Pittsburgh Restaurteurs Open New Eatery

PITTSBURGH, PA — The owners of The Columbian Spot restaurants in Oakland and the South Side have opened a new concept eatery in Oakland.

Karen Perdomo and her husband, John Ortiz, opened the doors Monday to Stew Wood Fire Fusion. The opening was announced on social media.

Among the menu items at the new place are a smoky rib sandwich served on homemade Balkan bread, steak, an eggplant sandwich and, of course, stew.

The restaurant is located on Oakland Avenue in the space once occupied by Fuel and Fuddle, which closed in May after more than two decades in business.

Perdomo and Ortiz got their start in 2015 with the original location of The Columbian Spot in the Pittsburgh Public Market in the Strip District. After the market closed its doors in 2016, they opened a new location on East Carson Street in the South Side in 2017. The Oakland location on Forbes Avenue opened in 2021.