Artisan Grills Review 2026: American Eagle, Artisan Series & Professional
Artisan grills are made in USA grills, built by Alfresco in Industry, California. They use the same 18-8, 304 stainless steel as Alfresco's own grills, from the same factory, at roughly half the cost. We sell all three series and design outdoor kitchens around them, so this review is based on the spec sheets, our installs and what owners tell us after a season of cooking.
On this page
Verdict ·
How we scored it ·
What owners say ·
Which series ·
How they cook ·
Build quality ·
Prices ·
Warranty ·
Plan your island ·
vs the competition ·
Who should buy ·
FAQ
Our Verdict
Artisan Gas Grills
American Eagle · Artisan Series · Professional · 26″ to 42″ · Built-In or Cart
The best-built gas grill under $4,000 we sell. 18-8 304 stainless, 20,000 BTU U-burners and ceramic briquettes, made in the USA by Alfresco. You give up the smoker drawer and factory Sear Zone of the parent brand; you keep the construction.
How we scored it
4.5/5
Overall Rating
Category
Grade
Why
Value
4.5
Alfresco-level steel and burners at roughly half the cost.
Design & Style
4.6
Commercial engineering in a sleek, retro-classic stainless look.
Construction
4.5
18-8, 304 stainless body and double-walled hood, built in California.
Innovation
4.3
Lights, rear burner and sear option, but no digital temp or probe.
Even Heat
5.0
Ceramic briquettes spread heat wall to wall, no cold spots.
High Heat
4.5
Sears hard; indirect briquettes just preheat a bit slower.
Minimum Flare-Ups
4.8
Briquettes catch and vaporize drippings before they flame.
Temperature Range
4.0
Low to high, but briquettes hold heat so it adjusts slower.
Customer Service
4.5
Backed by SES, Alfresco's parent, with US-based support.
Warranty
4.0
15 yr burners, 10 yr body, 3 yr briquettes; no labor.
What stands out
20,000 BTU
U-Burners
Flame on three sides for full coverage and fine control
18-8 304
Stainless Steel
US-made commercial grade, inside and out
3 Ways
To Cook More
Rotisserie, infrared rear burner, Sear Zone option
15 / 10 / 3
Years Covered
Burners, grill body, briquette trays
Made in
The USA
Built by Alfresco in Industry, California
Things to consider
Where it fits
✓A first luxury outdoor kitchen on a $2,000–$4,000 grill budget
✓Islands with no electrical: the American Eagle runs on a 9V battery
✓Rotisserie cooks: the Professional includes the kit and rear burner
✓Buyers who want US-made 304 stainless without the Alfresco price
Know before you buy
•Briquettes mean indirect heat: preheat and temperature changes take a little longer
•No smoker drawer or included Sear Zone; that is the step up to Alfresco
•Largest size is 42″; no heat-zone separators between burners
•Labor is not covered under warranty
Cost range: $2,105 (American Eagle 26″ built-in) to $5,249 (Professional 42″ cart). Marine Armour coated versions run higher.
The Professional 42″ (ARTP-42) built into a customer island with the Artisan pizza oven, refrigerator and storage.
What Owners and Testers Say
Before our own take, here is what comes up again and again in owner forums and independent tests.
- Even heat. Owners on r/OutdoorKitchens point to the 20,000 BTU U-burners under pyramid ceramic briquettes: no hot or cold spots, and the same result every cook.
- Flavor without a smoker box. Drippings hit the hot briquettes and vaporize back onto the food. Owners describe it as a smoky, steakhouse taste from a gas grill.
- The hood. BBQ Outlets' expert review singles out the spring-assisted, double-walled hood. It lifts with one finger.
- US build. BBQGuys scores it 4.1/5 and leads with the 304 stainless body, the briquette system and American manufacturing.
- Cool knobs. An air-cooled control panel pulls air across the front of the grill, so the knobs and bullnose stay comfortable with the hood closed at full heat.
Which Artisan Series Is Right for You?
All three series share the same firebox, burners, briquettes, grates and hood. What changes is electrical: ignition, lights and the rear rotisserie burner. Pick by what your island can power and how much you roast.
Every model is also sold on a cart. Freestanding versions add $900–$1,100.
How Artisan Grills Cook
Each U-burner is 304 stainless with two rows of double-lanced ports on three sides, so flame runs the full depth of the firebox instead of a strip down the middle. Above the burners sits a locking tray of pyramid ceramic briquettes. They soak up heat, radiate it evenly across the grates, and vaporize drippings for flavor.
The grates are 5/16″ electro-polished stainless rod. Less surface area touches the food, so delicate items release instead of sticking, and cleanup is a brush, not a scraper.
