Alfresco Grills Review: Are Alfresco Grills Good? ALXE and AIPG Lineup, Specs, and Who Should Buy
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Time to read 16 min
If you are shopping for a luxury grill, Alfresco belongs on your short list. This review covers both current lines: the Alfresco ALXE gas grill, the proven platform the brand has refined for more than two decades, and the new AIPG, Alfresco's smart, direct-heat grill. Both are Alfresco gas grills designed for serious outdoor cooks, and both come as a built-in head for an outdoor kitchen or freestanding on a cart.
We sell these grills and design outdoor kitchens around them every season, so this review is based on real specs, real projects and what customers tell us after their first summer with one. Alfresco also makes side burners, pizza ovens and refrigeration, but this review focuses on the grills, the products most buyers start with.
Are Alfresco Grills Good? Our Verdict on the ALXE and AIPG
Yes. Alfresco grills are among the best-built gas grills you can buy. They are made in California from commercial-grade 304 stainless steel with hand-welded seams, and every grill includes a rotisserie, a dedicated smoker burner and an optional 1,500Ā°F infrared Sear Zone. The trade-offs are price, no 48-inch size, and a lighter rotisserie on the new AIPG.
Quick Verdict
In a word: outstanding. These grills are made like restaurant equipment, and it shows in the incredible attention to detail: welded seams instead of screws, wiring rated for extreme heat, and cooking tools other brands sell as accessories integrated into the firebox.
Choose the ALXE for proven, even heat from ceramic briquettes, the 120 lb rotisserie (ALXE-42) and the widest choice of sizes and carts.
Choose the AIPG for direct heat, Bluetooth temperature monitoring, a wireless meat probe and dual smoker drawers.
Skip it if your budget is under about $5,000 or you need a 48" grill.
Shop Alfresco Gas GrillsALXE GrillsAIPG Grills
Where many premium grills center on one standout feature, Alfresco is engineered as a complete system. You can sear, roast on the rotisserie, smoke with real hardwood and grill on the same appliance without buying add-ons. That is why, when customers ask us for a grill that will outlast the island around it, our answer is often Alfresco. If none of the trade-offs above are deal-breakers, it is a choice you'll never regret.
Built Like Restaurant Equipment: Materials and Welding
Alfresco was started by people who spent their careers making commercial kitchen equipment, and the residential grills are built the same way. The first thing you notice is the weight and fit of everything. The body is made from commercial-grade 304 (18-8) stainless steel, the grade used in restaurant kitchens because it resists corrosion, and the seams are welded rather than held together with mechanical fasteners, so there are no screws to loosen or rust over time.
What "304 stainless" really means
Many grill brands advertise 304 stainless, but the words do not tell you where the steel came from or how consistently it was made. 304 gets its corrosion resistance from roughly 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Cheaper grills often use 430 or 443 stainless, which contain little or no nickel; a magnet sticks to them, and they show rust at the welds and hinges within a few seasons. Alfresco specifies US-sourced, commercial-grade 304 throughout the grill, including the burners, and offers an optional Marine Armourā¢ finish for homes near salt water. If you live on the coast, 304 plus Marine Armour is the combination to ask for.
Precision fabrication, not an assembly line
Alfresco's factory in the City of Industry, California, runs some of the most advanced stainless steel fabrication equipment in the industry, and its craftsmen have been welding commercial kitchens since the 1980s. Alfresco was the first grill maker to produce a welded and polished seamless hood. That matters because a seam is where water sits and corrosion starts; a hood with no seam has nowhere for it to begin.
The detail continues where you cannot see it. Wiring is protected by DuraSleeveā¢ silicone sleeving rated to 600Ā°F, and the SafeTouchā¢ air-cooled control panel pulls cool air across the front of the grill so the knobs stay comfortable to touch during a long cook. These are the parts that fail first on cheaper grills, and a big reason these grills are so durable.
Cooking grates are 3/8" round stainless rod with an electro-polished finish, and a three-position warming rack tucks out of the way when the rotisserie is in use.
Burners and Cooking Performance
This is where the two lines differ most, and it is the most important decision you will make. Each uses three main burners, but they deliver heat very differently.
