Char-Broil Patio Caddie Gas Grill Reviews

• good small gas grill

  
  By A17ZBFKQ7HIR0W on 2003-01-04
  The Patio Caddie is a nice small grill-good for small spaces when you want the convenience of propane. It is well constructed and easy to use. Assembly is a bit of a pain, though nowhere near as bad as their old full size units. If you have a cordless screwdriver and can follow their instructions, it should take about 30 minutes to an hour. It's very easy to use-a push button ignition, burner control on the front, and with the propane tank sitting down below, you have easy access to the valve. There are nice touches like a built in thermometer and a retainer clip so you can hinge the lid on the lip of the grill if you don't have a place to put it when you have the lid off. It does generate a decent amount of heat for a single burner grill-just enough for searing, and the ceramic charcoals do much better than lava rocks. On the bad side, it's hard to see the flame, so it's not exactly easy to tell if you've sucessfully ignited the gas. An electronic battery operated ignition would be a lot nicer. And while easy to wheel around, the small propane tank doesn't cut it-it doesn't hold enough, and if you do the tank exchange instead of filling your old one, no one will accept it. It's great for a small grill-a good step up from a small charcoal grill. If you have the space, you'll be a lot happier with a full size grill. With multiple burners and a lot more BTU power, you'll get better results with a full size grill-and many don't cost much more than the patio caddy. But if you only have enough room for a small grill, this is one of the best on the market.
  
  

• Its the best small grill I could find, but...

  
  By AVSYYWIDT5WTI on 2001-11-19
  If you read other reviews people are giving this thing 5 stars and listing serious shortcomings... Here are mine.

  Cons :
  You have to cook with the lid on. Low with the lid on is 475 high is 525 degrees. Mother of Pearl!!! Steaks, fine. Ribs, forget it.

  The assembly kit comes with two types of screws that are only 1/8 inch different in length. I used 2 of the longer ones someplace on my grill, then could not install the lid handle because what I had left was slightly too short.

  The grill shipped with two parts missing and a sheet that said that if I happened to be missing any parts they would ship them to me at no charge... Hmmm....

  There are significant hot and cold spots on the grill surface

  Pros :

  The form factor is perfect for my small balcony

  The little tank makes it easy to move and to refill. It lasts forever too. No need for a biggie tank.

  The ceramic grate doesn't rust and is a snap to clean

  The electric start is STILL WORKING!!!
  
  

• Have Worn Mine Out

  
  By AOMNYOG4EAOX7 on 2003-04-23
  Consider this a long term test. I bought my Patio Caddie out of desperation when another cheap grille died one nice summer Saturday with friends coming over for dinner. I simply wasn't in a mood to spend $400 or $500 for a king kong unit.

  What makes a good grille is really simple: it must start every time (it does), it must generate enough heat to cook (it does, but keeping the cover on helps)and it must have high quality grids (it does). On the last point, and what really sets the Patio Caddie Apart, are the heavy porcelainized grids. The are wonderful to cook on, easy to clean, haven't sagged in 5 years use.

  Consider this the Honda Civic of grills: I fill the mini-tank once or twice a year for $7 and cook at least once a week year round (in Seattle, no less). It is absolutely the finest chicken cooking device I have ever seen and easily cooks dinner for 4 to 6. No it won't handle a 10 Lb salmon in one shot or cook a dozen burgers for a tribal reunion. And a Honda Civic wont carry an entire NFL team at one time either.

  The only downside is that the heat output does become limited below 50 degrees, but that's a function of the propane, not the grill itself.

  If you live in a condo or apartment with a small deck, if you're on a budget, or want a portable unit look no further, this is it.

  I will be moving on to a bigger and better grille in a couple weeks, and believe it or not, I have a friend who wants my old patio caddie for her condo. Old, greasy and well used, it still has life in it, and she knows how well it cooks. I just hope my new, bigger grille works as well.
  
  

• Wonderful compact grill !

  
  By AV1Z33OJTIR2 on 2000-09-12
  I have stress tested the Patio Caddie for five weeks and am very pleased. Obviously, it has size limitations, but for day-to-day cooking for one or two people, it's great. Capacity is fine: Have grilled six burgers, four steaks, four tuna steaks, four chicken breasts with ease and excellent results. Considered several alternatives before buying this grill, and clearly this one stands out in its class.

  There are some shortcomings: It takes a few minutes to get up to "grilling speed". You should let the grill heat up to 400+ before you start cooking, otherwise you're just warming first. And that takes about four minutes.

