Paradise Grills Outdoor Kitchen: Is it Worth it? 8 Considerations & Review

By James King

October 10, 2024

Looking for the best outdoor kitchen solution?

It’s a smart decision. And somewhere along the way… You’ve encountered Paradise Grills.

With showrooms located in several states… They’ve got a localized presence in many areas of the country.

But is Paradise Grills the end-all-be-all outdoor kitchen solution?

That’s what we’re here to parse out.

paradise grills outdoor kitchen

Paradise Grills Business Model

Paradise Grills Logo

Paradise Grills operates under the traditional retail-sales model. It’s the same process as when you’re shopping for furniture or a new mattress. You walk into the store… See what’s available… And make a purchase if you see something you like.

They have many showrooms and displays set up in select markets, such as Orlando and Ocoee, Florida. But Paradise Grills has a presence in Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

You may also encounter them at home shows or other related events… And Paradise Grills makes the claim they are America’s largest outdoor kitchen manufacturer.

Whether this is true or not… We do know that Paradise Grills consistently offers seasonal sales specials. This encourages buyers to make an on-the-spot decision to take advantage of the sale.

These deals are certainly attractive… Saving money is enticing! However, outdoor kitchens require a lot of consideration and planning. This isn’t the best purchase to make a snap decision on!

Aside from being able to see the product in person… Paradise Grills also has a ‘Build and Price’ option online that we will discuss in further detail below.

Is the 3D Online Configurator as Good as it’s Cracked Up to be?

paradise bbq grills online design tool

Paradise Grills offers a 3D configurator tool on their website. This gives you the ability to configure their standard islands in a way that suits your space. It’s quite helpful as you can combine bar islands with their BBQ grill islands to make different layouts. L-shaped, u-shaped, galley, etc.

In total, the tool walks you through 8 steps. You select your grill island, bar island, gas grill option, other appliances (like a fridge), countertops… And the remaining steps prompt you to include extras like a tiki hut, fireplace, patio furniture, and stereo systems.

Overall, Paradise Grills offers a variety of layout and design options through the use of their online tool. This is a good option for those who are interested in the standard builds, but want to make small tweaks.

That said, you’re still restricted to a limited set of potential layouts.

If you’d really like to customize your outdoor kitchen to the hilt… You may also want to try out another design tool for your project (but we’ll get back to this later).

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Paradise Grills Materials: Strongest Built Outdoor Kitchens?

The Paradise Grills construction method is fairly common. They use a metal frame system, cement board, and spray-on stucco finish. These components make up the base island.

You may not be familiar with metal outdoor kitchen frame construction, so let’s get a bit more detail.

Of course, the process begins with metal frames. These are the ‘bones’ of the outdoor kitchen. From there, cement board is attached to the frames to create a surface to work on.

Finally, the cement board has to be finished. There are multiple options to choose from. Some manufacturers use tile, stone, brick, concrete, or stucco. In the case of Paradise Grills products? Their offerings are finished with spray-on stucco.

For countertops, Paradise Grills uses an aluminum honeycomb substrate and digitally printed porcelain… also known as Avallero Stone™.

All in all… Paradise Grills’ frame system is decent. It’s on par with ready to finish prefab kits you may see on the market… Or a metal framed island your local contractor may build.

However, framed outdoor kitchens are not ideal in all climates. If you live in an area with cold winters or high humidity… Cracked finishes and rusted frames are a real concern.

That said, let’s take a look at Paradise Grills outdoor kitchen finishes.

Paradise BBQ Grills Finish Selections

set of three outdoor kitchen countertop finishes in gray beige and white

Let’s talk about finishes. For many, it is important to have a variety of options available. You want a finishing option that will match the aesthetics of your backyard.

With Paradise, there are a few finishing options available. On their website, the stucco island cabinet is shown only in one color.

