Restaurant Roots, Built for Your Backyard: The Alfresco Story
Alfresco's founders didn't start out making backyard grills — they spent decades designing and fabricating commercial kitchen equipment for hotels, restaurant groups, and major food chains. In 1999, they brought that same manufacturing discipline to the residential market, launching Alfresco Open Air Culinary Systems out of City of Industry, California, where every grill is still made in the USA today. The hardware reflects that background: commercial-grade 304 stainless steel construction, precision heli-arc welded seams, and a track record of genuine industry firsts — including the original Sear Zone™, which was the first system to pair an infrared burner directly alongside conventional stainless steel grill burners, and the first full-length, dedicated under-mount smoker in the outdoor grill category. These weren't incremental updates; they came from engineers who already knew what demanding kitchen environments require.
We carry Alfresco because the specs hold up under scrutiny and the grill does exactly what it promises, cook after cook. Two features earn particular attention: the Signature Taste X2™ dual-drawer integrated smoking system channels hardwood or herb smoke through linear diffusing vents directly into the cooking zone — it's a full, dedicated smoker built into the grill body, not an afterthought tray. The Mega-Drive™ Rotisserie is a chain-driven, whisper-quiet motor rated for up to 50 lbs., paired with a rear Thermaglass™ infrared burner that delivers even, consistent heat across the full length of the spit. Beyond those two, Alfresco backs the whole system with a large catalog of drop-in accessories — commercial griddle plates, solid fuel inserts, steamer/fryer baskets, and indirect roasting pods — so the grill grows with how you cook rather than limiting it.
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