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Looking for a new grill.
What Table Top charcoal grills do you use and why?


Just Bob

We purchased a cheapy table top from Wal-Mart about a year ago for about $20.  It's worked great for the money.

Ours isn't a charcoal version, but we like the Weber Go-Anwhere-Grill.  It does come as a charcoal grill too though.  $54 for the propane canister using version and it's porcelain coated, so it cleans up nice and isn't all rusted up after a season.

A very good charcoal grill that I highly recommend is the Cobb grill.  I purchased a "classic" plastic base version at Camping World on clearance two years ago.  Since then I have been pleasantly surprised at the cooking results.  It can do it all, just like the manufacturer say.  It can grill, bake, smoke, steam, fry, and roast.  You can cook an entire meal all at once, including steamed vegetables and a roast.  The only drawback is that it's only big enough to grill one medium sized whole chicken, or five large burgers, or two pork loins, or three TBone steaks at one time.  So if you are feeding four people or less, it's the charcoal winner.

The next best tabletop is the Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal grill almost mentioned above, (Weber does make a charcoal version besides the propane model mentioned above).

Weber also just introduced a charcoal Q grill this year.  If you need more grilling area, thats probably a good bet, but it's HUGE, so you will need alot of storage space.

I've got a small weber charcoal grill I bought at a garage sale, a few years back. It was brand new and included two bags of charcoal. Not bad for $10.

I have a Sunbeam charcoal grill that I got a few years ago.  It is about the same size as the weber go anywhere.  It will cook eight burgers at one time.

Quote from: austinado16Ours isn't a charcoal version, but we like the Weber Go-Anwhere-Grill.  It does come as a charcoal grill too though.  $54 for the propane canister using version and it's porcelain coated, so it cleans up nice and isn't all rusted up after a season.

Thanks for the recommendation Austin. I just ordered one from Amazon...$45.

I usually like to cook over the open fire but that takes a long time to lite the logs, let 'em burn down then cook the food.

We usually camp with the group and the fire is usually at another camp-site. I guess it's time for a real BBQ grille. That looks like a winner to me.

Austin,

Does it come with the lava rocks or do you have to get them separately??

Quote from: JustBobLooking for a new grill.
What Table Top charcoal grills do you use and why?


Just Bob

Our cheapie propane grill from Wal-Mart works fine. $25 and it even has electronic ignition that works better than my home grill. Lasts a few seasons, then replace. Small, lightweight, easy to pack, 1# gas refills are cheap, enough grill room to feed 4 adults. My current one is on it's second season and still looks good and works well.

Quote from: 4CampersOur cheapie propane grill from Wal-Mart works fine. $25 and it even has electronic ignition that works better than my home grill. Lasts a few seasons, then replace. Small, lightweight, easy to pack, 1# gas refills are cheap, enough grill room to feed 4 adults. My current one is on it's second season and still looks good and works well.

I love the fact that the Webber Go-Anywhere-Grill is all porcelain. Squirt it down with oven cleaner, hose off and it should be like new after each use.

Quote from: waveryI love the fact that the Webber Go-Anywhere-Grill is all porcelain. Squirt it down with oven cleaner, hose off and it should be like new after each use.

The other groovy thing about Webers is that they use "flavorizor bars" instead of ceramic briquettes.  So you get better flavor in your food because the drippings hit the flavorizor bars, vaporize and smoke the food.  Plus, you don't get grease fires!

I have a small Lodge cast iron "hibachi" type grill that is nice to use when I only have a small amount of food to grill.:)

We use a Weber Baby-Q propane grill.  It is the best grill I have ever used (better than the standard grill I used at home).  I like the fact that it cooks evenly, it is small, safe to use on a table top (base does not get hot), and easy to clean.  I adjusted the portable propane holder to allow me to use the Coleman-style portable propane tank vs. the narrow portable tank that is purchased in the hardware store.  I can cook enough food for the whole family and guest at one time.

I bought the Safari Chef   http://www.safarichefgrill.com/   during the off-season and have been using it all season. It very flexible, can be used in many different configurations.  It's worked very well for us thorughout the season.  It packs down into a very small package so is easily stored in the camper.  We've also used it to tailgate a couple of Pirates games and will use it also this weekend tailgating the Steelers game.  GO STEELERS!  It's available at Camping World, but can be had for less elsewhere online with a little searching.  I think we got ours for about $70.

Quote from: JonesFamilyJaycoWe use a Weber Baby-Q propane grill. It is the best grill I have ever used (better than the standard grill I used at home). I like the fact that it cooks evenly, it is small, safe to use on a table top (base does not get hot), and easy to clean. I adjusted the portable propane holder to allow me to use the Coleman-style portable propane tank vs. the narrow portable tank that is purchased in the hardware store. I can cook enough food for the whole family and guest at one time.

 
We have a Weber Q 200, and there is no better BBQ out there.  Period

Quote from: TheVikingWe have a Weber Q 200, and there is no better BBQ out there.  Period

I looked at that one at Home Depot. It's sexy looking but takes up a lot of storage space (IMO) and is 4x the price of the Weber Go-Anwhere-Grill. I just couldn't justify it.

Quote from: waveryI looked at that one at Home Depot. It's sexy looking but takes up a lot of storage space (IMO) and is 4x the price of the Weber Go-Anwhere-Grill. I just couldn't justify it.

