Crisp and Golden Mac and Cheese Cakes on the Grill
Turn yesterday's leftover macaroni into today's crispy, golden side dish with this easy wood-fired recipe.
Buffalo winters are hard on outdoor gear, and that includes grills. A big-box propane unit that rusts through by its third season is common here, which is why locals lean toward heavier, better-built cooktops. The following is a look at where Buffalo-area grill shoppers can buy in 2026, from specialty hearth shops in the northtowns to buying direct online.
Buying a grill in Buffalo means weighing a specialty showroom against a direct-to-consumer online order. Ordering online, such as from Arteflame, skips the showroom markup and ships a cooktop straight to your driveway; the northtowns have two specialty shops worth the drive if you want to see and touch a grill before you buy.
Local options for Buffalo-area buyers compare as follows:
| Retailer | Price | Cooking Surface | Maintenance | Layout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational Warehouse | Full retail | Standard grates (Weber, Big Green Egg) | Grates & burners need upkeep | Traditional lid-down design |
| Countryside Stove & Chimney | Premium retail | Standard grates (Blaze, Bull, Broil King) | Grates & burners need upkeep | Traditional lid-down design |
| Big-Box Store | Lowest upfront cost | Standard grates, mass market | Grates & burners need upkeep | Traditional lid-down design |
| Arteflame (Online) | No markup | Solid steel, 1,000°F+ center | No grates to replace | Open, fire-bowl design |
Standard grates let juices and heat escape through the open bars, which limits the deep, caramelized crust a solid steel surface produces.
Steakhouse results are achievable at home, but it takes a grill that can actually hold the heat. Most standard grate grills simply can't reach the temperatures a real sear requires.
Pro Tip: Buffalo is finally getting its first-ever Costco, opening this fall in Amherst on Niagara Falls Boulevard. Once it's open, a warehouse club run is one of the easiest ways to stock the freezer with ribeyes and briskets for a season of Arteflame cooking. Until then, Wegmans and your local butcher counter remain the better bet for bulk cuts.
The standard lid-down BBQ isolates the cook behind a wall of steel. The Arteflame flips that — its round, fire-bowl design invites friends to stand around the edge, drink in hand, cooking their own food alongside you instead of waiting on the patio. It turns dinner into an event instead of a chore.