Heat-up time and holding heat
Shoppers compare BTU numbers, but the number that matters is how fast a grill reaches cooking temperature and whether it stays there once the hood goes up. Many grills with big BTU ratings take fifteen minutes to preheat and lose heat the moment the hood opens. An Alfresco comes up to temperature quickly and holds high heat with the hood open, which is what you need for a crowd, when the lid is up as often as it is down. On the ALXE-42, each Accufire burner is rated at 27,500 BTU, more than the 18,500 BTU infrared rotisserie burner on the same grill and more than the dedicated sear burners on many competing grills. That is why the standard burners alone put a hard sear on a steak.
ALXE: Accufire burners and ceramic briquettes
The ALXE uses three 18-SR stainless steel Accufireā¢ U-burners, 82,500 BTU across 770 square inches of grilling area on the 42". Above the flames sits a tray of refractive ceramic briquettes that absorb the heat and radiate it back evenly, eliminating hot and cold spots. The result is steady, forgiving heat that holds temperature well for roasts, chicken and long, slow sessions.
AIPG: direct heat with CoreFlame
The AIPG is a direct cooking grill. Its three CoreFlameā¢ H-burners fire up through Thermaglassā¢ radiant shields instead of a briquette bed, putting more direct heat on the food while the shields spread it evenly and virtually eliminate flare-ups. Drippings run off into removable trays below. It also uses always-on ignition: hot-surface igniters relight automatically if the flame goes out.
Which style is better depends on how you grill. If you want the classic, even radiant heat Alfresco earned its reputation on, the ALXE is the safe choice. If you grill hot and fast and want direct-flame searing with fewer flare-ups, the AIPG is the upgrade. We break down every difference in our Alfresco ALXE vs AIPG comparison.
Sear Zone infrared burner
Both lines accept the optional infrared Sear Zoneā¢, which reaches 1,500Ā°F in about four minutes and cooks up to 50% faster with virtually no flare-ups. On the ALXE it sits in a fixed position; on the AIPG it can drop into the left, center or right zone, and you can add more than one for a larger searing area.
Rotisserie and Smoker
Every model includes an integrated, chain-driven Mega-Driveā¢ rotisserie. The motor is hidden inside the grill body, out of the weather, and it runs whisper-quiet. Behind the spit, a flush-mounted ceramic infrared rear burner roasts evenly from the back of the firebox.
- ALXE: 18,500 BTU rear infrared burner, and the ALXE-42 rotisserie is rated for up to 120 lb of meat, enough for a whole prime rib or several chickens at once.
- AIPG: rated for up to 50 lb, with two spit positions: forward for large cuts and rear for smaller items closer to the infrared heat.
If the Alfresco rotisserie is a big reason you are buying, and you regularly cook large roasts or whole turkeys, the ALXE-42's 120 lb capacity is a clear advantage.
This is also one of the few names with a true integrated smoker. On the ALXE, the Signature Tasteā¢ system has its own 5,000 BTU stainless steel burner and a drawer for large wood chunks and herbs; vents release the smoke into the cooking zone. The AIPG doubles it with the Signature Taste X2ā¢ dual-drawer system, so you can add wood without opening the hood.
The New AIPG Series: What It Adds
The AIPG keeps the foundation that makes Alfresco great: 304 stainless steel, a chain-driven rotisserie, an integrated smoker, halogen work lights and the optional Sear Zone. What it changes is how the grill cooks and how you control it. Watch the direct-heat system in action:
- Direct-heat system: CoreFlame tubes under Thermaglass radiant shields in place of ceramic briquettes.
- Intelli-Tempā¢ smart grilling: Bluetooth connection to a free app with real-time temperatures, timers and protein presets, plus a backlit display that shows three heat zones and the probe.
- Sensa-Tekā¢ wireless probe: charges in a station inside the drawer.
- Signature Taste X2ā¢: two smoker drawers instead of one.
- LumaTouchā¢ knob lighting: more than 20 colors and 8 brightness levels, with knobs that change color as each zone heats up.
- Gravi-Liftā¢ hood: counter-balanced so it stays put at any position.
