Alfresco Grills Review - Worth the Price Tag?

The heart of every outdoor kitchen is the grill, but with so many different brands and products, it can be difficult to find the best grill for you. 

Here we are going to be taking a close look at one of the top luxury grill brands in the outdoor kitchen space, Alfresco.

We'll take a look at the brand as a whole and point out key features on some of their most popular products.

By the end, you'll have a much better idea if Alfresco Grills are the right fit for your outdoor kitchen project.

Alfresco Grills Brand Overview

Made In The USA

Alfresco Open Air Culinary Systems (also known simply as Alfresco) is a company that has been around for decades, designing and manufacturing high quality outdoor kitchen equipment.

They are based in the United States, in Southern California, and first launched in 1999. 

Alfresco Grills is committed to creating the highest quality, most innovative and valuable products in the world of outdoor cooking.

Made For Commercial & Residential

You can find the Alfresco name in high end restaurants across the USA. However, Alfresco Grills also want to provide many recreational chefs to enjoy outdoor cooking with their high quality grills.

Because of this, Alfresco Grills has a large range of grills and outdoor kitchen appliances in their catalog which helps home chefs access outdoor barbecuing and grilling through professionally made products. 

Their grills are all inspired by commercial-level, luxurious grills with lines ranging from built-ins to freestanding. Alfresco also has a huge range of enhancements on offer to give you endless customization options.

What To Expect From Alfresco

There are a few things that differentiate Alfresco from other outdoor kitchen brands.

First and foremost, they offer the most complete selection of outdoor kitchen appliances and built-ins on the market, period.

Whether you're looking to match your grill with storage drawers, a built-in pizza oven (check out our review of Alfresco pizza ovens here), or something highly specialized like a food prep station, Alfresco has you covered.

Another great thing about Alfresco grills in particular is that they all come loaded with extra features.  Each grill comes with a heavy-duty rotisserie kit, built in grill lights, lit burner knobs, and a pull out tray that lights coals or wood chunks to infuse smoke into your food.

Finally, Alfresco grills are finished with a beautiful, aesthetically sleek heavy duty stainless steel that is forged to last for decades.

Alfresco Warranty Information

Over the years, Alfresco Grills have built a solid reputation for themselves and backed their products with a lifetime warranty for stainless steel parts.

Also, all parts and labor to repair and replace any defects found in their products are covered for 2 years.

A Closer Look at Alfresco Products

In this section, we are going to go through five of Alfresco Grills most popular products from their ALXE line of grills. 

Their ALXE line of grills are known in the culinary world as a sleek, professional level of grill that is perfectly suited for luxury outdoor kitchens.

So, let’s take a closer look at these ALXE grills to see if they really live up to their lofty reputation.

Alfresco ALXE 36 Inch Built-In Gas Grill With Rotisserie

First up, we'll take a look at one of their most popular built in grill sizes, the Alfresco ALXE 36. 

This grill packs a lot of punch and is available in a propane or natural gas configuration.

The total amount of grilling space on the main grate is 660 square inches - which is much larger than most grills of a comparable size from other brands.

A 3 position rotisserie and warming rack adds even more cooking area and capability to your grill.

All of that extra grilling area makes this Alfresco grill a great option for those with larger families or just want to cook up a wide range of foods to serve for a single meal. 

As for power, the three main burners each burn at 27,500 BTU which means that the maximum output from this grill is 82,500 - that’s a huge temperature range for you to cook and grill in all sorts of techniques.

The stand out additional feature of this grill is the rotisserie system, included with the built-in chain motor and rear infrared burner for a consistent, continuous turn without the need for your constant supervision.

All of Alfresco’s years of research and experience of building high quality grills can be seen in this product.

The ALXE 36 uses commercial grade stainless steel so you know this grill is built to last, plus there are no mechanical fasteners and all the seams are hand-welded together to perfection.

Overall, the ALXE 36 is a great grill that has clearly been put together with top of the line manufacturing processes. 

The amazing features of the ALXE 36 doesn’t stop there - all hot and cold spots are eliminated thanks to the 5 way heat distributing ceramic briquettes, meaning that there is an even heat across all three burners so every food placed on this grill can be grilled to perfection.

One feature we love (it's included on all Alfresco grills) is the pull out drawer where you can ignite a small amount of charcoal or wood to create smoke and flavor your food.

The ALXE 36 is also field convertible between natural gas or propane so you can change your fuel source if you ever need to. Electronic spark igniters quickly fire up your grill and get going! 

