Celebrity chef, Food Network personality and sommelier Nik Fields invites guests into “a world rooted in wine, storytelling and atmosphere, with a space designed for lingering and connecting,” with the opening of Slate by Nik Fields, set for Feb. 1 (submitted photo).
Located at 8801 N. Central Ave. and expected to open Feb. 1, Slate by Nik Fields is a wine-forward lounge where art, cuisine and conversation combine, and a follow-up to Fields’ Chic Chef 77.
Created by celebrity chef, Food Network personality and sommelier Nik Fields, the restaurateur says that Slate “invites guests into a world rooted in wine, storytelling and atmosphere, with a space designed for lingering and connecting.”
“Slate by Nik Fields was never about starting over,” said Fields. “It’s about evolution. Chic Chef 77 laid the foundation. Slate is the continuation. A place where wine, culture and community can live together.”
Through signature programming such as private events and First Fridays every first Friday of the month, the restaurant hopes to build rapport with the community through curated tastings, and intimate cultural gatherings.
The open-concept kitchen is anchored by a wood-fire oven, offering guests a front-row seat to live-fire cooking. The chef says that the menu centers on elevated small plates for sharing, alongside a rotating seasonal entrée that changes monthly, ensuring the experience evolves with the seasons. Current menu items include Bruschetta with Chef Nik’s Italian-grown balsamic vinegars, rotating seasonal limited-edition monthly entrées, and chef-choice charcuterie boards.
The restaurant features a 100-pour rotating wine list, curated to complement the wood-fire menu and shift throughout the year. Anchoring the list is The 7 Wine Collection, an exclusive lineup that reflects Fields’ personal approach to wine as both craft and story. The curated collection tells a story of her personal journey and how it relates to wine – a release date of April 1 is anticipated.
“Slate was intentionally designed to create visibility for Black-owned and women-owned wine brands, offering representation in an industry where it remains rare,” Fields said, adding that fewer than one percent of U.S. wineries is Black-owned, and women account for only an estimated 10 to 15 percent of lead winemakers and wine executives nationwide.
“By placing these producers alongside globally respected labels, Slate invites guests to explore wine through equity,” she added.
The restaurant is also an art-driven cultural space, featuring live music, poetry and rotating local artists including Keven Anthony, saxophonist, Esko Violin, violinist and jazz singer Bibire Harmony.
With a private parking lot and an outdoor patio, the restaurant is located between North Central Phoenix and the historic Sunnyslope community, in the former Timo’s space. Find updates and information online at www.slatebynikfields.com.
