Pellet grills make for a great compromise - push button ease of use, very accurate temp control and good wood flavor with no gas or chemical flavoring. Traeger - The original and still a good value. Not as good as a MAK or Twin Eagles but a lot less expensive. Memphis - Stay away. Some years ago they were the best available but they've had very significant reliability issues the past few years. MAK - Generally considered the best with the demise of Memphis. Similar high price as Memphis. Doesn't get as hot as Memphis but provides better smoke and most importantly is reliable. Very popular with serious BBQ folks. Twin Eagles - Generally good but a few people have had issues so doesn't appear as reliable as MAK but much more reliable than Memphis. Both grilling and smoking are decent. More aesthetically appealing to many people than MAK.

Hope I can jump in. I'm also in the market and have three requirements: the entire grill needs to be able to hold up to salt air near the coast, it needs to have infrared main burners as an option, and it needs to be made in in America (when spending this kind of money it sure better be supporting American jobs). Fire Magic is made in the US and has a good warranty but was not readily apparent if it offers IR. Lynx covers the first two but their website does not list where they are made. FB announced a CA factory 23 hours ago. I just messaged them on FB and they confirmed all of their grills are made in the USA - and that they now need to update their website. So aside from Lynx, does anyone have additional suggestions for rust adverse, IR, and US made? Thanks.

Just went to BBQ Galore in Orange County and got a history lesson on both Alfresco and Twin Eagles. Seems that both companies started out by establishing Lynx Grills in 1996. The designer and engineer left Lynx and started Twin Eagles in 1999 and designed and manufactured the high end grills for Ducane Meridian, CalSpas CalFlame, Maytag and Jade Dynasty. Twin Eagles came out with their own grill in 2003 based on their knowledge and experience from building the other grills. Alfresco was started by two salesmen of Lynx in 2001. Their design and engineering is based on the Lynx grill. I would definitely choose the Twin Eagles grill vs. the Alfresco grill. Their knowledge and expertise in the grilling industry seems to surpass Alfresco. Also, they have a really cool spring that makes the front hood easy to lift!

Today's mail brought the Frontgate catalog, which featured their professional grill. It looks capable and seems nicely priced at $2,299. I wish I could see one locally, as there's no way I'd make such a major purchase sight unseen. Is anyone here familiar with this grill? Does anyone know who makes it? I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's another product of the Lynx factory. Unmatched Construction:  Non-corrosive 304 stainless steel will endure for seasons  Painted 38" ceramic brick firebox  Distinctive granite work surface is highly scratch-resistant  Double-walled hood construction guards against heat discoloration  Heavy-duty locking casters provide safe and secure mobility  10-year warranty on primary burners Peerless Performance:  107,000 total BTUs  Four 13,000 BTU cast stainless steel primary burners  Two 12,000 BTU side burners  18,000 BTU infrared searing burner  13,000 BTU infrared rear burner with included rotisserie kit Premium Features:  Push-and-turn electronic igniters for effortless grill lighting  Convection-style cooking vents for enhanced heat distribution  Stainless steel warming shelf removes for easy cleaning  Spacious utility drawers store your cooking utensils  Full-width stainless steel drip pan for easy grease management  Commercial-quality stainless steel grill grates  Under-hood interior lights keep you cooking after dark  Included all-weather vinyl cover guards grill from the elements Here is a link that might be useful: Frontgate Professional Grill