All of these features make the ALXE 36 a great choice of grill if you want a smooth, easy grilling experience that is super convenient and capable of cooking a range of foods using different methods.

This means you can customize your outdoor grilling experience to match your needs every single time. 

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Alfresco ALXE 30 Inch Built-In Gas Grill With Rotisserie

The Alfresco ALXE 30 inch built-in gas grill is the smallest in Alfresco’s ALXE line of outdoor grills - but that doesn't mean a lack of grilling area or power.

Overall, there is approximately 542 square inches of main grilling space, which translates to being able to grill around 24 burgers at once.

Two powerful stainless steel main burners crank out 55,000 BTUs of heat, plenty of heat to sear perfect steaks every time.

Although you can definitely find another grill that has more space for you to cook more food simultaneously, the ALXE 30’s compact size does work in its favor in some ways.

Those with a smaller outdoor kitchen can easily save on space with this grill and still be able to cook plenty of food to serve to their family and guests. 

The ALXE 30 also has a few other features that can help you have a great grilling experience.

The grill is equipped with a rotisserie system that is integrated into its build. The rear rotisserie burner burns at 15,000 BTUs using infrared grilling technology. Plus, the rotisserie also features a built-in motor so it turns automatically for an even cook.

As mentioned, the main burners are capable of burning at 55,000 BTUs, a high temperature that broadens the range of methods and foods you can cook on this single grill. 

Thanks to the push button igniters, you also don’t have to spend ages trying to light your grill.

With just a quick press, the grill ignites using either propane or natural gas fuel, producing a hot flame instantly so you can get started with your grilling.

There are also halogen lights built-in to this grill so you can easily grill in areas with poor natural lighting or at night for a further improved grilling experience.

This makes the ALXE 30 incredibly easy to use and with some premium features that are sure to lead to great results.

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Alfresco ALXE 42 Inch Freestanding Gas Grill With Rotisserie

Our next Alfresco grill to review is the Alfresco ALXE 42 inch freestanding gas grill with rotisserie.

Now, this grill builds on a lot of the best features of the previous two Alfresco grills but there are some noticeable differences that make this unit a great choice for those in need of a freestanding grill. 

Not all of us have the luxury of building a permanent outdoor kitchen, or perhaps you want to be able to move around your grill so you can adjust your patio’s space to your needs.

Freestanding grills are known for their flexibility, which built-in grills cannot provide, so the ALXE 42 is a great choice for anyone who wants the option to relocate their Alfresco grill without issue.

Also, the ALXE 42 is a great choice for those with limited space on their patio - you can just move the grill away when it’s not in use and pull it out to somewhere more convenient when it is. 

What’s great about the ALXE 42 is that it does not compromise this flexibility with size.

It is the largest Alfresco grill on our list so far with 770 square inches of grilling area - so for those grilling enthusiasts who also enjoy cooking for large groups of people, this grill should definitely be on your radar.

Although the ALXE 42 still keeps those three same high performance main burners (and so maintains the same maximum power output of 82,500 BTUs), it also provides the same even heat distribution which allows for even temperatures and also has the same easy to use rotisserie system. 

One issue that a lot of freestanding grills often face is to do with durability.

Their flexibility often means that they are not as long lasting as built in grills, but Alfresco have clearly put their decades of experience to good use here and have countered this downside to freestanding grills by building their ALXE 42 with the most durable materials possible.

It’s clearly well built with the same expert craftsmanship as the previous grills, plus the corrosion resistant materials are used in all areas of this grill including in the cooking controls.

This makes the ALXE 42 way more durable than other freestanding grills. 

The ALXE 42 also has another trick up its sleeve that makes it stand out against the competition - its Signature Taste smoking system that provides a dedicated burner and drawer so you can infuse your food with an amazing smoky aroma and taste.

Just pop some wood chunks in the appropriate drawer and watch how the integrated smoking system gets to work in no time, leaving you with some delicious food that features that classic smokey barbecue flavor. 

This makes the ALXE 42 a great grill for professional grilling enthusiasts who really want to push the boundaries with their grill.

Now, those who purchase the ALXE 42 can infuse their meals with a classic smoky aroma that just screams traditional American barbecue.

With so much grilling space and the ability to move around for extra convenience, it’s no surprise that this grill is one of Alfresco’s best!