There are a couple examples elsewhere online that feature island cabinets in blue, gray, and pale orange. If you love that single finish and handful of colors, then that’s excellent! Otherwise, you may not be able to find a finish that matches the outdoor aesthetic you’re used to.

When it comes to countertops… You have a little more flexibility. Their Avallaero Stone™ finishes come in four neutral shades of gray or beige.

Now that aesthetics are squared away… What does Paradise Grills offer in the way of appliances? (Grills are right in the name, after all!)

Grill, Appliance, & Accessory Options

set of outdoor kitchen appliances with gas grill and other accessories

The island structure and finishes are great and all… But if we’re being honest, selecting appliances is where the real fun begins.

Let’s see what Paradise Grills Direct has in store.

Grills & Griddles

Paradise Grills offers a limited selection of gas grills, griddles, kamados, electric grills, side burners, and power burners for your outdoor kitchen setup.

Across the board… They will feature 304 stainless steel, and have the potential for a wide range of upgrades.

Currently, Paradise Grills is especially pushing their new Hybrid X grill concept for gas grills. You can purchase a variety of separately-sold upgrades to cook with the same grill 10 different ways. (Pretty impressive!)

The cooking upgrade options currently on offer are:

paradise grills hybrid x grill conversion options
  • Pizza oven conversion
  • Fryer / steamer conversion
  • Griddle / hibachi conversion
  • Charcoal conversion
  • Infrared sear conversion
  • Wood chip / charcoal smoker conversion
  • Rotisserie conversion
  • Gaucho conversion (unreleased at the time of writing)
  • Conversion #9 (unreleased at the time of writing)

If you choose to purchase all of these upgrades… You’ll probably own the most expensive grill on the market. But you will have 10 different ways to cook with it, which is quite neat indeed.

Other Appliances

paradise grills bar appliances including refrigerator wine cooler and bar center
outdoor kitchen sink and storage options

Although the grill takes center stage… That’s not the only aspect of a Paradise outdoor kitchen.

When it comes to decking out your island bar… Paradise Grills offers bar fridges, wine fridges, ice makers, and cocktail stations.

Beyond this, they offer an outdoor sink and a couple simple storage options. Think a trash drawer, storage drawer, and the like.

Overall, you’ll have your bases covered. But if you’re looking for an abundance of options in multiple sizes… You won’t find that here.

Accessories

When it comes to accessories… There’s no shortage coming from Paradise Grills!

In addition to all of the gas grill attachments we’ve already mentioned… They also offer grill covers, speaker sets, and light kits to further deck out your outdoor kitchen.

paradise grills accessory set including speakers lighting and grill cover
paradise grills tiki hut outdoor kitchen and outdoor furniture offerings

But they don’t stop at just your island structure. Paradise Grills provides a wide array of outdoor TV mounts, shade structures, fire features, and even outdoor furniture.

And with product names like “Tahiti”, “Aruba”, and “Monaco”… These accessories imbue an island feel into your backyard space.

As nice as these accessories may be, that’s just it… They’re nice to have. Getting back to the outdoor kitchen… Let’s touch on the installation process.

How Paradise Grills Islands are Installed

paradise grills component descriptions

Are Paradise Grills outdoor kitchens hard to install?

Paradise Grills offers delivery of their product. Their islands are modular and don’t necessarily require assembly. Therefore, it’s a more hands-off experience for you.

Delivery of whole modules can be convenient! However, there are situations where this can pose a challenge. For example, areas where access is tight or limited can create difficulties when moving the unit into your backyard.

Regardless of where you are in the installation process… You also want to be sure that you’re well taken care of at every step.

Paradise Grills Customer Service & Reviews

While often overlooked, considering customer service should be an important part of your decision process. An outdoor kitchen is a huge investment… And it’s crucial to partner with a company that will take care of your needs, especially if things go wrong!

Looking at public online reviews can provide insight as to how a company performs in this area. For the purposes of this article… We won’t cherry-pick reviews and the like.

