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.
Savannah's coastal humidity is brutal on outdoor equipment, which changes the math on where you should buy a grill. A cheap gas unit with thin steel grates will rust out in a couple of seasons this close to the marsh air, so it's worth weighing buy-once durability against the lowest sticker price at a showroom. Local stores around town are fine for browsing propane tanks and starter charcoal, but for the grill itself—the piece you'll actually use every weekend—shopping direct from the manufacturer usually gets you a heavier-gauge, better-built unit without paying for a retailer's floor space. Here are the options in and around Savannah.
The best outdoor grill store for Savannah shoppers is a mix of one local appliance showroom worth visiting in person and a direct-to-consumer order for the grill itself—Livingood's on Skidaway Road for browsing, and Arteflame online for the heavy-duty centerpiece that will hold up to coastal humidity.
Livingood's Appliances & Bedding
Livingood's has been a family-owned Savannah fixture on Skidaway Road for decades, and its outdoor living section carries grills, smokers, pizza ovens, and outdoor griddles alongside its appliance floor. It's the one local stop in town where you can actually see outdoor cooking equipment in person before deciding what you want. Selection of true flat-top charcoal grills is limited, but staff are knowledgeable and it's worth the visit if you want to touch metal first.
Lowe's & The Home Depot (Abercorn Street)
Both big box chains have locations along the Abercorn Street corridor, and both stock a rotating lineup of gas and charcoal grills. They're the easiest option if you need a grill same-day or want propane tanks and grilling tools in the same trip. What you won't find here is a heavy-gauge, built-to-last cooktop—most of what's on the floor is thinner steel designed for a shorter lifespan, which matters more in Savannah's salt air than it would inland.
Arteflame (Online, Direct)
For the grill that becomes the actual centerpiece of your backyard, Arteflame ships directly to Savannah. You're getting a solid steel cooktop built to outlast the coastal climate, full warranty support, and no showroom markup baked into the price.
The options compare on price, performance, and upkeep:
| Store Option | Price | Searing Capability | Maintenance | Social Design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingood's | Mid-to-high | Varies by model | Depends on unit | Standard grill layout |
| Big Box (Lowe's/Home Depot) | Low-to-mid | Standard grate sear | Thinner steel, more upkeep | Standard grill layout |
| Arteflame (Online) | Direct pricing, no markup | 1,000°F+ center sear | Solid steel, no grates to scrub | Round, open-fire, built for gathering |
Open grates let heat dissipate between the bars, so meat tends to steam rather than sear; a solid steel cooking surface holds enough heat to trigger the Maillard reaction and produce a true crust.
You can get steakhouse-quality results at home in Savannah, but it takes the right tool. It's not just about heat; it's about heat retention and surface area.
The Arteflame works because it uses a solid steel cooktop that behaves like a cast iron skillet, but on a much bigger scale. Here's why this wins:
Pro Tip: Stocking up on bulk meat before a big cookout? The nearest Costco to Savannah is just over the county line in Pooler, about 15 minutes from downtown—their prime cuts are a solid way to break in a new grill.
Traditional grilling is a solitary act—the host faces a wall or the corner of the deck while guests mingle elsewhere. The Arteflame changes that. Its round, open-fire design invites friends to stand around the fire, drink in hand, watching the food cook. It turns meal prep into a communal event, which makes it the centerpiece for Savannah hospitality.