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Alfresco ALXE 42 Inch Freestanding Gas Grill With Rotisserie On Refrigerated Base

Another version of the freestanding ALXE 42 is this version that comes with a massive key difference. 

This grill has all the greatness of the original ALXE 42 - the three commercial grade main burners made from stainless steel, the refractive 5 way heat distributing briquettes that allows for even temperatures across all 770 square inches of grilling area.

Plus the built-in rotisserie system with working motor rotation, and even the Signature Taste smoking system that allows your food to feature the classic smoky barbecue taste. 

All of this is available in the ALXE 42 but this model has a refrigerated base cabinet, with two extra drawers for normal storage.

This opens up a lot of doors when it comes to versatility and use - you can store anything in this refrigerated compartment to fresh meat to a few cans of beer you want to keep chilled for your meal.

No longer will you have to keep making trips back to your indoor kitchen to access your refrigerator. Instead, just bring everything out with you so you can stay with your grill for additional safety and better results with your grilling.

So, the many ways you can use your Alfresco grill just increases with this neat extra feature! 

The additional refrigeration storage in the base does not add to the weight of this grill either as it still weighs the same 395 lbs as the previous ALXE 42 without the refrigerated base.

So, you won’t be sacrificing anything more like size or weight just to enjoy this additional feature.

The ALXE 42 with the refrigerated base also keeps the same sleek, professional design and all the grilling features you would need in an excellent, high quality grill. 

So, if you want more options when it comes to using your Alfresco grill, then the ALXE 42 with the refrigerated base can allow you to store more important ingredients in your grill so they are close at hand, improving your grilling experience and making the whole process a lot easier.

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Alfresco ALXE 56 Inch Built-In Gas Grill With Rotisserie And Side Burner

And finally, we have reached the largest Alfresco ALXE grill of them all - the ALXE 56 inch built-in gas grill with rotisserie and side burner. 

If you are someone who loves outdoor cooking and grilling and you want all the possible features available, then this is definitely the best grill for you. We are not joking when we say it literally has everything you can dream of in a grill. 

Refrigerated base? It’s an option you can choose or just stick with the original under grill storage. Either way, you have the ability to choose which kind of base is best for you and your needs.

Precise, corrosion resistant controls with great accuracy? 5 way heat distribution thanks to the briquettes?

A built-in rotisserie system? Heavy duty stainless steel grill grates for longevity and durability? Alfresco’s Signature Taste smoking system to widen the tastes and aromas of your food?

It’s all there in this single built-in grill! 

But, the ALXE 56 also brings something new to the table with the addition of a high performance, integrated side burn that opens up so many possibilities when it comes to your outdoor cooking and grilling.

Side burners are an excellent feature to have in a grill because they allow you to cook on different heats.  Plus, you can easily make side sauces or make use of dishes made in pots and pans.

This means you can cook your meat on any of the three high quality main burners on a high heat while simultaneously grilling your corn on the cob or sauteing your peppers on a much lower heat.

This prevents you from burning one type of food or undercooking the other, so you can achieve the perfect meal! 

Although the ALXE 56 still retains the same 770 square inches of grilling area (which is ideal for large gatherings anyway) despite the additional width of  the unit, the addition of a side burner just opens up so many doors and can make your outdoor cooking experience so much more pleasurable and stress-free. 

This grill from Alfresco really is the dream grill for every outdoor chef! 

Final Thoughts

And those were our reviews of Alfresco and five of their top products! 

As you can clearly see, Alfresco is a company that manufactures some of the best outdoor grills available on the market.

This is why they have made their ways into so many showrooms across the states - their products are the result of many decades of research and experience, making them some of the finest available to purchase. 

Their expert craftsmanship, the high quality materials used to create them, and the many useful and amazing features they flaunt all trickle down into the price tag of each unit.

However, if you want a commercial grade, professional outdoor grill, then they are well worth the cost. 

There’s no arguing that Alfresco’s grills are some of the best in the business and it’s easy to see why so many hardcore outdoor chefs choose this brand to go with for their gas grill.

Each varies from the other in terms of size and features so there is definitely something for everybody with Alfresco’s grills.

Whether you are short on patio space or want every possible grilling feature available, there is an Alfresco grill for you. 

So, think about what you want from your outdoor grill and take a look at our reviews above to check out which Alfresco grill would best suit your needs.

If you are looking for something with a lot of specific specifications and requirements, then just browse the Alfresco brand to check out all of their other grills.

Their range is absolutely massive so there is bound to be a grill available for you. 

Good luck!

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