C.
Worth your time to get off the highway to have lunch/dinner here. Teenager endorsed, "it honestly was as good as it gets!" I was worried because we were going to be passing by on Easter Sunday so I called ahead to book a table, the woman answering the phone was polite and helpful. Reservations are not taken for a party of four but I was assured that we would have no problem getting a table. I'll be honest, I was dubious but we were touring Kentucky so where else would we want to have fried chicken than the original home of Col. Sanders, since our itinerary wasn't that flexible we decided to risk the wait. Pulling in to the auxiliary parking next door, and seeing lots of Easter finery, I was still worried, but at the hostess stand we were told a table would be ready in about 30 minutes. Ok, we'll wait and were directed to the bar upstairs where there is a pictorial history of the Kentucky State fair to pass the time. Sure enough, in less than 30 minutes we were seated and ready to dig-in. Lunch is a buffet with so many selections plus a carving table. The fried chicken was fantastic and the mash so buttery. Everything was fresh and hot. The service on a normal day would have been worth noting but for a holiday we were astonished. Our son had an iced tea to start with but when it was done wanted to switch to water, no fewer than five servers stopped by the table while his glass was being swapped out to ask if they could get him something! We left full and satisfied. A must-stop place if you're in the area.
(5)Laura N.
Claudia Sanders Dinner House is as Kentucky as you can get! And honestly, I didn't even realize this was the rebuilt former home of Col. Sanders until after my meal was over! Mind blown. (YES. We had dinner in Col. Sanders house of KFC fame. OK, so the real house burned down years ago and this one is actually a rebuilt and updated home, but STILL.... kind of awesome, right?) When a good friend of mine let me know she'd be in Louisville for a week, my husband and I decided to meet her somewhere 'halfway' between Louisville and Lexington. We did a quick search and found this place. Southern cooking? Sounds good. On a cold, snowy Kentucky evening, we arrived in jeans & t-shirts to one of the most stunning buildings we've ever been to for dinner. Were we under-dressed? What did we get ourselves into? Could we afford this? Thankfully, we were dressed just fine and the dinner was affordable. Whew! We were seated in the dining room in the back of the building, around a large circular table with plenty of room for plenty of food. Boy, did we need all that room for the family-style meal we had. THE ROLLS. SO GOOD. Best rolls I ever had. It took a lot of restraint to keep myself from eating too many of them. I needed to leave room in my stomach for other yumminess! I ordered a fish dinner, which came with several veggie sides. All were good. The baked cinnamon apple side was my favorite. I think I ate my husband's portion, too.... which is OK because he swiped my potatoes. I also had some sweet tea and a bottle of beer (low-priced for what it was). I was definitely full halfway through the meal and took a huge portion of it home for some more yumminess the next day. So, so good. So glad we came here. Totally stuffed. Totally happy. Totally awesome. Definitely coming back.
(5)Missy H.
I love this place :) I think it's because it reminds me of my rural southern roots. I like that the food is southern-themed and ABUNDANT, just like my family would make. If you leave this place hungry, you must be a Sasquatch or something. Fried chicken? Oh yeah. Country ham? Yummmm! Mashed taters? Uhhuh. Corn bread? I'll take another piece please. Biscuits? Daaaaayyyyuumm. Chicken & dumplings? Marry me. And the price absolutely cannot be beat. For the amount of food you receive for the price, you begin to wonder how they make any money at all. Lunch is particularly economical. The fried chicken special includes 3 pieces of chicken, 2 sides, salad AND soup for $9.99. Beat that, anyone! Stop off of I-64 when passing by Shelbyville and give 'em a whirl when you're feeling thrifty and glutinous :)
(5)Trevor W.
We were out shop pi at the Outlet and decided to drive a few more miles down the road to check out the house of Colonel Sanders (converted to become his wife's restaurant due to a non compete clause when he sold KFC). The house itself is very nice and has that authentic old time look and feel. We were seated quickly but the waiter took a little while to get to us but not too bad and she was really friendly. We ordered the family meal and that was a mistake as we are small eaters and the amount of food brought out was pure redicoulusness. The value for your money is what pushes it to 4 stars as the flavor is just OK. All the vegetables are sweetened and the fried chicken was OK. I was thinking the fried chicken was going to be crazy good or something but we ate it and just so-so. Almost forgot... the dinner rolls were really good so make sure you do not fill up on them as a lot of food will be coming out on your plates.
(4)Laura L.
Ok, so I was being a tourist when I went to this place with some friends for dinner and I got my fix! I pulled up and immediately thought I was under dressed because of how big and elegant the house looks. Trust me though, jeans are ok. You walk in to the guest shop and grand staircase with signed oil paintings of the KFC Family. The staff is friendly and the food is tasty. They also had really low beer and spirit prices. Also, the rolls are addictive. I had three and would have had more if they hadn't brought my dinner.
(4)Jason B.
What more can you ask from a local business in Kentucky? From this place I understand what Southern cooking is all about now and I can't express how amazing it really is. My first time here and my experience just amaze me on the setting of the place, the food, the atmosphere and the people themselves. I got the all you can eat fried chicken with the 8 sides. That's right 8 sides. Let's just say I couldn't finish them at all. The inside look like a southern palace that you would stay a night in. The service here was amazing I had nothing but a great time and I had amazing server who help me decide what to get and always was there to ask if you needed anything else no questions asked it was just a beautiful time love the atmosphere and when I'm coming here many many more times in the future.