For steakhouse searing, the optional ART-ISB infrared sear burner ($429) is a 20,000 BTU ceramic burner that swaps in for a standard U-burner on the 32″ and 36″ grills and cooks up to 50% faster. Keep the flat briquette tray for everything else.
Build Quality: What “Made in the USA” Means Here
Every grill ships from Alfresco's factory in Industry, California. The body is 304 (18-8) stainless steel, mostly 16 gauge, where many grills at this cost use thinner 201 or 430 stainless that rusts near salt or pool chemicals.
The details hold up too: ignition wiring is sleeved in silicone rated to 600°F, the hood is double-walled with a stainless spring assist, and the control panel is air-cooled so electronics behind it live longer. Owners near the coast can order any model with the Marine Armour ceramic coating.
Every Artisan grill is part of our American made gas grills collection. To see how it stacks up against other US-built brands, read our guide to the best American made BBQ grills.
18-8 304 stainless
Pyramid ceramic briquettes
Electro-polished grates
600°F-rated wiring
Prices and Value
The brand sits in the gap between imported mid-range grills and true luxury grills. Built-in heads run $2,105 to $4,139; carts $3,055 to $5,249. A comparable Alfresco ALXE starts above $5,000. Current pricing as of October 2026; the product pages are always live.
Warranty Coverage
Coverage is by component rather than one blanket term. The parts that cost the most to replace carry the longest coverage. Labor is not included, and the original-owner terms below drop to one year if the grill changes hands.
Plan the Island Around It
Most of our customers for these grills are building a full outdoor kitchen, so three things to settle before the grill is ordered:
- Insulated jacket. Required if the island is wood-framed or any combustible material. One per size: ARTIJ-26, ARTIJ-32, ARTIJ-36, ARTIJ-42.
- Power. Artisan Series and Professional need a 110V outlet at the grill for ignition and lights. American Eagle runs on a 9V battery.
- Matching storage. The same factory makes doors, drawers, trash centers, a drop-in ice bin and a beverage center in the same 304 stainless. See the full Artisan outdoor kitchen collection.
Free outdoor kitchen design.
Send us your dimensions and we will lay out the grill, storage and cutouts at no charge. Call Matt, the owner, at 888-678-3530 or start a design online.
How It Compares to Blaze, TrueFlame and Alfresco
At this cost the usual shortlist is Blaze Premium LTE+, TrueFlame and this one. Blaze and TrueFlame give you four burners for the money and heat-zone separators; this grill gives you a US-built 304 body, ceramic briquettes and the longer burner coverage. If you cook for crowds and want zones, look at Blaze. If you want the grill to outlast the island, this one. If your budget stretches further, see our best high-end grills of 2026 picks.
The step up: Alfresco. Same factory, same steel, plus 27,500 BTU burners, a built-in smoker drawer, a 120 lb-ft rotisserie and a lifetime stainless warranty, from about $5,000. Our Alfresco vs Artisan comparison goes line by line.
Who Should Buy One, and Who Shouldn't
Buy it if
✓ You are building a permanent outdoor kitchen and want a grill that will not be replaced in five years
✓ You want US-made 304 stainless under $4,000
✓ Even heat and briquette flavor matter more than burner count
✓ Your island has no electrical (American Eagle)
✓ You want US-made 304 stainless under $4,000
✓ Even heat and briquette flavor matter more than burner count
✓ Your island has no electrical (American Eagle)
Look elsewhere if
✗ You want a smoker drawer, Sear Zone and lifetime coverage built in: step up to the parent brand
✗ You need four or five burners with zone separators: Blaze
✗ You need a 48″ or 56″ head
✗ You are shopping on cost alone
✗ You need four or five burners with zone separators: Blaze
✗ You need a 48″ or 56″ head
✗ You are shopping on cost alone
Artisan Grill Reviews: Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes Artisan grills?
Alfresco. Artisan is Alfresco's second brand, designed by the same engineers and built in the same factory in Industry, California.
Are Artisan grills made in the USA?
Yes. Every grill, cart and storage piece is fabricated in California from 304 stainless steel. See all our made in USA grill brands.
How many BTUs do the burners put out?
Each U-burner is rated 20,000 BTU, so 40,000 total on the 26″ and 60,000 on the 32″, 36″ and 42″. Professional models add a 15,000 BTU rear infrared burner.
What is the warranty?
15 years on the burners, 10 years on stainless components, 3 years on ceramic briquette trays and 1 year on ignition, rotisserie motor and thermometer. Labor is not covered.
Do I need an insulated jacket?
Only if the island is built from wood or another combustible material. Masonry, steel-stud and concrete islands do not need one.
American Eagle or Professional?
They cook the same. Choose American Eagle if you have no outlet at the island or want the lowest cost. Choose Professional for the included rotisserie, rear infrared burner, lights and the 42″ size.
Ready to pick yours?
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