In late October, Wildfire Wings at 15318 N. Oracle Rd., #180 in Catalina officially rebranded as Fork & Fire: Catalina Grill. The new concept brings the Fork & Fire Smokehouse brand north of Oro Valley. Owner Joshua Bishop now operates two distinct spaces under the same barbecue-driven philosophy.
Fork & Fire: Catalina Grill delivers a scaled-down, sports-friendly experience. Meanwhile, the original Fork & Fire: Smokehouse + Taproom continues to operate in the Oro Valley Marketplace.
A Smokehouse Expansion North of Oro Valley
Since opening, the restaurant has built a loyal following for smoked meats and creative appetizers.
Now, Bishop brings that same wood-fired foundation to Catalina. However, the new location offers a more intimate setting designed for casual dining and game-day gatherings.
“The biggest distinction is primarily space,” Bishop said. “At a third of the size, Fork & Fire: Catalina Grill is limited in some areas of the menu, but offers a cozier, more intimate vibe for hanging out with friends and watching the game.”
He added that the Smokehouse + Taproom allows for broader experimentation.
“The Smokehouse + Taproom has been in the Oro Valley Marketplace since 2022 and offers more space consuming fare such as Brisket and Burnt Ends,” Bishop said. “The extra space also allows us to experiment more, play with the food, and work with limited time offers and special events.”
Signature Smoke and Standout Starters
Fork & Fire has built its reputation on layered smoke flavor and bar food. That foundation continues at Fork & Fire: Catalina Grill.
“Our blend of wood is largely hickory, we blend in a portion of fruit wood to add some sweetness, depth, and nuance to both the food and the ambiance,” Bishop said.
Wings remain central to the concept. Bishop emphasized the importance of technique over breading.
“The wings remain a point of pride for us,” he said. “We boast a crispy Bacon Wrapped Wing that is first smoked to tender perfection where the bacon acts as the crispy coating instead of any breading. Our Daytona-style Smoked Wing is a full and intact whole wing smoked using a unique method with our blend of hardwoods.”
The menu also highlights playful shareables.
“The Teriyaki Steak Skewers have been a huge hit,” he said. “We use Dickman’s Ugly Steak to create a tender and juicy appetizer.”
Additionally, Bishop introduced original creations that anchor the brand.
“The Taterbombs are a Fork & Fire original and a creation to answer to our popular Firebomb appetizer,” he said. “The taterbomb is a crispy ball filled with creamy potatoes, onion, bacon, and cheese. Think of a twice-baked potato but with a crispy panko crust and finished with demi-glace and sour cream. Whereas the Firebomb is a similar looking fritter ball packed with pulled pork and mac & cheese. Think mac & cheese bites on barbecue steroids.”
Rib Pops further expand the appetizer lineup.
“Rib Pops are an order of single ribs that have been separated and the bone frenched so you have a nice little handhold. We deep fry the single ribs crispy and add a dry rub.” Joshua Bishop
Fork & Fire: Catalina Grill is located at 15318 N. Oracle Rd., #180. For more information, visit forknfire.com.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