  You can get the grill up well over 500+, but you must keep the lid on all the time. The design is based on closed-lid cooking. Take that lid off, and the heat dissipates, and you're not cooking, just burning.

  The 11 pound tank is handy, but you can't use it for any of the "swap" programs at places like Home Depot. So invest in a 20 pound tank ($40 for the first purchase of a full tank), and you can then just swap it out for another full one. Use your 11 pound tank as the backup. You can, of course, bring the 11 pound tank to a refilling service.

  What about tools? There's a little handle on the front for lifting the grill to wheel it around, but it's too small and it's right over the controls... you can't hang your tongs, fork, or spatula there. So, get one of the add-on tool hangers (Weber has one that's designed for their round grill), and use that for tools. (The Patio Caddie has this lame little metal loop that hangs below that you might use for this purpose, but it's inconvenient.)
  
  

• Great grill, need a new gas tank...

  
  By A3V87KQ6YKV6ZB on 2000-05-04
  I LOVE this grill! Although it is limited in size and you can't adjust the grill height as with larger gas grills, it is perfect for one or two people. I have always been a charcoal fan, but I have to say it's nice to come home and grill up some chicken or fish for one, without waiting for coals!

  Does anyone know where I can get a replacement gas tank in the small size that comes with the grill? I recently moved from CA to MA and the movers wouldn't take even an empty tank...I can't find that size in the NorthEast...hey Amazon, do you sell just the replacement tank?
  
  

• REALLY GREAT LITTLE GRILL
  By A2163A245DPRIX on 2002-07-05
  This grill has provided outstanding service to us for over five years. It has not rusted out. It is stingy on gas, typically providing a full years use at three to five times per week on one five gallon tank. The company provides replacement parts so you can keep it working well. and it does a great job cooking your food. It is adequate for grilling enough meat for 4-6 persons. The heat is controllable allowing you to tailor your cooking to the items being grilled. It takes up very little space both in use and when being stored. In sum given it's size limitations it is probably the best grill we have purchased in the last forty years.
  
  
• Excellent Grill in a Smartly Designed Package
  By AI5OS4RQQIUMJ on 2001-06-30
  I've had this grill for about two months now and I love it. It's nice to see that Char-broil has taken the initiative to break free from the standard black, rectilinear grill. This grill tucks neatly into the corner of my back deck and looks great. Friends are always commenting on it.

  As for cooking, the smaller grill surface has proven to be ample for parties of four when cooking fish, steaks or skewered items. For sandwich-style grilling (e.g., hamburgers, hotdogs, etc.) you can cook for twice that many. The cooking surface itself is a refreshing change as well; the metal slats are thick and give restaurant-style grill marks to your food, while providing more surface area for smaller items to sit on. The Patio Caddie comes with hickory-scented briquettes that enhance the flavor and mask the gas scent.

  Be sure to consider the Patio Caddie if you're in the market for a high quality gas grill in this price range. You can't go wrong!
  
  

• great design, small size, unique product!
  By A233KZTTRORQRF on 2003-08-19
  OK, this grill doesn't get as hot as the much bigger, much more expensive weber-type grills with multiple burners. That said, it still easily gets hot enough to cook a decently thick new york steak in just a few minutes per side. And as far as cooking with the lid off-- what do you expect for a lousy [money amount]!?!

  On top of that, it's PERFECT for those with small apartment style balconies. It's economical on gas-- I use it pretty regularly and have yet to go through an entire large tank of propane in over six months of use. It's the perfect size if you're grilling a quick steak or two (or up to 6 or 7 hamburger patties) for one person.

  The grill itself has the large gratings that leave pleasant, savory grillmarks on the meat. It's easy to clean, and doesn't cling onto charcoal and carbon like other grills seem to. The lid also has thoughtful little hooks on the inside part of the assembly screws, making it easy to hang the lid on the lip of barbeque itself instead of having to set it down somewhere. The little temperature guage on the front is useful for telling how fast the inside grill temp is heating up (essential for preheating the grill, something you should always do before cooking), although I don't rely on its accuracy in cooking/timing meat.

  This is a great grill, a great idea, and great execution at a very attractive price. It's shown that it holds up extremely well after nine months of use, and I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

  Those with the space/backyards and multi-family sized barbeque needs should look elsewhere, but just looking at it should tell you that. For the rest of us doing some quick grilling for 1-2 people, this could be the perfect grill.
  
