SDCGTSX

I have the Weber Silver which is their basic midlevel product and I think it's great. Cooks like a champ.

GreenMonster

Don't confuse these with what weber calls "Flavorizer bars"...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...lance&s=garden

I've haven't cleaned the flavor bars in my weber since I got it a year ago, and stuff does taste better now then when it was new. Depending on what I'm cooking, and how much sauce I've put on, I sometimes get alot of smoke out of it.

There's still nothing like cooking on charcoal tho'.

Like 03SSMTL-S, I don't have NG at my house, so it's propane for me...

matelot

There was study/report that said charcoal smoke on food is carcinogenic.

fdl

so is eating red meat.

chef chris

Charcoal is the king of flavor, gas is the king of ease...

I've got my charcoal method down pretty well though...takes 15 minutes & the coals are smokin hot. Best flavor money can buy.

Key is to use charcoal in the summer, gas in the winter(with a smoker box full of mesquite). You can enjoy a few beers while the grill is heating up, etc...

chef chris

John Stocel just did a story on that last Friday...

Result: YES, the smoke from burning animal fat does put of carcinogens...but NO there really isn't a danger unless you consumed VAST, VAST quantities of flamed meat.

Silver™

VC grills are very good, but I would also check at Costco, specifically this grill:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...rPath=114*236*

It is in your price range and has a good review and comes from a company with a good reputation:

http://bbq.about.com/od/gasgrillrevi.../aa040605a.htm

Plus you can't beat the return policy at Costco, even if you have to borrow a buddies pick-up to take it there

chef chris

Silver, I just saw that model today while in Costco...it's fairly heavy...seems like it's built well.

supermegaglossy

isn't natural gas something you have to have installed? as in, something provided by your city/utility company?

my parents have a little table top weber grill with a small propane canister on it (like the size you would use for a soddering torch). works and tastes great.

soopa

Silver, no Costco up here. Sams Club and BJ's Warehouse.

Silver™

I could never live there, my wife and I spent about $8K at Costco last year.

I have to live within 30 minutes of a Costco, Nordstrom, and the beach

chef chris

I was there today too...it's a sickness...

Silver™

For us Costco addicts this is an interesting article:

http://www.azcentral.com/business/ar...costco-ON.html

mt6forlife

Wall Street needs to STFU and stop telling people like Costco how to run their business. If you don't like the business, don't buy the stock. Costco will do fine without you.

chef chris

Excellent article Silver...that kind of info makes you want to shop there even more...that guy sounds alot like Jack Welsch of GE.

matelot

what's the big deal with COSTCO really ? the savings ?
the quality aint there, that much I know. then you gotta buy shit in bulk baah

Silver™

Quality is excellent, from meat to wine to electronics to furniture. Nothing is marked up more than about 13%. And they have arguably the best return policy in the retail world.

chef chris

I've never seen anything that was of a lower retail standard...IOW, no Kmart shit in Costco...Costco is head & shoulders above BJ's & WAY above Sam's Club.

Just walking into Costco, you can feel the difference...it's cleaner, brighter, the employees are 10x nicer than anywhere else...plus, you save a ton on big ticket stuff. I do my "regualr" grocery shopping at BJ's and the neat stuff(read: expensive toys) I always buy at Costco's.

dom

Bringing this back from the dead.

fdl, what did you end up buying?

I'm contemplating getting a gas grill as the start of time for my Weber charcoal is getting kinda annoying and I could probably use the extra grilling space. I don't want to go over $500 or so since it won't be used that often so that counts out a VC and Weber.

Anyone hear anything about Broil Mate or Broil King Grills?

fdl

HomeDepot was blowing out Weber silvers for under $500 about a month ago.

The problem with buying a cheap stainless steel bbq , is that its cheap metal and will discolour and rust in no time. If I was going cheap, I would lean towards something painted.

dom

I agree about the stainless steel part. Just seems that even the $499 grills like the Broil series ones are all Stainless now.

Maybe I'll run over to HD at lunch. Not sure I want a gas weber though. I heard they don't burn very hot??

So what did you end up getting?

fdl

I didnt buy anything yet and have been suffering with an indoor electric grill (although in the winter it wasnt a big deal).

Was thinking about the weber, but I found it kinda small. I dont think HD will have anymore, these were last years model and this year weber has redesigned it.

Whiskers

So I had my $900 gas grill shipped from the US and there is no adapter to hook up a UK gas tank (relocation dept told me differently)

So a cheap charcoal for me...

dom

No chance of converting to natural gas?

dom

The more I think about it the more I think $500 is even too much. I'll still be using the charcoal grill more often, especially on weekends.

fdl, you hear anything about those Centro grills they have at Crappy Tire?

Everyone seems to have one in my neighborhood. Probably because the price is right.

Whiskers

I suppose I can put charcoal in it...

fdl

Those grills are probably fine but you'll want to replace it in about 5 years. But if you arent going to use it alot then def dont go out and drop a ton of cash on it.

What charcoal grill do you have?

dom

Weber, Kettle grill.

dom

And ruin a $900 Gas grill?

fdl

You landing f16's on that thing?

Whiskers

What do you mean by natural gas then?

dom

F22's.

I don't want the meat sliding off while it waits.

dom

Gas as in not propane. I presumed that when you said UK gas tank you meant propane? Maybe not?

Whiskers

No...Its the hose connection from the tank to the grill....

fdl

Go back to the US, buy a few tanks of propane, and try bringing them on as carry-on luggage.

moeronn

Propane is what goes in the tank. Natural gas would be piped in from a utility company. You might be able to find an adapter to connect a UK standard tank to your grill, or find an adapter that would convert your grill to accept UK standard natural gas fittings. Check with the manufacturer too see if they offer those parts or if it's even possible.

Whiskers

Negitive...No natural gas (except out of my ass) and the tanks have the wrong connection with no adapter....

Whiskers

Maybe I can get the propane in glad lock bags.

SiGGy

Checkout this grill before you buy the Wal-mart Webber.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...-CatHome&pos=2

dom

It annoys me to no end how Costco up here doesn't carry a 1/4 of the stuff they do in the US. And that includes that grill.

Having said that Wal-Mart carries Brinkmann grills up here for a half decent price. I wonder if they're any good?