You're not alone Oakpark...I'm getting a warming drawer for that very reason!

What is your countertop? There is a thread on StoneAdvice.com concerning granite cracking b/c of heat lamps in a commercial and possibly residential setting. I don't know if it would apply to you...but it's something to look into.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread (StoneAdvice): Thermal cracking????

Do you have a good location for a warming drawer? In the right location (IMO, right next to the cooktop) I think a warming drawer can be totally fabulous. In the wrong location (across the kitchen below the oven) I think they're pointless. Worse than pointless - a total waste of money.

I absolutely adore my warming drawer! But then, it's right next to my cooktop. I prewarm dinner plates, hold any mis-timed dishes, pre-plate meals while I finish the sauces...

A shelf with lights doesn't have quite as much room and, IMO, doesn't do quite as good a job holding foods without changing them. But if you don't have the right space for a warming drawer, I'd choose the lights over a poorly-placed drawer in a heartbeat.

Food left under warming lights for any length of time will begin to dry out. A warming drawer provides a much more stable atmosphere for keeping food hot and ready to serve, without drying out or discolouring.

Restaurants use warming lights to keep plated food hot until waitstaff pick it up for serving to thier customers, but items placed under the lights are generally there for only a very few minutes before being whisked off to the customer's table.

Most warming drawers can be adjusted to provide optimum temperatures and moisture levels. Foods that need to be kept crisp require a fairly dry environment, while foods that that you don't want to dry out need a moister environment. This sort of regulation isn't possible with lights.

I use my warming drawer on a daily basis. I usually turn it on as I begin to prepare a meal and place the plates that I plan to use in the drawer at that time. If I'm serving bread or rolls, I put them in, too. By the time I'm ready to serve, plates are heated and bread is nice and warm. If a particular dish finishes cooking earlier than I expect, I can also keep it warm until the rest of the meal catches up.

My advice would be to go for a warming drawer. It's much more versatile than a shelf with warming lights above.

Wouldn't warming lights be terribly hot and really heat up your kitchen? We have a Dacor warming drawer conveniently located just below our Wolf cooktop. It is wonderful and doesn't heat up our kitchen. We use our warming drawer almost every day.

I'm having a hot flash just thinking about those warming lights. They do heat up the entire kitchen.

A warming drawer it is! Thank you much for all the good advice.

Back in my "salad days" I did a lot of waitressing. I remember picking up food from under the lights that usually looked worse for the wear (although it could have been the WILTING look being given it - and me - by the glowering chef on the other side of the lights...) Wasn't sure whether these were the same kinds of warming lights...or if the technology had changed...and hadn't even considered the heat.

I have a perfect amount of space right between the range and the peninsula/eating area. Thanks for helping me cross one more thing off my decision list.