U-Shaped Outdoor Kitchen: The Rescober Family’s Wedding-Gift Build in Illinois

Step 1 of 5

Blocking Out the U

The kitchen started as a line of concrete blocks set out on the patio, marking where the grill counter, the oven and the far counter would go. Reclaimed red brick, block and a cement mixer were staged nearby, and the block oven stand went up first, topped with a wood form for the hearth.

Step 2 of 5

Hearth Slab and a Herringbone Firebrick Cooking Surface

A rebar grid went into the wood form, and the hearth slab was poured right over the stand, leaving an open bay below for firewood. On top, the firebrick cooking surface went down in a herringbone pattern with a red brick border around the edge.

Step 3 of 5

Raising the Fire Brick Barrel

The first fire brick arch went up over the Mattone Barile Grande foam form, and the barrel was laid row by row up to the brick chimney. A reclaimed brick arch face finished the front of the oven.

“Thank you BrickWood Ovens for your plan specifications and great guiding instructions!”

Manny R.

Step 4 of 5

Reclaimed Brick on Every Surface

Pallets of reclaimed red brick were stacked next to the oven, and the veneer went over the block stand, the counters and the oven itself. Once the brick was on, the first wood fire went in, glowing in the arch above the brick-faced firewood bay.

Step 5 of 5

Ready for the Family’s First Party

The finished U puts a built-in gas grill on one arm, the oven at the bottom of the U, and an under-counter refrigerator and whiskey barrel on the other arm, so whoever is cooking can turn from the grill to the oven to the fridge. String lights on posts ring the patio, and the oven door wears a “Bar & Grill” sign. The first big celebration was planned for November 12th: their daughter’s 1st birthday.

“This Grill with Pizza Oven that we proudly named ‘LoloManny’ was conceived and built as a wedding gift.”

Manny R.

BeforeFinished

Drag across the photo (or just move your mouse) to go from a row of blocks on the patio to the finished kitchen.

Good Questions

U-Shaped Outdoor Kitchen FAQ

What is a U-shaped outdoor kitchen?

It is an outdoor kitchen with counters on three sides, like the letter U. Here the gas grill sits on one arm, the pizza oven sits at the bottom of the U, and the refrigerator and a whiskey-barrel counter sit on the other arm, so the cook can reach everything with a few steps.

What is in this U-shaped outdoor kitchen?

A built-in stainless gas grill with an access door below, a Mattone Barile Grande wood-fired oven with firewood storage underneath, an under-counter stainless refrigerator, prep counters, whiskey-barrel accents and string lights on posts, all faced in reclaimed red brick on a paver patio.

Which oven kit did they use?

Mattone Barile Grande · Package 3. It is a fire brick barrel oven built over our foam form, and the Grande holds three 10" pizzas at once.

Where do you keep firewood in an outdoor kitchen?

Right under the oven. The Rescobers left an open bay below the hearth slab, faced it in brick, and keep it stacked with split firewood.

Do I need masonry experience?

No. Our FREE plans walk you through each step, from the stand and hearth to the barrel and chimney, and you can read how hard it is to build a pizza oven before you start.