- More cooking space: 828 square inches total on the 36" and 987 on the 42".
See what is inside the AIPG drawer, and how every feature compares to the ALXE, in our ALXE vs AIPG breakdown, or shop the AIPG lineup.
Prismatic Powder Coat: Alfresco in 216 Colors
Most luxury grills come in one finish: brushed stainless. Alfresco offers ten standard prismatic powder coat colors and any of the 216 RAL Classic colors, applied to the front panel, control panel and cart doors. If your outdoor kitchen has a color direction, from countertop and cabinetry to tile and house trim, the grill can match it instead of fighting it.
Why Alfresco's powder coat holds up
Powder coat on a cheap grill is often a cosmetic layer over ordinary steel; once it chips, the steel beneath rusts. Alfresco applies its prismatic finish over the same 304 stainless used on the rest of the grill, so a scratch exposes stainless, not carbon steel. The coating is baked on, resists UV fading and cleans with soap and water. A few competitors offer two or three colors; none offer the full RAL range on a grill of this class.
Custom colors are built to order, so allow extra lead time. Call us at 888-678-3530 with a RAL number and we will quote it on any Alfresco gas grill.
Lineup, Sizes and Prices
Both the ALXE series and the AIPG series come as built-in heads or freestanding on a cart, in natural gas or propane. Prices below are starting prices at BBQ Kitchen Pros for the base grill head; Sear Zone, Marine Armourā¢, custom colors and carts add to the price.
ALXE-30ALXE
Main burners2 x 27,500 BTU
Total BTU55,000
Grilling area542 sq in
Rear IR burner15,000 BTU
Smoker burner5,000 BTU
Rotisserie120 lb
Heat systemAccufire + briquettes
From $5,169Shop ALXE-30
ALXE-36ALXE
Main burners3 x 27,500 BTU
Total BTU82,500
Grilling area660 sq in
Rear IR burner18,500 BTU
Smoker burner5,000 BTU
Rotisserie120 lb
Heat systemAccufire + briquettes
From $7,079Shop ALXE-36
ALXE-42ALXE
Main burners3 x 27,500 BTU
Total BTU82,500
Grilling area770 sq in
Rear IR burner18,500 BTU
Smoker burner5,000 BTU
Rotisserie120 lb
Heat systemAccufire + briquettes
From $7,885Shop ALXE-42
ALXE-56ALXE
Main burners3 x 27,500 BTU
Total BTU82,500 (+27,500 Sear Zone)
Grilling area973 sq in (All-Grill)
Rear IR burner15,000 BTU
Smoker burner5,000 BTU
Rotisserie120 lb
VersionsDeluxe (side burner) or All-Grill
From $9,439Shop ALXE-56
AIPG-36AIPG
Main burners3 CoreFlame
Total BTU69,000
Grilling area828 sq in
Rear IR burner14,000 BTU
SmokerDual drawers
Rotisserie50 lb, 2-position
Heat systemDirect + Thermaglass
From $10,499Shop AIPG-36
AIPG-42AIPG
Main burners3 CoreFlame
Total BTUNot published
Grilling area987 sq in
Rear IR burnerThermaglass IR
SmokerDual drawers
Rotisserie50 lb, 2-position
Heat systemDirect + Thermaglass
From $11,999Shop AIPG-42
Specs from Alfresco and dealer spec sheets; grills shown to scale. Prices are BBQ Kitchen Pros starting prices for the base built-in grill head.
The 56" ALXE comes two ways: the Deluxe with an integrated side burner, or the All-Grill with maximum cooking surface. Freestanding ALXE models sit on standard, deluxe or refrigerated carts, and the refrigerated cart puts cold storage right beside the grill. Shop by configuration: ALXE built-in, ALXE freestanding, AIPG built-in or AIPG freestanding. Planning a full outdoor kitchen? The brand also makes side burners, pizza ovens and outdoor refrigerators that match the grill.
Who Cooks on Alfresco
Before Alfresco made a residential grill, its founders built commercial kitchens, and that side of the business still runs. Alfresco's commercial equipment has been specified by Michelin-starred and James Beard-winning chefs including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck, and by national restaurant groups such as Houston's and The Cheesecake Factory. The grill in your backyard is built on the same production floor, with the same welding and the same 304 stainless. Few luxury grill brands can say their equipment is trusted in a professional kitchen; Alfresco can.
