Quarter-Inch American Steel. Chef-Built. Fire-Forged.
Custom Argentine parrillas, Santa Maria grills, and reverse flow smokers, hand-built one at a time from 1/4-inch American plate. Designed by a chef with more than 20 years in professional kitchens and fabricated to endure decades of real live-fire cooking. No stamped steel. No flat-pack construction. No compromises.
Every Own The Fire® custom build starts with a conversation and a chef's eye for how the fire actually performs. We design around your space, your cooking style, and the tradition you want to pull from, whether that is Argentine parrilla, Santa Maria live fire, or a purpose-built reverse flow smoker.
Off-the-shelf grills are built to a price point. Ours are built to a standard. That means heavy gauge steel, proper firebox geometry, and hardware that holds up to actual use, not a showroom floor. The difference is not marketing. It is measurable, and it starts with the steel.
A quarter inch of American plate. Standard.
Steel thickness is the specification that decides whether a cooker lasts a season or a lifetime. It sets how much heat the metal holds, how it behaves through repeated fire cycles, and how much structure the finished build carries. Every other feature sits on top of that number.
Mortared Firebrick Construction
The cooking chamber is lined with firebrick set in Heat Stop 50 refractory mortar, a non-water-soluble refractory mortar designed for high-temperature applications where moisture may be present.
Mortaring the brick secures the lining and closes the open joints that would otherwise allow water, grease, ash, and debris to pass beneath the firebrick.
What separates an Own The Fire® build
Built in the Details
The difference is in the parts most builders cut corners on. Look close.
What We Build
Argentine Parrilla and Santa Maria Grills
Built around the Argentine parrilla and Santa Maria traditions, the SM Series combines heavy American plate, a mortared firebrick-lined cooking chamber, independent grate-height control, and dedicated ember management in a platform designed specifically for live-fire cooking.
The adjustable main cooking surface gives the cook direct control over the relationship between food and fire. The integrated brasero produces clean-burning embers that can be moved beneath the cooking grate as needed.
Every SM Series grill starts with a proven core platform and can be configured around the cook, from iron cross and hanging systems to rotisserie, specialty grates, shelves, and other purpose-built accessories.
Custom Reverse Flow Smokers
Reverse flow smokers designed from the ground up to your exact specifications. A compact patio offset, a competition ready rig, or a 250 gallon build for the serious operation. Every smoker is engineered around its intended cook.
Even heat distribution, long burn times, and precise airflow control through a properly engineered firebox and baffle system. Built from professional grade materials designed to run for decades.
Custom BBQ Prep Carts and Fire Stations
The command center of the cook.
Every custom cart is designed around how you actually work, from butcher block depth to burner placement to the travel distance between prep and fire. Heavy gauge steel chassis, commercial grade casters, and storage that makes sense for live fire cooking.
Sear steaks, hold sauce, break down a primal, and feed the fire from one station. Every detail is designed around your workflow so the cart keeps up with the cook.
Engineered to perform. Built to last.
Start Your BuildCustom Options and Upgrades
The Custom Build Process
Phone Consultation
A fifteen minute conversation about your space, your cooking, and the kind of fire you want to run. Honest advice, no pressure.
- Review of your footprint and use case
- Discussion of parrilla, Santa Maria, or smoker fit
- Direct advice from a chef and builder on what actually works
Custom Quote
A detailed written quote with build specifications, selected options, production timeline, and clear pricing.
- Complete build specifications
- Selected options and upgrades
- Clear production timeline
- Clear project pricing
Deposit and Build Start
A fifty percent deposit secures your build slot, material pricing, and production timeline. Final configuration is confirmed and material procurement begins.
- Build slot secured
- Material pricing locked
- Final configuration confirmed
- Material procurement and fabrication scheduled
Build Walkthrough
Local clients can receive an in-person walkthrough. Remote clients receive a detailed video walkthrough of the completed build before shipment.
- Live or recorded walkthrough of the finished grill
- Instruction on fire management and use
- Any final adjustments before delivery or shipment
Final Payment and Delivery
Final payment on approval. Local Long Island delivery and setup is included. Regional delivery and freight shipping are quoted by destination and confirmed before fabrication begins.
- Local Long Island delivery and setup included
- Regional delivery available by quote
- Nationwide freight quoted by destination
- Ongoing build and owner support
Tell Us About the Cook
No pressure and no obligation. Tell us what you are after and we will come back with specs and pricing. Every build starts with a conversation.
- 1/2 inch firebox steel
- Pre-seasoned steel grates
- Chrome cast iron crank wheel
- Extra-wide 30 inch depth
- Folding side shelf
- 1,220 sq in primary cook surface
- Off-road 4-bolt wheel hubs
- 10 inch all-terrain wheels
- Reinforced axle and bracing
- 1/2 inch firebox steel
- FDA-coated iron cross frame
- Chrome cast iron crank wheel
- Extra-wide 30 inch depth
- Folding side shelf
- FDA-coated iron cross frame
- Off-road 4-bolt wheel hubs
- 10 inch all-terrain wheels
- FDA-coated iron cross frame
Every build ships fully assembled. Free local delivery within 100 miles of Long Island, freight quoted by destination beyond that. See the Shipping & Freight Policy.