Stew Wood Fire Fusion opens in former Fuel and Fuddle space in Oakland

Stew Wood Fire Fusion is set to open Monday, bringing an eclectic mix of meats, sandwiches — and yes, stews — to Oakland.

It’s not the first restaurant venture for owners Karen Perdomo and John Ortiz. The couple opened The Colombian Spot in Pittsburgh’s South Side in 2017 and added an Oakland location four years later.

Now, they’re trying their hand at a fusion restaurant. The pork and chorizo stew, for example, includes Colombian sausage cooked using the French sous vide technique and served with Balkan bread.

“The concept in the Colombian Spot is completely different than what we’re doing here,” Ortiz said. “That’s why we call it a fusion — because we’re not going to have a specific type of food.”

The restaurant held a soft opening for around 30 people on Friday.

Anna Mathews, who’s attending Carnegie Mellon University, gave the Argentinian Bondiola high marks. Additionally, she said Stew helps solve a common problem for local students: where to grab dinner with their parents. When Mathews’ parents came to town earlier this year, she struggled to find a suitable sit-down restaurant nearby.

“I didn’t really know where to bring them,” Mathews said. “I would have liked somewhere closer.”

Pitt student Claire Barrios agreed that Stew is a welcome addition to a neighborhood losing small businesses in favor of fast food. In October, the popular chain Raising Cane’s opened a location on Fifth Avenue — just a block away from Layne’s, another new chicken joint.

“I feel like it’s fun to have something like this on campus,” Barrios said. “The other restaurants — they’re all chicken.”

When Stew began teasing its opening in September, online critics feared it would negatively contribute to change in the neighborhood. Located at 212 Oakland Ave., Stew takes the place of Fuel and Fuddle, which closed in May due to rising costs, short staffing and, for owner Brandon Smith, a desire to spend more time with family.

Fuel & Fuddle will be replaced by a…stew joint? Though I appreciate the restraint in not going with “Stew’d” pic.twitter.com/BmtUDMERte

— jack troy (@jacktroywrites) September 6, 2023

Fuel and Fuddle occupied the building for 27 years, becoming known for its signature pizzas and sprawling beer selection.

“It’s important to address the fact that people liked the place,” Perdomo said. “We’re trying to stick to some of the stuff we know people like from here.”

In addition to its fusion offerings, Stew will rotate local beers on tap and may soon serve chicken wings. Perdomo also noted that Stew is a family operation — she and Ortiz did much of the work over the past five months to remodel the building and create the menu.

“We’re not just another venture where people are just putting in their money,” Perdomo said. “We’re here every day, working all day till dark.”

Stew’s hours run from 11 a.m.-midnight, seven days a week.