At the time of writing, Paradise Grills scores a paltry 1.4 stars on Yelp… But at the same time, holds a respectable 4.82 star rating on the Better Business Bureau (with 105 complaints)

Although we are refraining from making particular comments in this area… We do suggest reading through the reviews and making a decision you are comfortable with.

Paradise Grills Recall: What’s the Scoop?

picture of outdoor kitchen damage from grill explosion

In your research… You’ve likely stumbled upon some information about a safety recall that occurred.

What’s the deal with that?

On February 16, 2023… About 18,000 of Paradise Grills’ first generation islands were recalled by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

It was discovered that these outdoor kitchens were prone to explosion due to the lack of island ventilation.

Scary, right?

Naturally, the next question is… What is Paradise Grills doing about this? Have they resolved the issue moving forward?

Well, they have a dedicated page on their website to address this. Depending on where existing customers are located… They’ll either send a laborer to do a free repair, or send the parts and reimburse the cost of labor.

As for the second question… We can only assume the ventilation issue has been addressed. Looking at recently posted photos online, however, we still don’t see any evidence of ventilation on these islands.

Therefore, we suggest asking Paradise Grills this question directly to confirm how the issue has been fixed.

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Closing Thoughts on Paradise Grills Outdoor Kitchens

close up of paradise grills outdoor kitchen

After reading through this article… We hope you have a better understanding of Paradise Grills’ product line and what they offer.

Should you work with them? Well, only you can answer that!

You’ve already made a savvy move by taking a deeper dive into this outdoor kitchen brand… And we suggest you do the same with multiple companies.

Once you’ve researched several outdoor kitchen brands… You’ll have a clear idea of which company you’d like to work with.

And speaking of which… Allow us to introduce you to one more.

The RTA Outdoor Living Difference (Shameless Plug)

outdoor kitchen with modern white finish

RTA was founded on the concept, and the desire, to democratize the outdoor kitchen. An outdoor kitchen allows you to harness the joys of summer year-round… And it’s our mission to make this an accessible project for all homeowners.

But in order to realize this goal, we had to make some significant innovations.

Over the past several years, we have invested heavily in a comprehensive design and blueprint tool… As well as manufacturing innovation in the way of made-to-order custom outdoor cabinets.

That all may sound well and good, but let’s get a little more granular with a quick point-by-point comparison.

RTA’s Business Model

Unlike Paradise Grills, we do not have dedicated showrooms across the country. We are a solely online business.

Which means, you can go through the whole process from the comfort of your own home!

Between our seamless 3D design tool (which will be mentioned shortly)… Unfettered one-on-one access to our Design Experts… And access to a repository of design and informational resources… You’ll always feel 100% informed about our process.

And even in spite of the lack of physical showrooms… We go above and beyond to get you acquainted with our products.

We have an extensive library of outdoor kitchen photos in real backyards, to give you a feel for what an RTA island is like. We also offer samples of our panel and countertop finishes so you can get a sense of the quality and finish for yourself.

Free Online Design Tool

laptop on desk with rta outdoor kitchen design tool loaded on screen

Although quite a few outdoor kitchen companies sport their own version of a design tool these days… We were actually the first to pioneer this technology!

As a result, we’ve got a head start on perfecting the experience! It’s intuitive and a pleasure to use. (If we say so ourselves!)

By using this tool, you’ll also discover just how customizable an RTA outdoor kitchen is.

You can select a myriad of island layouts (L-shape, U-shape, etc)… Choose island sizes ranging from 4 ft to 14 ft long… Layout your appliances to match your cooking style… And choose from a full suite of premium appliances from Coyote Outdoor Living.

And that’s just scratching the surface! Give our free online design tool a try… And you’ll see the difference.

RTA Outdoor Kitchen Materials

outdoor kitchen outside in the snow during winter
modern concrete outdoor kitchen overlooking ocean

Materials are yet another area where RTA sticks out like a sore thumb (but in a good way).

Most brands will construct their islands from a metal frame system, Paradise Grills included.