  

• cheap innards
  By A3GH3EGZDAQ9MK on 2006-07-17
  I just returned this to homedepot in the 30 day moneyback guarantee program. I really thought this would be the answer to my search for a quality small grill. Looks good on the outside--heavy metal, porcelain coating. They really cheaped out where you couldn't see it. The burner unit is just a tube with a tiny screen that shoots straight up onto the cast steel plate--- yellow flame and very uneven heat. The valve has almost no adjustability between high and low. Don't buy this grill. the search continues.
  
  
• Nice Sized Grill For 1-2 People
  By AJD901XO8JH3G on 2001-05-09
  I love this grill. My grill before this one was a low-rent hibachi, so anything was an improvement.

  The compact size is great for small patios and apartment decks. I like the heat level (although others complain they can't get it hot enough) because it grills sirloins medium rare, doesn't burn salmon or tuna steaks, and won't overly char the veggies on your shishkabob. I also make a great olive bread in an iron skillet in it for 1/2 hr (take thawed frozen bread dough, knead some chopped green olives or other olives in, let rise in oiled 8" iron skillet, then bake for about 20-30 mins or till nicely browned-yum).

  I traded my little gas tank for a bigger one at the propane store because the little tank ran out too often.

  It is convenient to use, heats well, cooks like a dream, and cleans up easy. All in all, a great little grill. I like the design, too - space saving and cute.
  
  

• Affordable Patio Grill That Works!!
  By A2K3DTALEUV4V6 on 2001-09-01
  I recently bought this grill after evaluating my barbeque needs and my space constraints. First of all this is the only propane grill that has a circular shape as opposed to the much bigger and bulkier rectangular grills. As a result, this grill tucks neatly into my porch and looks very slick. The grill, although small has more than ample grilling space for grilling for 2-4 people. As a suggestion, make sure you keep the lid closed to generate enough heat to cook meat properly. My last suggestion is to purchase a full capacity tank (cost approx. $20) and use the one provided as a backup.
  
  
• LOVE my Patio Caddie
  By A17H2TKF1N46C on 2004-08-05
  This patio caddy is the greatest thing! In San Francisco we don't have much space, and you see them everywhere! Because it is small, it heats up very quickly, cooks evenly, and I am delighted to have it in my life! The original came a little 'bumped and bruised' and for that I was not happy, but it has been with me now for over 2 years and I cannot imagine being without it at all. I use all year round!
  
  
• NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
  By A1WWM8DYPJZQSO on 2007-06-29
  1 star is too high for this grill! Because we LOVED our 1st Char-Broil Patio Caddie, we purchased another one after 6 years of Great Grilling.
  
  BUT BUYER BEWARE! These grills are now being made in CHINA and are not of the same quality that they once were.
  
  After only three grillings, the "porcelain" grate was warping, disintegrating, and missing its "porcelain" WHEREVER the meat had touched it. Needless to say, I fear that it disintegrated right into our food and we ate it.
  After reading an internet article that said "Radioactive metal is being welcomed by smelters in China, ..." I became even more concerned about the quality of materials used in the manufacturing of this grill.
  
  Initial contact with customer service was good and apparently a new grill grate was on its way; but delivery did not occur in the 7-10 days promised. After waiting 17 days, I was told that the grate may not arrive for another 2-3 weeks because it would come to me in the order in which I was positioned. Evidently, I was not the only person with this problem.
  I took the opportunity to ask if the replacement part was also made in China, and was told that it was.
  NO THANKS! Who is to guarantee that any future black stripes on my meat will not be "porcelain" coated metal? And who out there can say with absolute certainty that injesting such a questionable "porcelain" coated metal is not hazardous to health?
  
  I am returning the grill to HOME DEPOT for a FULL REFUND.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Unresponsive Warranty Service
  By A59LMVHRKPC9 on 2005-07-08
  When I received this grill from Amazon, the boxes contained only the shell of the grill -- ALL hardware pieces were missing. Char-Broil refused to replace the entire unit and required me to send them a list of missing parts (dozens). They never got all the parts to me -- even the gas regulator is still missing. So, a year later despite repeated letters and phone calls, the grill sits in my garage, unused and unassembled. Beware!
  
  
• Good grill but not a lot of heat
  By A3053S3W36GZ90 on 2000-07-13
  The others' comments are spot on regarding the size and convenience of this grill, especially for those dining solo or in small groups.