Alfresco Warranty
The ALXE carries one of the stronger warranties in the luxury category, and it includes labor, which is rare at this price:
| Coverage | What is covered |
|---|---|
| Lifetime (original purchaser) | Factory-made stainless parts, stainless burners, round cooking grids |
| 5 years | Structural integrity of briquette trays, cooking grids and drip pans |
| 2 years | All parts and labor for defects in materials or workmanship |
| 1 year | Other components, including igniters |
The AIPG carries a limited lifetime warranty. Ask us for the current warranty document for the exact model you are considering.
Installation and Ownership Tips
Whichever model you choose, a little planning up front keeps the install simple. Built-in heads need an exact cutout, so get the spec sheet before your outdoor kitchen is framed, not after. If the island is built from wood or another combustible material, Alfresco requires its insulated jacket (the AIJ-42 on the 42"); masonry and steel-frame islands usually do not need one.
Decide on natural gas or propane before ordering, because the grill ships set up for one fuel. A gas line costs more to run but means you never swap a tank, and it is what most of our permanent installs use. A wind guard is worth adding on open, breezy patios, and every grill should live under a fitted cover between sessions.
For upkeep, empty the grease trays regularly, brush the grates while warm, and wipe the stainless with the grain. Owners who do that tell us their grills still look close to new years later, which is exactly what you are paying for.
Accessories worth adding
These are the pieces we spec most often with an Alfresco. Each is model-specific, so order them with the grill.
Insulated Jacket (AIJ-42)Built-in
Why it matters: A stainless sleeve that sits between the grill and the island so heat never reaches the framing. You need it when the island is built from wood or any other combustible material. Masonry, concrete block and steel-frame islands normally do not.
Things to consider: Adds about an inch to the cutout on each side, so order it before the island is framed. Sized to the grill: 30, 36, 42 and 56.
$905View
Wind Guard (AWS-42)ALXE + AIPG
Why it matters: The most under-ordered Alfresco accessory. It keeps wind from pushing flames sideways, which matters on a grill this powerful: with the hood open, a crosswind can roll heat forward over the control panel. The guard keeps that heat in the firebox, protecting the knobs, igniters and wiring and keeping the cooking temperature steady.
Things to consider: Essential on open patios, rooftops and anywhere near the water. Model-specific; freestanding versions (AWS-30C and up) are available.
$569View
Premium Grill Cover (AGV-42-PREM)ALXE + AIPG
Why it matters: A fitted cover keeps pollen, rain and bird droppings off the stainless and the control panel between cooks. The AIPG ships with a standard cover; the ALXE does not.
Things to consider: Choose built-in or cart version to match your grill, and let the grill cool before covering it.
$249View
AIPG Sear Zone Kit (AIPG-SZK-42)AIPG
Why it matters: Drops a 1,500Ā°F infrared burner into the left, center or right zone of an AIPG, and you can add a second one for a wider searing area. If you skipped the SZ model, this is how you add it later.
Things to consider: AIPG only. On the ALXE the Sear Zone is factory-installed on SZ models and sits in a fixed position.
$999View
Griddle Insert (AGSQ-G)ALXE + AIPG
Why it matters: Turns part of the grate into a flat-top for breakfast, smash burgers, seafood and vegetables that would fall through the grates.
Things to consider: Fits both series. Season it like cast iron and store it dry.
$469View
Not sure which pieces your layout needs? Our design team specs the cutout, jacket and accessories with every Alfresco order at no charge.
How Alfresco Compares to Other Luxury Grills
Most buyers cross-shop three or four high-end names. Here is how we see it after selling them side by side. For the full field, see our best high-end luxury grills roundup and our best built-in gas grills guide.
Comparing Alfresco with a specific brand? We cover those matchups in their own guides: Alfresco vs Twin Eagles and Alfresco vs Artisan.
