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.
Finding a serious grill in Virginia Beach means picking between a handful of local appliance counters and the fast-growing world of direct-to-consumer brands. It's tempting to walk into a showroom like East Coast Appliance and touch a unit before you buy, but the pricing pattern is a consistent one: brick-and-mortar retailers carry rent, staffing, and floor-inventory costs that get baked straight into the sticker price. Local options compare as follows to buying direct.
For Virginia Beach residents seeking premium performance, the Arteflame Online Shop is a strong pick. Cutting out the retail middleman gets you a heavy-gauge steel, wood-and-charcoal-fired grill delivered to your patio, with searing performance and versatility that local showrooms carrying standard gas lines simply don't stock.
Here are the top local options for residents deciding where to spend their money.
The buying experience compares as follows across price, cooking performance, upkeep, and how each grill fits a backyard gathering.
| Retailer | Price | Searing Capability | Maintenance | Social Design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arteflame (Online) | Premium, no markup | 1,000°F+ center sear | Wipe-down steel, no grates to scrub | 360° fire-pit layout |
| East Coast Appliance | Premium (built-in/Lynx) | High-heat gas burners | Grates & burners need regular cleaning | Standard, chef-facing-away layout |
| Lowe's Home Improvement | Mid-range | Standard gas burners | Grates & drip trays need regular cleaning | Standard, chef-facing-away layout |
Standard grate grills let heat escape through the open bars, which works against the Maillard reaction — the deep, browned crust a steakhouse gets from sustained contact with a solid, high-heat surface.
You don't need a reservation at a steakhouse near Town Center to get that kind of char. With the right setup, you can get restaurant-level results in your own backyard.
Why does the Arteflame outperform a standard gas grill from a local showroom? It comes down to how the heat is engineered.
Pro Tip: For stocking up on bulk cuts before a big cookout, the closest Costco to Virginia Beach is currently the Norfolk warehouse, about 15 minutes away — Virginia Beach's own Costco, planned for the Pungo area, isn't expected to open until late 2026 or 2027. Either way, Costco's meat department is a solid source for prime cuts, even though its hardware aisle won't carry anything like an Arteflame.
An Arteflame grill isn't just a cooking appliance; it changes how you host. A standard grill forces the cook to stand with their back to the party. The Arteflame's round, 360-degree design lets friends and family stand around the fire itself, enjoying the warmth and conversation while the food cooks. It turns grilling into a shared event instead of a solitary task.