Why one cooking surface slows you down
Outdoor meals fall apart when everything has to share a single grate. Steaks want a steady zone. A wok needs a tight ring of flame. Sides and resting meat need a place that is not the same surface you just seared on. If you cook for more than two people, you feel that pinch fast.
A practical outdoor kitchen splits heat across stations. You keep a full-size main grill for the protein. You add a dedicated side burner for pots and pans. You tuck a compact high-heat unit beside them for sears, griddling, or a second protein. That layout is how we build cook lines for customers who actually use the space every week, not just on holidays.
The main line: Ruby 4-Burner with IR Pro-Sear, 36 inches
Start with capacity you will not outgrow. The Ruby 4 Burner w/IR Pro-Sear 36" (RUBY4BIR) is built from 304 stainless steel end to end. Its 11-gauge I-burners deliver up to 80,000 BTUs with Flame-Thrower ignition on each burner. That is enough heat for weeknight steaks and weekend crowds without babysitting cold spots.
Variable-rod spaced cooking grids give you room for thick cuts and smaller pieces on the same cook. The LED-lit control panel and halogen interior lighting make night cooks easier to manage. A drop-open service panel keeps maintenance simple. Back hood wind guards help hold flame shape when the breeze picks up in a Texas yard.
The grill is upgrade-friendly. Add a pizza stone, griddle, or charcoal tray when the menu changes. You are not locked into one style of cook. For many builds this unit is the center of the island, with prep and cold storage flanking it so traffic flows past the cook instead of through the work zone.
Side heat that stays out of the way: Versa Single Burner
Sauce, stock, and stir-fry do not belong on the main grate. That is the job of a side burner. The Ruby Series Counter-top or Drop-in Versa Single Burner (SUN13VSB) gives you a clean, dedicated pot station.
It is made from 18 gauge 304 stainless steel with polished accents. The cooking surface is a solid 3/8 inch 304 stainless raised grate, so heat stays even and the grate holds up to real use. You can set it as a counter-top unit or drop it in; integrated adjustable legs handle both installs. Precise surround flame control suits wok work and stir-fry, where you need the heat tight under the pan rather than washed across a wide grate.
Piezo valve ignition and a large rubber-gripped knob keep lighting and control simple with wet hands or gloves. Place it on the landing side of the main grill so you can stir a sauce while you watch the protein. That small change cuts the number of trips back to the indoor stove.
Compact power: the 13-inch Companion Pro GRILLER
Some patios cannot take a second full-width grill. You still want a hard sear or a second zone that runs hotter than a side burner. The Ruby Series 13″ Companion Pro GRILLER (SUN13CPROGR) fills that gap.
Dual infrared burners deliver up to 30,000 BTUs in a 13-inch width. That footprint fits smaller runs of counter without giving up performance. The unit handles grill, sear, griddle, steam, smoke, and fry work in one chassis. An integrated hood and warming rack help you hold heat and stage food while the main grill finishes.
Construction is 304 stainless steel for outdoor duty. Use it as a dedicated sear station next to the 36-inch Ruby, or as the primary cook surface on a tight balcony or secondary patio. Either way, it keeps high-heat tasks off the main cooking grids so those grids stay free for larger cuts.
How the three stations work on a real menu
Here is a simple flow that uses all three without chaos. Light the Ruby 4-Burner and set two zones: one hotter for searing, one moderate for finishing. Start thick steaks or chops on the main grill. While they take color, bring a wok or saucepan up on the Versa single burner for vegetables or a quick pan sauce. If you need a hard crust on a second protein, or a flat surface for onions and peppers, run that on the Companion Pro GRILLER.
When the main protein rests, shift sides to the warming rack on the companion unit or hold them on a cooler zone of the 36-inch grill. Sauce stays on the single burner at low flame. You are not stacking pans on the same grate or walking inside for a burner you should have outside.
Weekend crowds scale the same way. Use the full width of the Ruby for a mix of burgers, chicken, and vegetables. Keep a pot of beans or melted butter on the Versa. Put a second sear or a griddle cook on the 13-inch companion so the line does not stall. Guests stay outside. You stay at the island.
Fit, cabinets, and install notes that matter
These pieces are meant to sit in a real outdoor kitchen, not float on a folding table. Our cabinets are 304 stainless steel. Islands ship about 98% pre-assembled so install day is shorter. Grill cabinets fit about 90% of grill brands when you use the right trim kits, which helps if you are mixing a Ruby main grill with other gear you already own.
Plan counter depth and landing space before you cut stone. The Versa single burner needs clear pot swing room. The companion unit needs hood clearance and a spot to set tongs and a board. The 36-inch Ruby needs service access at the drop-open panel. If you want a second set of eyes on the layout, use our free design service at /design-service. We build these lines in Pflugerville and see the same clearance problems every season.
Free freight runs to the 48 contiguous states and typically lands in 5–10 business days. Local pickup at our Pflugerville shop saves 5% if you can take it on a trailer. For coverage details on any unit, see the warranty page at /warranty. Dealer locations are listed at /dealers if you want a hands-on look before you order.
Build the cook line you will actually use
You do not need a showpiece island that sits idle. You need heat where the work happens. A 36-inch Ruby with IR Pro-Sear handles the main load. The Versa single burner keeps pots and woks off that grate. The 13-inch Companion Pro GRILLER adds infrared sear and multi-mode cooking in a small footprint. Together they cover weeknights, game days, and full patio dinners without sending you back to the indoor range.
If you are sketching a new island or retrofitting a short run of counter, start with those three stations and size the cabinets around them. Call us at (888) 934-9449 or (512) 487-5116, or email contact@sunstonemp.com. Hours are Mon–Thu 9am–4:30pm CST. Bring your dimensions and how you cook. We will help you place the gear so the line works the first night you light it.