Food Network competitor Nik Fields plans Phoenix wine bar featuring tastings built around her signature wine collection
A new downtown concept expands a fast-growing local hospitality portfolio
Phoenix chef and restaurateur Nik Fields, known in the Valley for operating the wine bar Chic Chef 77 and the downtown coffee concept The Grind, is preparing to open a new wine-focused venue in central Phoenix. The project is planned as a wine bar with a dedicated tasting-room component centered on a proprietary “signature” wine collection associated with Fields’ Chic Chef brand.
The planned opening follows Fields’ recent visibility on national television, where she competed on an episode of “Guy’s Grocery Games,” a Food Network series hosted by Guy Fieri. Her appearance positioned her among a small group of Phoenix-area chefs who have used the program as a national platform while maintaining local restaurant operations.
Location and format: a tasting-driven wine bar in the downtown core
The new venue is expected to operate as more than a standard by-the-glass wine bar. The concept is designed to incorporate guided tastings and curated bottle offerings using inventory from Fields’ signature wine line, pairing structured wine service with food designed for sharing.
Separately, Fields has also been tied to another downtown wine-bar project announced for Roosevelt Row: Sapphire & Slate, planned for the Ten-0-One building at 1001 N. Central Ave. That concept has been described as focused on wines with boards and dips aimed at pairing-friendly service. The overlap underscores a broader strategy of placing multiple Chic Chef-branded formats within walkable downtown districts.
Background: Chic Chef 77 and a record-setting focus on representation
Fields’ best-known wine concept, Chic Chef 77, opened in Tempe in February 2023 and was widely described at the time as Arizona’s first Black-owned wine bar and bistro. The venue was built around a large wine program and a rotating selection of wines by the bottle and by the glass, alongside small plates and cocktail offerings. In subsequent reporting, Chic Chef 77’s wine selections were also framed around increasing visibility for producers that are underrepresented in mainstream distribution.
What the expansion signals for Phoenix’s wine-bar market
Downtown Phoenix has seen a steady rise in wine-forward rooms, including concepts emphasizing flights, charcuterie-style menus and retail-bottle programs. Fields’ proposed tasting-room model adds another variant: an operator-led space built around a branded wine collection and tasting programming, rather than relying only on rotating wholesale lists.
Concept: wine bar with a tasting-room focus
Core feature: a signature wine collection integrated into guided tastings
Market context: continued growth of wine-focused destinations in downtown Phoenix
Key point: the planned venue is structured around tastings and a proprietary wine lineup, positioning it differently from traditional neighborhood wine bars.