I've cooked on a lot of equipment throughout my career, and I can honestly say the Argentine Santa Maria XL has been a pleasure to cook on. The fire control is intuitive, the build feels solid, and it delivers the kind of live-fire experience I was looking for. I've already put it to work cooking for family and friends, and it's quickly become the centerpiece of my backyard. It gets people talking before the food even hits the grill. If you're passionate about cooking over wood fire and love bringing people together around great food, this grill is absolutely worth it. Chef Jerome Grant

Love my new grill! The only thing I would change is the bar that runs accross the fire brick as it makes moving the coals around throughout the grilling process a bit more difficult.

The Santa Maria / Argentinean Grill is absolutely fantastic. Hits the sweet spot on price vs Quality just right. The lower priced ones I research seemed to be of lower quality and the more expensive ones just seem overpriced. The grill is well built of solid materials. This should last a very long time. So much fun to grill on. CW

This XL Argentine Santa Maria grill is an absolute game-changer! From the moment I fired it up, I knew I'd made the right choice. The craftsmanship is incredible, super sturdy, and it holds heat like a dream. Every steak, every chicken, every veggie comes off with that perfect smoky flavor and sear. It's truly a 5-star experience for anyone serious about grilling!

I purchased the Premium Argentine/Santa Maria BBQ Grill after completing a 7-Day Open Fire Cooking Challenge. During that challenge, I quickly discovered that my existing grill was not designed to handle burning wood as a primary cooking fuel. It worked fine for charcoal, but once I started exploring open-fire cooking, I needed something built for both wood and charcoal. After researching different options, I decided on the BackYard Discovery Premium Argentine/Santa Maria Grill, and so far, it has been exactly what I was looking for. The adjustable grill grate makes it easy to control cooking temperatures, whether I'm using hardwood logs or charcoal. The ability to raise and lower the cooking surface is a game changer when cooking over live fire. As a prepper, versatility is important to me. I wanted a grill that could function whether I had charcoal available or needed to cook with wood during emergency or do water bath canning. This grill gives me that flexibility while also producing excellent flavor that you simply can't get from a standard gas grill. The construction feels solid and designed for the type of high-heat cooking that comes with burning wood. Unlike my previous grill, I'm not worried about damaging it during long cooks over a wood fire. If you're interested in open-fire cooking, backyard BBQ, homesteading, or preparedness, I think this style of grill is worth considering. It bridges the gap between traditional grilling and true live-fire cooking. I also shared my full thoughts and experience with this grill on my YouTube channel, Boujé Prepper, where I did an update video of why we upgraded to this grill, and how it fits into my preparedness and outdoor cooking goals. If you're serious about live-fire cooking and want the flexibility to cook with either wood or charcoal, the Premium Argentine/Santa Maria BBQ Grill is a worthwhile investment.

I searched for a Santa Maria for a while and was between this one and another one that was twice as expensive. I ended up getting this one and just put it together today. First, with something this large I was expecting to have to drill something out, look for extra bolts/ parts and have to wait to use it. Everything was there and it all bolted right together. I put it together by myself and it took a total of three hours with a few break worked in. The quality of the grill, the metal, and wood exceeded my expectations. Going to fire it up for the first time tomorrow and can't wait to use it.

I have used this grill a few times so far and I am happy with the results. The grill is very well made and it looks like it will last a very long time.

I own a Webber and a Green Egg, but I've always wanted to grill Argentinian style, but every time I looked at a Argentine Santa Maria Grill, they were way too expensive, up in the 5 to 7K. So when I found this one, I decided to give it a try. First of all, the assembly was so simple. The instructions were visual and well defined, every bold had a number and what was best, it had extra bolt, just in case I lost one. Another great detail, I don't particularly like the Argentinian V shape of the grille rods. I don't mind the juices of what I am cooking falling in the ambers and giving more flavor. But this grill has them out of cast iron, so the produce beautiful sear marks. I've already cooked some ribs and chickens and loved the absolute control of temperature and ambers. The only thing I wish, is that they also sold other accessories, like an angular griddle perfect for a cabrito or basio, or a rotisserie spinner, or a flat griddle for vegetables. Still, this grill turns a piece of cooking equipment into an entertainment center. A mate drink not included.

Overall, I am very happy with the grill. It is extremely well built, substantial, and once assembled it looks and feels like a serious piece of equipment. I have already completed the initial burn-off and, so far, I am very pleased with my purchase. My only disappointment was the condition of a couple of the powder-coated steel surfaces when I opened the box. There were some scuffs and a chipped area where the coating had been removed down to the bare metal. Considering the size, weight and price of this grill, I believe the internal packaging could be improved to better protect the heavy components from rubbing against each other during transportation. I chose not to pursue a return or exchange because the damage appears cosmetic, the grill is extremely heavy, and otherwise I am very happy with it. However, receiving a new grill in this price range with chipped powder coating was disappointing and, in my opinion, likely preventable with better packaging. Aside from that issue, my first impressions of the grill itself are excellent, and I am looking forward to putting it to good use.

Update to my previous review.. So far, the only thing that I would say is negative about the grill is the firebox. It would be very helpful if there was some sort of hinged door to allow it to be opened and closed on the front of the firebox. I have had some hot embers and coals fall out of the front of the firebox during the cooking process. I feel that it would be an easy fix to have a steel door that would latch in place to keep this from happening.