(5)Cathryn G.
My aunt and uncle live just 10 minutes from this place and it is a must do whenever I am in town to see them. I absolutely adore this place. The buffet that they offer is spectacular so if it is available that is what I get. The buffet has salad, soup (the tomato and chicken dumpling are insanely good), fried chicken, corn pudding (best I've ever had), potatoes, veggies, carving station, and desserts like pecan and chess pie. If the buffet is not available you can still get all you can eat chicken which comes with unlimited sides. If you want to order off the menu I recommend the hot brown. They add thinly sliced country ham to it which just makes it more delicious. Did I mention the warm rolls and how good they are? The only bad thing about this place is that they might have to wheel you out because you ate so much, but when it is that good who cares?!
(5)Brenda R.
This is a place to stop if you are traveling close, or if you live next door. Named after Col. Sander's wife. You should try the famous fried.chicken and 7 veggies served family style! And the rolls - oh my goodness - melt in your mouth good. I miss the paper place mats that had a story about the history of the restaurant. And the honey that was so good on the rolls is still not been replaced. Last.time I ask about it they said they lost their local supplier. The only draw back is that smoking is allowed upstairs and it flows down the huge staircase and down the hall.
(4)Doug B.
Bring your appetite! The food is amazing and the service is equal to the food. Don't go expecting fast food chicken cause what they are fixing puts any drive thru to shame. If you are with 50 miles of here it is well worth the visit!
(5)Paul G.
Spent a long weekend in Louisvile, primarily to tour the Bourbon Trail; however, we felt we would have been remiss to leave Kentucky without tasting Colonel (and Mrs.) Sander's Original Recipe. I'll begin by saying that the chicken did not disappoint. The skin was cooked just crispy enough and the meat was moist and flavorful. After tasting the "real deal," I don't think I will eat at KFC again. The mashed potatoes were tasty (far superior to KFC mashed-potato-paste)-- somewhat lumpy, just the way I like them-- and the gravy was flavorful. I opted for green beans on the side and they were just okay (canned-- meh), as was the salad (very watery). I also tried the chicken and dumplings, which was decent but didn't wow me, and the biscuits, which were amazingly delicious, but stingily offered. My primary disappointment with this restaurant was the service. After having been overwhelmed by Southern Hospitality during the previous three days of our trip, I was surprised by the unfriendly reception we received upon entering the restaurant. The hostess seemed put out by our presence that afternoon and the servers were almost melancholy. The lackluster reception and unfriendly service really put a damper on things, especially after we drove 30 minutes out of Louisville for the sole purpose of eating here. I was hoping that our visit to Claudia Sanders would be an experience to remember, but it turned out to be just a reasonably priced meal that we drove quite far out of our way to enjoy. I've received far better service (and equally as good food) at any random Cracker Barrel. I wouldn't encourage anyone to go out of their way to eat here.
(2)Rhonda G.
It concerns me that many visitors to Kentucky may eat at Claudia's and think it represents the food of our region. Our visit last week for lunch was so disappointing; although, I will say that my elderly companion thought it was great. Trust me; it was far from great. The service was terrible. She brought me the wrong drink and I don't think she believed that I really didn't order sweet tea. We asked for more bread but she never brought it and we had to catch her for the one drink refill we received. The mashed potatoes were hard and dry. The creamed spinach was missing the cream. It was more like dry bread pudding. The chicken and dumplings tasted off but I couldn't pinpoint why. The fried chicken is juicier, fresher, and hotter at Popeyes or even my local KFC. The best thing about the meal was the biscuit but we only received one. I am baffled by the reviews that give the place 4 and 5 stars. Maybe the buffet is better than ordering off the menu; although I can't imagine how this food would be after it sits on a buffet line.
(2)Michael S.
BEST CHICKEN EVER! And if that isn't enough to get your mouth watering they give plenty of sides, rolls that melt in your mouth, a unique southern atmosphere and a price that isn't to tough on the wallet. We do this a lot as take out because the food is out of this world. The only reason I do not give them five stars is the service. Their service sucks. It sucks so bad that I rarely dine in the restaurant. I almost gave them three stars because of it but I love the food so much I just couldn't do it.
(4)Kelly Y.
I've been there, done that. Hmmmm, that is about all I can say about the fried chicken at Claudia Sanders. It was not bad but it was not that great either. I'm glad I did not get the $15 all-you-can-eat chicken dinner. I ordered the 2piece dinner (dark) and 3pieces actually came out since the pieces were quite small. The chicken was bland...if The Colonel used so many spices in his secret recipe...why did Mrs. Sanders use none other than pepper? I think I even prefer the chicken at Golden Corral over this chicken. And the sides: corn pudding: meh mashed potato: the BEST part of the meal! Creamy homemade potatoes that does not even need white gravy on top. green beans: meh... apple pie: meh...could have gotten a better one at any bakery And one more thing...smoking is allowed inside in this county...so as we walked in, the wonderful aroma of cigarettes (instead of fried chicken) is what greeted us...sigh...We won't be making a special trip out here for chicken any time soon. Cottage Inn still has the best non-chain chicken; Popeye's has my favorite chain chicken.
(3)Travis D.
We love this place. If you are looking for some great home cooking this is the place. They have a large selection of choices for everyone. The staff is friendly and very helpful. It is a must when we have guests in town visiting.
(4)