Blue horses and genuine Italian hospitality will soon be found in neighbourhoods across Toronto. A cozy Etobicoke restaurant that opened in December and is known for its quality service will soon be expanding to open three restaurants within less than a year.
Located at 848 The Queensway, The Blue Horse Cucina comes from the team behind Kramer’s Bar & Grill, a beloved and lively Yonge Street pub that had been in Davisville Village for more than a decade. Kramer’s closed its doors for good at the end of August 2025 when their lease was ended for redevelopment of the building.
In December, Christian Chiari, Ben Toma and executive chef Steve Birdwell took over the building that was formerly Pazzia Osteria. With Chiari and Toma both being Italian, they decided to go back to their roots with The Blue Horse Cucina.
“We’ve been working together for roughly 11 years and there is that big influence of Italian cuisine and Italian culture for us,” says Chiari. “The stars really aligned when we found this place — a little cute, holistic space — so it really became very natural to bring the Italian culture and cuisine to life.”
That authenticity is clear from the moment you step into the diner and are greeted in Italian — something Chiari says is always fun to watch customers embrace. The space itself is warm and intimate, the kind of atmosphere only a small, friend-run restaurant can create, with classic red-and-white checkered tablecloths and green foliage snaking across the ceiling.
The menu draws on northern and central Italian cuisine, with a focus on handmade pastas crafted from fresh, simple ingredients. Standout dishes include the linguine alla pescatora and tagliatelle with braised veal shank ragù, while salads, roasted chicken breast and steak round out the menu.
The dishes can be paired with a large selection of Italian wines, including those less popular like a pecorino or corvina. The knowledgeable staff is there to help diners not only find their new favourite, but the ones that pair best with their meal.
If you were a fan of Kramer’s, you might recognize the inspiration behind the name The Blue Horse — the iconic statue that once stood outside the pub. The large plastic horse became something of an urban legend after mysteriously appearing on Kramer’s patio one morning, seemingly out of nowhere.
“I’m not sure where the horse came from, I’m not sure even how it was transported to Yonge Street, but it showed up there at the pub and we didn’t know what to do with it,” says Chiari, noting that many people took photos and climbed the horse over the years.
“It became the symbol of the public community, because there was a lot of laughter and a story behind that horse. It really became something that we wanted to bring with us. It was a memory, and we got attached to that idea and that symbol of community and fun.”
The horse is currently in storage, waiting to return to Yonge Street when The Blue Horse Eatery opens this summer. Located at 1867 Yonge Street, the new spot will pay homage to Kramer’s, bringing a neighbourhood pub back to the area with snacks, good wine and warm hospitality. Chiari says the goal is to welcome back longtime regulars while opening in time for the World Cup.
But that’s not the only expansion in the works for the team. The Blue Horse Rotisserie will be coming to 554 Parliament Street in Cabbagetown, which, Chiari says, they hope to open before the end of summer.
Despite the rapid growth, Chiari says all The Blue Horse locations will be a welcoming space where customers are invited to get to know the owners, learn more about the food and drinks, and stick around a while.
“It’s not just a small business. It’s really part of the community. It’s really fun and we want to welcome people and have them remember us not just for the meal but for that hospitality and experience.”