At RTA, our islands are built from pure, solid, hard-as-a-rock concrete. 100 year rated concrete panels, might we add.

Whether it’s snow, ice, hail, or salty ocean air… Our islands will look good-as-new in even the harshest of weather conditions.

You won’t have to worry about stucco flaking, or tiles popping off. Our finishes are integral, meaning… The finish is fully integrated into the concrete panels themselves. It’s as worry-free and low maintenance as it gets.

Speaking of finishes…

Island Finish Options

rta outdoor kitchen finish options panel

RTA offers a myriad of island finishes with unique textures and colors. No matter what aesthetic you’re going after… We have something that will fit right in.

Currently, we have 12 premium island finishes on offer… As well as 6 concrete countertop variations, and 6 granite color options.

Appliance Selection

Every RTA outdoor kitchen comes part and parcel with professional grills and appliances from Coyote Outdoor Living.

Their entire appliance line features complete 304 stainless steel construction… And are backed by a lifetime warranty. So your RTA outdoor kitchen and appliances are built for the long haul!

Wondering about options?

There’s plenty.

coyote outdoor living grilling appliances

Coyote offers a wide range of gas or propane grills, pellet grills, charcoal grills, kamado smokers, flat top griddles, power burners, and side burners.

But that’s just cooking appliances.

coyote outdoor living grilling appliances

They also can provide several sizes of refrigerators, drop in coolers, ice chests, refreshment centers, outdoor sinks… And enough storage solutions to make your head spin!

Coyote’s got everything you could want… All in one place.

RTA Build Method

four men building outdoor kitchen
outdoor kitchen installation in process

Build method is another area where we differ fairly significantly from Paradise Grills.

RTA outdoor kitchens are DIY forward, or DIY friendly... Whereas, Paradise Grills outdoor kitchens are generally already built for you.

Our islands will arrive at your home as panels, countertops, and appliances, all in their separate packaging. You’ll have to bolt together the panels, place the countertop, and slide in the appliances.

All in all, it’s as easy as it gets for a DIY project! But if you’d rather not get your hands dirty… We have a nationwide network of Pro Installers. These are highly vetted contractors that are trained to install RTA islands… So you can feel confident your project will be installed by a professional of the highest caliber.

Customer Service & Reviews

The way we look at customer service is different from most companies, outdoor kitchen or otherwise.

Regular customer service tends to be reactive… When a problem comes in, then the company responds.

Instead of this reactionary approach, we instead have a Customer Success team. We tackle issues before you ever know it’s a problem… Ensuring your experience is as seamless as possible.

As far as reviews go, you can see our reviews on Google and make a judgment call for yourself. (We’re keeping this impartial!)

Safety Compliance

image that demonstrates venting location on rta outdoor kitchen islands
rta outdoor kitchen venting locations

In light of the recent recall kerfuffle with Paradise Grills… It’s no surprise you may be wondering about RTA island safety.

Do RTA outdoor kitchens have ventilation problems?

Not at all. In fact, we’re leading the charge on outdoor kitchen safety awareness.

Every RTA island comes with ventilation in 7 unique locations. And rest assured, we exceed ventilation requirements for Coyote appliances!

The safety of your outdoor kitchen shouldn’t be a concern… And we’ve designed our islands with this consideration in mind.

paradise grills vs rta outdoor living comparison chart

What’s Next?

At this stage… You’ve absorbed a massive amount of outdoor kitchen information!

We’re not going to throw anything else at you… But we will leave you with some “action steps”, if you will.

First, continue along with your research. Read reviews, investigate blogs, and the like. The more information you have, the better equipped you’ll be to make the right decision for your needs.

Secondly, try out our free online design tool! It takes just a few minutes… And by the end, you’ll have a beautiful design to start bringing to life.

So get started… And we’ll be in touch!

*Paradise Grills® trademark is owned by Paradise Grilling Systems, Inc.

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