  My only complaint is that the grill doesn't generate a lot of heat. If I pre-heat it with the top on, it'll get up to 500F or so, but opening it up to put on food or flip things causes the heat to drop to about 375F pretty quickly (even on high).
  
  

• Grill Parts
  By A2LZ1HEIEHAJGU on 2004-04-26
  I live in a sub-tropical climate, and after a year the enamel grill kettle is holding up well. It is kept covered most of the time. The problem with this grill so far has been the rapid deterioration of the cast iron heat plate inside. It has already rusted about half way through. For the price I paid for this small grill, I expected a much longer life span for it's parts. Now I have to pay for a new plate, if I can find one.
  
  
• Patio Caddie gas grill
  By A1168Z7CTNB6N8 on 2004-07-28
  This is the best grill that anyone can find for the price and the space it takes up on the deck! It does get a little hot on low and should be checked on anyway when grilling! Enough room to easily feed 4 adults (steaks,chops,fish,corn,ect).You won't go wrong with this grill if space is a problem!!!!
  
  
• disappointing
  By on 2001-04-21
  I bought this grill last year with the hopes that it would become a regular part of my weekly cooking. I was sorely disappointed. This grill could never maintain a decent grilling temperature. I ended up buying another gas grill with a standard sized propane tank with a side burner to boot - worth it for the extra amount of money it cost, because it was utterly more useful. I don't think this grill is useful for anything except keeping food warm.
  
  
• Work's Great
  By on 2001-05-17
  Have had one for three years. My wife can use it with no problem.It cooks our meals with ease,and the food comes out great. The 11 lb. tank is nice,but we got a bigger one,because the smaller one ran out to fast. The grill cooks great for two or for ten {which we have done}. Would not trade it for a bigger one.
  
  
• Char-Broil 4754960 Patio Caddie Gas Grill
  By on 2003-05-12
  I think this is a great grill. We had ours for 5 years and one day it came up missing off of our deck. We were devestated to say the least. We had made a road trip from Omaha to St, Joseph to buy this grill 5 years ago at Lowes. When the grill stolen we started to look for another only to find out they did not carry them anymore. We were just happy to find another one on amazon.com. The grill fired up every time and cooked our food to perfection.
  
  
• Good, but not Great
  By A2PK64OVZA1U8Z on 2004-07-13
  This is a perfect grill for small groups. I typically only grill for my wife and I so the size is perfect. It wasn't too difficult to assemble and the parts machining is excellent, everything fit together very well. I have only 2 problems with this grill. First, the hangers you attach to the lid to allow you to hang the lid from the side of the grill are quite a pain when placing the lid. Makes it difficult for the lid to fit snugly. Not a problem, I'll just take the hangers off as they don't work that well anyway. Second, I grilled on it 2 days ago, on a fairly calm day weather wise. For some reason the flame kept going out. Took me an hour to grill 4 steaks, should have only taken 20 minutes. Not sure what causes this problem as I haven't ready anyone else experiencing it. It's annoying enough that it keeps the grill from getting 5 stars.
  
  
• Patio Caddie Gas Grill - Good Choice
  By A6027BH50QIKT on 2005-05-03
  Originally I wanted the Patio Caddie grill because a "regular" rectangular one was just too much. After buying it and using it I realized that I made the correct decision. The surface space is more than suitable. Another plus is that the grill grate is small enough that it can be put in the dishwasher. One downside - The tank that came with it was very small. Instead of getting it filled I opted to go to Home Depot and use their tank rental program (Blue Rhino). The regular 20lb tank fits under the grill with no problems. I'll use the tiny tank for a camping trip! There are a few optional items available for the grill (Condiment basket, shelf, and cover). For some reason the Char Broil web page doesn't list them. I called their support 800 number and the person at Char Broil couldn't locate a picture or link to forward to me. Supposidly, the info is in their catalog that I requested. All in all the grill is nice. Fits perfectly in the corner of my deck. I bought a cheap $7.00 smoker grill cover to cover it with until I can get the one made for the actual grill.
  
  
• BIG waste to time and effort
  By AP18DHVN45W2E on 2007-07-09
  I ordered this item based on favorable reviews from friends. The grill was not available in stores in the SF Bay Area so I ordered from Amazon. It was not immediately available so I waited 4-6 weeks and it arrived on the promised date. However, the connection on the igniter cable was the wrong size. I called Charbroil customer service and was told they could not provide a new one because this grill is discontinued and no longer supported by them. (Huh? I said). Since I had the whole thing assembled anyway, I attempted a test using manual lighting and it didn't work at all. Based on my experience, my advice to anyone is: Don't bother with this item!!
  
