NorthwoodsGrills is a family-owned outdoor kitchen retailer in Charleston, South Carolina, and an authorized RCS dealer. We do not manufacture grills. We sell them and help people specify them correctly the first time. If you want a human, call 843-212-7209.
Who makes RCS grills?
RCS stands for Renaissance Cooking Systems, a family-owned American company based in Texas and now in its fourth generation. The family business started as Cunningham Plumbing Company in 1949, became Cunningham Gas Products in the mid-1970s, and began building grills in 2003 as RCS Renaissance Cooking Systems. The brand's own positioning line is "America's Best Value In Outdoor Kitchen Equipment," which fairly describes where it lands: serious stainless construction below luxury-brand pricing.
You will occasionally see RCS called "RCS Gas Products." That is not the company's name. The correct name is Renaissance Cooking Systems.
Where are RCS grills made?
Renaissance Cooking Systems does not publish a manufacturing-location statement for its grills. Because the manufacturer does not state it, we do not state it either. RCS is an American company and a family-owned US business, which is a fact about the company, not a claim about where any given unit is assembled. If country of origin matters for your spec, call 843-212-7209 and we will tell you exactly what the manufacturer's documentation does and does not say.
What is the RCS series lineup, from value to premium?
This is the question most often reported backwards. The correct order, least expensive to most premium:
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Premier Series (model prefix RJC) — this is the value line. RJC26A, RJC32A and RJC40A, with RJC32AL and RJC40AL adding LED lighting.
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Cutlass Pro Series (model prefix RON) — this is the step-up line. RON30B, RON38B and RON42B.
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Cutlass Elite Series (model prefix CEG) — this is the newest premium line. CEG30 and CEG38.
Premier is the entry point, not the flagship. Cutlass Pro sits above it. Anyone telling you Premier is the premium line and Cutlass Pro is the budget line has it reversed.
Separately, RCS builds American Renaissance Grills (ARG) — ARG30 and ARG36 — as a distinct flagship line rather than a tier of the Cutlass family. There is no plain "Cutlass" series; only Cutlass Pro and Cutlass Elite exist.
Our catalog also carries an RCS Classic 32" built-in grill, which sits outside those three series. Check that product page for its own specifications.
What is the real difference between Premier and Cutlass Pro?
Burners and housing. Cutlass Pro uses cast stainless burners and a 304 stainless housing. Premier uses stainless tubular burners, and RCS publishes no stainless grade for the Premier housing.
Premier grills include premium stainless housing, Sure-Strike ignition with a manual flash tube, briquette flavor trays and solid stainless cooking grids. That is a well-equipped grill. Cutlass Pro is the upgrade you buy when you want the heavier cast burner and the published 304 specification.
One honest note: some listings carry a 304 reference in supplier-written copy for Premier models, but RCS itself does not publish a Premier housing grade. If that specification matters to your build, call before you order and we will confirm against the manufacturer's current spec sheet.
Compare them in RCS Built-In Grills, or see the full RCS collection.
What sizes do RCS grills come in?
Premier covers 26", 32" and 40". Cutlass Pro covers 30", 38" and 42". Cutlass Elite covers 30" and 38". Representative models:
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RCS 26" Premier Drop-In RJC26A — three burners, 36,000 BTUs
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RCS 32" Premier Built-In RJC32A — 48,000 BTUs with rear burner
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RCS 40" Premier Built-In RJC40A — five burners, 72,000 BTUs
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RCS 30" Cutlass Pro Built-In RON30B — three burners with infrared rotisserie
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RCS 38" Cutlass Pro Built-In RON38B — four burners, 304 stainless
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RCS 42" Cutlass Pro Built-In RON42B — four burners with LED knobs
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RCS 30" Cutlass Elite Built-In CEG30 — 60,000 BTUs, 600 sq in
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RCS 38" Cutlass Elite Built-In CEG38 — 80,000 BTUs, 760 sq in
Sizing rule of thumb: 26" to 30" suits a couple or small family, 32" to 38" fits most households that entertain, and 40" to 42" is for cooking for a crowd regularly.
Should I get a built-in or a freestanding cart?
Built-in and drop-in models install in a masonry or framed island. Freestanding carts are the same grill heads on a rolling stainless base — the right answer if you rent, might move, or are not ready to commit to an island. Browse RCS Cart Grills, including the Premier 26" cart, the Premier 40" cart RJC40A and the Cutlass Elite 30" cart CEG30.
If you are building an island, order an insulating liner jacket for any built-in going into combustible framing, and follow the manufacturer's stated clearances rather than a rule of thumb.
Are RCS grills natural gas or propane?
Fuel configuration is model-specific on RCS grills. Do not assume any RCS grill is field-convertible between natural gas and liquid propane. Confirm the fuel type on the individual product page before ordering, and if the page is not explicit, call 843-212-7209. Ordering the wrong fuel type is the most common and most expensive mistake in this category. You can also filter by fuel in Natural Gas Built-In Grills and Propane Built-In Grills.
What is the RCS warranty?
Warranty coverage is set by the manufacturer and runs to the original owner. As RCS states it:
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American Renaissance Grills and Cutlass Pro Series — free from manufacturer defects for the lifetime of the original owner.
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Premier Series grills and side burners — 15 years to the original owner.
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Refrigeration — 7 years.
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All other products — 1 year.
The RCS warranty document does not list the Cutlass Elite Series by name, and we will not invent a duration for it. If you are buying a CEG30 or CEG38, confirm coverage on the product page or call us and we will get it in writing from the manufacturer before you order. Full terms are on our RCS Warranty and Warranty Information pages.
Which RCS grill is the best value?
On a tighter budget, a Premier Series built-in is the value pick: stainless housing, briquette flavor trays and solid stainless grids without paying for cast burners. If you can stretch one tier, the Cutlass Pro RON30B is where the cast stainless burners and published 304 housing begin, and it is the upgrade customers report being happiest about a few years in.
To shop by budget, start with entry-tier built-in grills, then mid-tier, upper-mid-tier and premium built-ins. On carts, compare mid-tier cart grills against premium cart grills. Prices move, so the collection pages are always more current than any number written into an article.
What else does RCS make besides grills?
RCS builds a full outdoor kitchen line, a real advantage if you want one finish across the whole island:
What brands should I cross-shop against RCS?
At the same tier, look at Summerset and Blaze. A step up, compare Coyote and Sunstone. We carry all of them, so we have no reason to steer you. Tell us your island opening, your fuel type and how you cook.
Why buy your RCS grill from NorthwoodsGrills?
We are an authorized RCS dealer, so your warranty is valid and your unit is new. Shipping is free and we add no credit card fees. We are a family business in Charleston, not a call center, and you can reach a person at 843-212-7209. See our Price Guarantee and Shipping pages.
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