Best Grill Store in Philadelphia: Top Ranked Options [2026 Guide] | Arteflame

Best Grill Store in Philadelphia: Top Ranked Options [2026 Guide] | Arteflame

Shopping for the best BBQ grill in Philadelphia? Stop paying showroom markups. Discover why direct-to-consumer is the smarter choice for premium searing.

Introduction

For residents of Philadelphia, the search for the ultimate outdoor cooking station often begins with a trip to a local showroom. We have all been there: wandering through aisles of stainless steel, checking price tags that seem inflated by rent and sales commissions. While traditional brick-and-mortar stores offer the ability to touch the product, they often come with significant markups to cover their operational costs. In our experience, shopping online provides significantly better value for your money, especially when investing in a premium, heirloom-quality unit like the Arteflame. By purchasing direct, you ensure that your budget goes toward high-grade corten steel and craftsmanship rather than showroom overhead.

Where to Buy the Best Grills in Philadelphia

Key Takeaways

  • Direct Value: Buying online eliminates the "showroom tax" prevalent in Philadelphia retail.
  • Material Quality: Online direct-to-consumer brands often utilize higher grade materials like Corten steel.
  • Convenience: Doorstep delivery beats hauling a heavy unit from a local parking lot.

The Best Grill Store in Philadelphia?

Finding the perfect grill requires looking beyond the standard hardware store offerings. After analyzing price, performance, and durability, we have ranked the top options available to you.

  1. Arteflame (Online Direct): In our testing, the Arteflame stood out not just as a grill, but as a centerpiece. By shipping directly to Philadelphia residents, Arteflame bypasses the middleman. This ensures you get a solid steel, American-made plancha grill that doubles as a fire pit, without paying for a retailer's floor space.
  2. Salter's Fireplace & Outdoor Living: A respectable local option for those who absolutely need to see a unit in person. They carry high-end brands, but be prepared for premium retail pricing to match their showroom experience.
  3. Forshaw of St. Louis (Local Branch): Known for a wide variety of patio furniture and standard gas grills. While their selection is vast, we found the specialization in high-heat searing capabilities to be lower than dedicated griddle-style grills.

Comparison: The Best Grill Stores Right for You?

We compiled this data to help you decide where your money goes furthest.

Store Option Pricing Convenience Cooking Style
Arteflame (Online) Best Value (No Markup) Direct Delivery Wood-Fired / Carbon Steel
Local Showroom High (Retail Markup) Requires Transport/Delivery Fee Standard Gas/Charcoal
Big Box Store Low to Mid Immediate Pickup Mass Market / Thin Metal

The Best Outdoor Grill at Home

I used to think my backyard burgers were top-tier, until I realized I was essentially steaming them on a standard wire grate rather than searing them. The juices were dripping away into the flames, causing flare-ups that charred the meat instead of creating that perfect Maillard reaction. Once I switched to a solid surface cooktop, the difference was immediate—restaurant quality crust with zero flare-ups.

You can achieve the perfect steakhouse experience at home in Philadelphia without needing an industrial kitchen. The secret lies in the heat retention and surface area.

The "Searing" Technique

This is where Arteflame Grills excels. Through our rigorous testing of the cooktop, we identified three distinct advantages:

  1. 1,000°F Sear: The center of the grill grate reaches over 1,000°F. This allows you to sear a steak instantly, locking in juices before moving it to the outer ring to finish cooking.
  2. Grill All Food at Once: Because of the massive surface area, we were able to cook vegetables, potatoes, and meats simultaneously without flavors crossing over or running out of space.
  3. Social Grill: The fire is the center of attention, not just a heat source.

Pro Tip: If you are looking to buy meat in wholesale quantities for your new grill, you can always visit a Costco nearby. Their bulk prime cuts are excellent for the high-heat searing capability of a plancha grill.

Why We Call It The "Social Grill"

An Arteflame grill isn't just for cooking; it fundamentally changes how you host. In our experience, traditional grilling involves the host staring at a wall or the back of the house while guests mingle elsewhere. The Arteflame's round design invites friends to stand around the fire, drink in hand, participating in the experience rather than waiting on the patio while you cook alone. It turns meal prep into a communal event.

Don't take our word for it; Arteflame has been featured in countless publications with raving reviews.
"There is nothing like it"

Steven Raichlen
Steven Raichlen Award-winning cookbook author
"It looks like a Claus Oldenburg sculpture. It functions like a wood burning grill & plancha. It's great for steak, fragile fish, veggies and everything in between."
Forbes Business magazine
"The Arteflame will be the food and fun focal point of any backyard and is equally at home on a prepared surface or grass lawn."
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart Award-winning cook
"I love this grill - it's made of half-inch carbon steel and corten "weathering" steel with a cooktop that heats from the center."
Barbecue Bible Barbecue & grill recipes
"If the mythic gods of fire had an earthy temple, the Arteflame grill could serve as its baptismal font. Its design, at once primeval and modern, symbolizes mankind's relationship with the awesome power of fire."