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.
When looking for the ultimate backyard upgrade in the Steel City, finding the right equipment is crucial. There are several brick-and-mortar locations to buy a grill in Pittsburgh, but the traditional showroom experience often comes with markups and logistical headaches. Shopping online for a grill like the Arteflame means investing in materials (like Corten steel) rather than a retailer's overhead. The local options stack up as follows against the online alternative in 2026.
Buying a grill in Pittsburgh means choosing between a hearth-and-patio showroom and a direct-to-consumer online store that ships a grill straight to your door without the showroom markup.
The top options available to Pittsburgh-area shoppers compare as follows:
The buying experience compares as follows across all three, to help you decide where to invest your money.
| Retailer | Price | Searing Capability | Maintenance | Social Design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Fireplace and Patioplace | High (showroom overhead) | Standard gas grate | Regular burner/igniter upkeep | Traditional cart grill, one cook faces away from guests |
| Pool City | Medium-High | Standard gas/pellet | Routine cleaning, propane refills | Traditional cart grill layout |
| Arteflame Online | Direct, no markup | 1,000°F+ solid steel center | Simple steel cooktop, no burners or grates to replace | Round design, cook faces guests |
Standard grates leave most of the cooking surface open, so heat and juice escape instead of searing the meat — a solid steel cooktop closes that gap.
You can absolutely get steakhouse-quality results in your Pittsburgh backyard without a commercial kitchen. The secret is in the heat transfer.
The Arteflame is built around solving a specific problem with standard grates: temperature control and versatility. Here's why the flat-top design works:
Pro Tip: Stocking up on bulk ingredients for your first cook? The Costco warehouses in Robinson Township and at The Waterfront in West Homestead are both easy stops for a Pittsburgh-area griller.
An Arteflame grill changes the dynamic of hosting. On a traditional grill, the "chef" is stuck staring at a wall or the corner of the deck while everyone else mingles. The Arteflame's round design invites friends to stand around the fire, feel the warmth, and take part in the cooking. It turns meal prep into a communal event — a welcome thing on a chilly Pittsburgh evening.