The team behind a once-beloved, now-closed Toronto bar is getting a second lease on life, and they’re making the most of it by opening not one but three new restaurants in neighbourhoods across the city.
When Davisville Village staple Kramer’s Bar & Grill closed its doors after decades in the neighbourhood in the summer of 2025, owner Christian tells blogTO that he always planned to open a new restaurant.
What he didn’t necessarily plan for, though, was opening three restaurants in three completely different neighbourhoods, all within a year of the Kramer’s closure. After opening Blue Horse Cucina, an Etobicoke Italian restaurant, in December, another two restaurants are on the way.
“The three restaurants didn’t come all at once; they came in waves, shaped by a bit of planning and a bit of circumstance,” Christian tells blogTO.
Interestingly, the first restaurant to open, Blue Horse Cucina, wasn’t actually the team’s first concept.
That title goes to Blue Horse Rotisserie (554 Parliament St.), which the team hopes to open sometime in the summer of 2026. While Blue Horse Cucina is an ode to old-school Italian hospitality, the Rotisserie, equally approachable and warm, will take an entirely different direction.
“We had purchased a space on Parliament Street, originally with a tenant in place, thinking it might one day become something of our own. That space stayed in the back of our minds until the moment felt right,” Christian tells blogTO.
“When it did, the idea for the rotisserie came naturally. Something casual, warm, and a little more everyday, a place where people could drop in for a simple, well-made meal.”
On the menu, you can expect a selection of slow-cooked rotisserie meats, salads, sandwiches, pastas, and weekend brunches.
Before the rotisserie opens, another member of the Blue Horse fleet — so named for Kramer’s old mascot — is due to open, just down the street from its Davisville predecessor.
Blue Horse Eatery, located at 1867 Yonge St., will be the most similar of the three to Kramer’s, Christian tells blogTO.
“If anything carries the spirit of Kramer’s and the mysterious Blue Horse forward, it’s the Blue Horse Eatery on Yonge Street,” he says.
“When we knew we had to leave, we spent a lot of time trying to stay close to the Davisville community. That neighbourhood meant a lot to us and still does. After a long search, we found ourselves in the old Fionn MacCool’s space at 1867 Yonge Street, which felt like a second chance to come back.”
But the Eatery will build on the foundation that Kramer’s built. It’ll feature a menu of modern Italian bar food, beverages and a buzzy energy.
“It won’t be the same, but it will feel familiar in the best way.”
The Eatery is next in line to open, with the team aiming to have everything in order in time to welcome guests during the World Cup. The rotisserie, currently in the thick of renovations, will follow.
For now, it’s all about the Cucina and, even though it opened in the winter, a notoriously treacherous time for Toronto restaurants, Christian tells blogTO that the reception thus far has been “better than we could have hoped for.”
“Winter is usually a tough time to open anything, but the dining room filled up quickly, and we found ourselves hiring sooner than expected just to keep up. There’s been something really special about the Queensway; people have been warm, curious, and incredibly supportive,” he says.
Only time will tell how other neighbourhoods receive their Blue Horse establishments, but Christian isn’t worried about it.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that people respond to something genuine. Good food, made with care, and a feeling that you’re actually welcome when you walk in the door. That’s what we’ll keep trying to bring, wherever we are,” he says.