Casa Loma is getting a steakhouse

TORONTO — Liberty Entertainment Group is paying homage to Casa Loma’s creator by adding a restaurant to Toronto’s castle. 

Blue Blood Steakhouse is scheduled to open by the end of June in the Toronto landmark’s Oak Room and Billiard Room. 

“When Sir Henry Pellatt built the castle, his desire was to have royalty visit. He always wanted to have the king and queen of England visit the castle,” said Nick Di Donato, president and CEO of Liberty Entertainment. “Blue Blood means royalty. It’s also a colour of steak, which is another obvious reason for the name.”

The Oak Room is Casa Loma’s most decorated room. For its hand-carved oak walls, Sir Pellatt recruited artisans from Scotland for the three-year-long process. 

A craftsman from Italy was brought in to complete the ornamented plaster ceiling. 

“It’s the most elaborate in terms of detail. It took many years to bring together,” Di Donato said. “It’s one of the most incredible heritage sites in Canada based on how it’s been preserved and the quality of workmanship.”

With such detailed heritage elements, retrofitting the 2,500 -square-foot room was a challenge, particularly installing air conditioning in the building. Di Donato explained Liberty Entertainment worked alongside Heritage Toronto “every step of the way” during the transformation into a 140-seat restaurant. Obtaining all of the necessary municipal approvals took three years alone. 

“We’re providing Torontonians a chance to enjoy the splendor of Casa Loma, and the original architecture, in a restaurant environment,” Di Donato said. “The ceilings, the walls, they’re all original. 

“What we’re bringing in is the furnishings and the food, to allow people to enjoy this beautiful environment that’s been here for 100 years.”

For Blue Blood’s kitchen, Liberty Entertainment was able to repurpose washrooms that were installed when Casa Loma was converted into a tourist attraction and hotel in 1930. The installation of washrooms had erased any historical significance, making it easier to retrofit the area into a kitchen. 

“Otherwise we would never be able to get permits for that,” Di Donato said.

Storage space in the basement was converted into a prep kitchen, which also led to the discovery of the castle’s original wine cellar. 

“It was buried for almost 60 years. We rediscovered it during reconstruction,” Di Donato said.  

The cellar was built with sleeves for about 1,700 bottles. For Blue Blood, Liberty Entertainment has spent the last four years building the cellar’s wine collection, which now stands at about 2,500 high-end bottles from around the world. 

“When we open, we will probably have one of the best opening inventory for wines of any restaurant out there,” he said. “It’s going to be a very exclusive cellar.”

The menu will feature high-end cuts of meat, including Wagyu beef from Australia and the United States and Japanese Kobe beef.

“We’re Canadian, so obviously the best of Canadian beef will also be featured,” Di Donato said. 

The elite cuts of meat on the menu will be featured via a tasting menu format, allowing guests to sample a selection of beef. 

“With Kobe at $100 an ounce, it will be challenging for people to have a whole steak,” Di Donato said. “We want them to have that experience, so that’s how we are going to feature some of the items.”

Casa Loma is just one of several heritage properties operated by Liberty Entertainment. Their historic venues also include Liberty Grand, Rosewater,  and Coral Gables Country Club in Miami. 

“We believe a heritage building will not be easily replicated,” Di Donato said. “Once we build Blue Blood in Casa Loma, it’s not like someone can replicate it in any other building. It’s unique in itself and stands the test of time.”