Alfresco and DCS
Now part of Fisher & Paykel, DCS is a respected name in kitchen appliances, and its outdoor models perform well. In the AlfrescoāDCS matchup, our pick wins on the completeness of its cooking system: chain-driven rotisserie with a hidden motor, a dedicated smoker burner, the optional 1,500Ā°F Sear Zone, 216 color options and parts-and-labor coverage. For a dedicated cook who will use those tools, it is the better buy.
Among everything we carry, Alfresco is bar none the most complete system for the money, even if it is not the cheapest.
Alfresco Grills Review Verdict: Who Should Buy One, and Who Should Skip It
Buy an Alfresco ifā¦
- You are planning a permanent backyard kitchen and want a grill that outlasts the island around it.
- You cook for groups and want a real rotisserie (the ALXE-42 handles up to 120 lb).
- You want an integrated smoker without buying a separate cooker.
- You need the grill to match a color scheme: 216 RAL custom colors.
- You live near the coast: 304 stainless steel plus optional Marine Armour protection.
- You want smart temperature control and a wireless probe (AIPG).
Skip it ifā¦
- Your budget for the grill is under about $5,000. Look at Blaze or Coyote first.
- You need a 48-inch grill. The lineup jumps from 42 to 56 inches.
- You want an AIPG but regularly roast very large cuts: its rotisserie is rated for 50 lb, so choose the ALXE.
- You want a small portable or tabletop grill. Every model here is full-size.
Shop All Alfresco Gas GrillsALXE GrillsAIPG Grills
More Alfresco Grill Reviews and Guides
Alfresco ALXE vs AIPG āEvery difference, side by sideAlfresco vs Twin Eagles āTwo California-made premium grills comparedAlfresco vs Artisan āWhich premium grill fits your projectBest Built-In Gas Grills āOur top picks across every brand
Alfresco Grill Review FAQ
Is an Alfresco grill worth the money?
For a permanent outdoor kitchen, yes. You are paying for hand-welded 304 stainless, a chain-driven rotisserie, a dedicated smoker burner and 2 years of parts and labor coverage, none of which the mid-priced brands include. If you cook a few times a month on a patio, a Blaze or Coyote will serve you well for less.
Where are Alfresco grills made?
Alfresco grills are built in the City of Industry, California, by a company whose founders spent decades making commercial kitchen equipment for restaurants. All products are manufactured in the USA.
How hot does an Alfresco grill get?
The ALXE-42's three Accufire burners are rated at 27,500 BTU each, 82,500 BTU in total, and the optional infrared Sear Zone reaches about 1,500Ā°F in four minutes. The grill comes up to temperature quickly and holds high heat well, even with the hood open.
What is the Alfresco warranty?
On the ALXE, Alfresco-made stainless parts, stainless burners and round cooking grids are covered for life for the original purchaser; briquette trays, grids and drip pans for 5 years; all parts and labor for 2 years; and other components such as igniters for 1 year. The AIPG carries a limited lifetime warranty.
Does Alfresco make a freestanding grill?
Yes. Both the ALXE and AIPG come as built-in grill heads for an outdoor kitchen island or as freestanding grills on a cart. The ALXE is also offered on deluxe and refrigerated carts. Shop ALXE freestanding or AIPG freestanding grills.
Can Alfresco grills be powder coated in custom colors?
Yes. Alfresco offers ten standard prismatic powder coat colors and any of the 216 RAL Classic colors on the grill's front panel and cart doors. The powder coat is applied over stainless steel, so the structure underneath stays corrosion resistant. See the color gallery above.
Which chefs use Alfresco?
Alfresco's commercial division has built kitchen equipment for chefs including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck, as well as national restaurant groups. The residential grills use the same construction methods.
Is an Alfresco grill good for coastal homes?
Yes. 304 stainless steel resists salt air far better than the 430-grade steel used on budget grills, and Alfresco's optional Marine Armour finish adds further protection for homes near the ocean.
How much does an Alfresco grill cost?
At BBQ Kitchen Pros, built-in grill heads start around $5,169 for the ALXE-30, with the ALXE-42 around $7,885 and the AIPG-36 from $10,499. Freestanding cart models cost more, and Sear Zone, Marine Armour and custom colors add to the price.