I hate to say it, but I think I paid $8 for my Go-Anywhere at the local swapmeet and that included a brass bristle BBQ brush.  Because it's porcelain, as is the flavorizer bar, it cleaned up like brand new.  I store it under my full-size Weber Genesis and use it almost year round between camping and outings to the local beach with DD and her little pals.  In fact, I need to by one of those $19 fill valves from Harbor Freight so I can start refilling the little propane tanks.

Thanks for all of the responses. Hopefully I can find a Webber at an end of season sale.

Bob...

Quote from: JustBobThanks for all of the responses. Hopefully I can find a Webber at an end of season sale.

Bob...

If you order it from Amazon.com, be careful that you order the "GAS" Go-Anywhere Grille. I (ordered) received the wrong one yesterday. They were real good about my stupidity :morning: . They took back the wrong one (I have to take it to the post office) and sent me the correct one with no additional freight charges :sombraro: .

Quote from: waveryIf you order it from Amazon.com, be careful that you order the "GAS" Go-Anywhere Grille. I (ordered) received the wrong one yesterday. They were real good about my stupidity :morning: . They took back the wrong one (I have to take it to the post office) and sent me the correct one with no additional freight charges :sombraro: .

Bummer....but glad they took care of you!

I'm done with strictly propane grills. My previous large grill was propane with lava rocks and so is my small portable that I use at home. The grease and drippings hit the lava rock, soak it, and then smoke your food with flavor.
 
I've been really disappointed with the newer $300 grills that don't use anything  but propane. The reason is that my camper's Coleman table top grill is strictly propane. While the open flame does give it a better flavor than flameless grills, it just doesn't have that 'grilling flavor' that I love.
 
I may just buy a $40 char-broil charcoal grill for the home. New charcoal has built in ignitor dust so that lighter fluid isn't needed. That sounds like what I'd like to have.
 
My $10 Walgreens propane/lava grill works great, just small. I use it at home. It doesn't have a grease catch so I just covered the bottom with aluminum foil. The grease usually burns away on the lava rock as I stated above. The flavor is "GREAT" and the grill is better made than many $40 propane grills I've seen at Dick's and Bass Pro Shops.
 
Good luck and have a good one.

Quote from: Mike UpI'm done with strictly propane grills. My previous large grill was propane with lava rocks and so is my small portable that I use at home. The grease and drippings hit the lava rock, soak it, and then smoke your food with flavor.
 
I've been really disappointed with the newer $300 grills that don't use anything  but propane. The reason is that my camper's Coleman table top grill is strictly propane. While the open flame does give it a better flavor than flameless grills, it just doesn't have that 'grilling flavor' that I love.
 
I may just buy a $40 char-broil charcoal grill for the home. New charcoal has built in ignitor dust so that lighter fluid isn't needed. That sounds like what I'd like to have.
 
My $10 Walgreens propane/lava grill works great, just small. I use it at home. It doesn't have a grease catch so I just covered the bottom with aluminum foil. The grease usually burns away on the lava rock as I stated above. The flavor is "GREAT" and the grill is better made than many $40 propane grills I've seen at Dick's and Bass Pro Shops.

Good luck and have a good one.

The Weber Go Anywhere Grille is supposed to have a special system that burns the drippings and acts like the lave rock but it can be cleaned. I'll have to see how well it works when I get it. If I'm not impressed, I'll remove the thing and put in the lava rocks. I know that they work.

Quote from: waveryThe Weber Go Anywhere Grille is supposed to have a special system that burns the drippings and acts like the lave rock but it can be cleaned. I'll have to see how well it works when I get it. If I'm not impressed, I'll remove the thing and put in the lava rocks. I know that they work.

Well I was at Home Depot today and they had a Char broil 4 burner grill with side stove burner on clearance for $120.

 
 
It was the last one so I bought it to see if I'd like it. Weber has a flavorizer bar that they make a lot of hype over. All of the new grills have this. On the Char Broil, they call it a heat tent.
 
My old Thermos brand grill also had this heat tent along with the lava rock but only had lava rocks in the space between the heat tent and the side walls.
 
My Coleman stove doesn't have a heat tent or lava rock so maybe the heat tent will add the flavor I'm looking for.
 
None of the new grills have lava rock, just heat tents. Surprisingly, my little portable Walgreens propane stove that uses lava rock, doesn't have a heat tent, but the lava rock covers the burners. Perhaps the lava rock on my old Thermos grill was more of a gimic since it had the heat tent, with lava rock only filling the void between the heat tent and the side walls.
 
I'll see how this grill does. For $120, it was just to good to pass up.
 
Have a good one.

Weber made  an 18" version of the Smokey Joe. If we have to replace the 18 we drag along at times that's the one for us.

I have a home gas grill much like the one that is on sale in the post by Wavery.   I have put those Weber ceramic Char-Diamonds in it.  I got the grill used from my sister and I only had done a seasonal repair and replace of parts and used these char-diamonds instead of the heat shield that covers the burner.  I do Have flare ups with them but when it gets bad, I just clean them off a bit when it is cold grill.  With a portable grill being so small, I don't think that buildup will be a problem since it can be easier to clean than a bigger grill.