  
• The best grill I've ever had
  By on 2000-06-16
  This grill is the best! Its compact, takes up very little space on my small patio, easy to operate, easy to move, and easy to clean. And, it does a great job of grilling! Its ready to use as soon as you turn it on, no waiting for smokey charcoal too heat up. It cooks fast and the food tastes great. I don't miss charcoal at all. The lightweight tank is easy to refill and lasts a good long time. I was grilling at least five nights a week from December to May before I had to refill.
  
  
• Great For Small Space
  By on 2000-06-15
  I live in downtown Chicago and have a small balcony. This grill works out perfect. It has a nice size cooking area but doesn't take up much space. I cook out a lot and only have to fill the tank once a year. All in all a great grill!
  
  
• Worth Every Penny!
  By A3UV9ELSYFL07F on 2004-05-28
  I recently purchased my first home - a condominium in the metro NYC area with a VERY small deck. I love grilling in the summer and wanted something that would fit in the space and still do a good job. Well, the Patio Caddie is just that! It is a GREAT little grill and barely takes up any space. In fact, my friends prefer it to their full size grill they recently purchased on sale at Wal-Mart. It cooks very evenly, I've had no problem refilling the propane tank, and the cooking area is still big enough to do a good amount of grilling! 2 SMALL complaints (and I felt if I had a complaint I couldn't give it all 5 stars otherwise I would):

  1) the lid does not have a hinge on it or attach to the grill. You have to take it off and put it down if you want to flip your burgers or something. It would be nice if you could just open it as you do most other grills.

  2) It would be nice if there was a little side table or somewhere to attach grilling untensils and whatnot while you're grilling. To keep with the size feature it could collapse before you put it away. Otherwise you have to try and juggle everything while you are grilling.

  Overall, I would say this grill is an EXCELLENT purchase and I have no regrets. Grill on!
  
  

• You can't beat this grill
  By A24B82FKP9KQTD on 2006-08-30
  My father spent $3000+ on a new stainless grill that he slaves to keep clean. I bought a Caddie with the idea that I could get a new one every year for the next 25 years to match his expense. Turns out our first Caddie lasted ~7 years. Lid dents, rust, heavy grease build up, etc. For $139 you can't beat this grill and my new one came with thermostat and the larger (4.5 gal) tank. I transferred the side shelves (option) over from my original. If you like lid cooking you will love this affordable high quality Q. I usually sear on high heat then turn down gas to low an put on lid - result is nothing short of excellent.
  
  Pros? Flexible heating options, great grill material, excellent overall quality and food is fantastic.
  
  Cons? I wanted black again but didn't see it here on Amazon. The dark green color is acceptable though.
  
  Recommend getting a cover for it but not the $25 cover from Caddie. Get The Char-Broil 4714 Heavy Duty Water Smoker Cover fits great and is less than $10.
  
  
• Misleading Picture
  By A3BIEI9LQ31F75 on 2007-04-06
  Buyer (from amazon) beware! The patio caddie grill is pictured with an LP tank. Some models are sold with the tank on other sites. The one you will receive from amazon will not include the LP tank. Compare prices to other sites that offer the grill with and without the tank. Amazon will not offer anything to you after-the-fact except to inconveniently let you return the grill.
  
  
• whoaaa!!
  By AHGRQIMN79XN2 on 2002-09-23
  For many years charcoal was the way to go. Then we stayed in some cabin on vacation and bumped into this grill on the balcony. Geezzz, that evening we were having great tasting seared steak, very nice and even grilled Asperagus. Came home and now i got my very own!! Have catared upto 6 meals perfectly, anything more than that and the the size might be limiting. Hint: throw in hickory chips in a foil pounch w/ a few wholes and never again will you buy charcoals.
  
  
• Great for small spaces
  By A1S9P5O82T8WJY on 2006-03-18
  I have had this grill for the past 8 years and it was time to get a new one. I love it ! It is great in small spaces. I also like the fact that the cooking area is small, which works for my needs. I cook on it probably 2 to 3 times a week and because you only need to heat a small area it is very efficient. I only need to fill a regular size fuel tank about once a year.I would recomend this grill to anyone that is single or has a small family. When it comes to entertaining it is a little difficult , but I just wrap whatever I first cook in foil to keep it hot while I cook anything that is still needed. It really is a great grill!!
  
  

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