At this day in age if you’re tailgating without a grill you really don’t know what you are missing. The flavory smoke rising above the searing hot, juicy burgers, good music in the background, and a couple of cold ones in the cooler paint a picture of the perfect tailgate outing. But things can go south quick if you don’t have the right grill and that’s probably why you’re checking out some Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill reviews.

Well, we did the digging so you don’t have to and this Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill review provides some shocking facts about this grill. So you may want to keep reading this review carefully. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

About Char-Broil Grills:

Company Highlights

• Company Name: Char-Broil of W.C. Bradley
• URL: www.charbroil.com
• Address: Columbus, Georgia
• Founder: W.C. Bradley

Char-Broil is a subsidiary company of W.C. Bradley – manufacturers of home and leisure lifestyle consumer items like the Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill. The company dates back to 1944 with headquarters in Columbus, Georgia. They’re found online at Charbroil.com.

Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill Features:

Feature Highlights

• Fuel Source: Electricity, TRU-Infrared, 1750 watts
• Cooking Area: 240 Square Inches
• Number of burners: 1
• Construction: Porcelain-coated, steel body and cooking grates
• Elevation: Stand-Up
• Size & Weight: 25.6 x 39.8 x 39.8 in., 54lbs
• Assembly: Required

Before buying any grill, you should always take a look at its features because they will tell you right away whether the grill will suit your needs. So let’s take a closer look at this Char-Broil Patio-Bistro’s features:

240 Square Inch Cooking Area – 240 square inches would be enough to grill 12 burgers on it. It’s a pretty decent cooking area for a small tailgate crew. They go on to add an 80 inch warming rack, which is a special feature of this grill. So you can melt your butter and season your meat at the same time, which is very convenient. You also have folding side shelves on either side as extra prep space and room for your sauces.

Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron Cooking Grates – Porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grates promise a non-stick, easy to clean experience These grates won’t rust easily and you’ll also have even and sustainable heat throughout your cooking session.

Electric TRU-Infrared Cooking Power – Sitting underneath the cooking grates is a U-shaped infrared-powered electric burner pumping some 1750 watts of heat. An infrared burner means fast heating capability with minimum to no flare-ups.

Other Notable Features:

• Grill lid with side handle
• Lid-mounted temperature gauge
• Grease tray
• Double wheeled stand

Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill Cleaning & Maintenance:

If you’ve been around grills long enough, then you know how tricky it can sometimes get to clean them. Electricity and water don’t mix, so here’s how you go about cleaning the Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill:

Exterior Cleaning

The unit’s exterior is mostly porcelain-enameled steel, so wiping it with a damp cloth laced in normal dishwasher soap should do it. Just give the grill a good scrub and wipe off the lather with a wet towel, then allow it to dry.

Interior Cleaning

First remove the cast iron grates and throw them in a dishwasher or clean them with soap and water. Wipe the inside of the lid and cookbox with a damp cloth while being careful not to mess with the burner. You can do that after every use or once in a while depending on how messy it gets. The grease drains into a drip tray underneath, so remove the tray and wash the same way you would the cooking grates.

Storage

To store it away, make sure all the parts are intact and the electric cord is unplugged from both the grill and power outlet. Then cover it with a grill bag to keep away moisture, bugs and other foreign elements. The unit’s cover is available on Amazon for around $30.

Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill Portability:

If you’re shopping for a tailgating grill, you’ll probably need a grill that doesn’t take up too much trunk space and is easy to move around with. Well, the Char-Broil Patio-Bistro checks out where it matters most. You have wheels to begin with, so you won’t really feel the 50 pound weight of the unit, and the stand disassembles effortlessly.

The grill itself measures 25.6 x 39.8 x 39.8 inches so it can fit in your trunk when packed. Each side shelf measures 17 x 9 inches and they fold down so you won’t have to choose between convenience and space. But don’t forget your extension cord, as the power cord is only 4 feet long.

Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill Warranty:

The infrared burner and firebox on the Char-Broil Patio-Bistro come with a 5-year warranty. All other parts feature a 1-year warranty. The warranty is limited, meaning it only covers perforation, manufacturing and material defects only.

Dealing with warranty issues can be difficult and time consuming, especially if you’re not always keen with receipts. But you can skip all that business when you shop on Amazon.com which guarantees that you will receive reliable customer service and no hassle returns.

Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill Accessories:

Don’t limit the grill’s potential to just what the unit is made of. With slight adjustments and additions, you can bring out the foodie in you when you get these Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill accessories:

• Cast-iron griddle pan
• Grilling tool set
• Heat shield
• Inner reflector

You can get great deals on these and more commercially available accessories on Amazon.com, and even get free and fast shipping with the 1-3 Day Delivery if you’re a Prime member. 

Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill Replacement Parts:

What most manufacturers won’t tell you is that you should take good care of the grill as some parts are not replaceable. So, you’re better off knowing your options before spending your money. With the Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Grill, you can replace just about any part, from the heating element to the lid, handle, stand, controller knobs and temperature gauge. You can view all the replaceable parts here.

Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill Cost:

Scoring a great deal on a grill can be tough sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be if you know where to look. The Char-Broil Patio-Bistro costs around $200, but if we’re comparing prices, Amazon.com would be a clear winner where there’s always a way to save some money. You don’t even have to pay for shipping when you use the FREE Guaranteed 1-3 Day Amazon Delivery as a Prime member. 

What Do We Like?

At Simply Tailgating, we like grills that do exactly what they claim. That said, here’s what we like about the Char-Broil Patio-Bistro: 

Compact & Portability – This unit scores great for portability. They made up for the weight by attaching wheels to the stand, and the grill snuggles into a normal trunk comfortably. You can even take it apart and reassemble it onsite in under 20 minutes.

TRU-Infrared Technology – Their innovative TRU-Infrared feature can sear up your meat when called upon, and equally slow-burn it at the lower heat range. The burner is also quite invasive to the cooking area so you won’t really experience cold spots.

Durable – Porcelain-Coated construction means your grill won’t rust easily unless you give it a care-free attitude. The steel is also quite strong, unlike aluminum-based grills like the Blackstone 36” Griddle, that easily dent and feel flimsy.

Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill Complaints:

No grill is perfect, and the Char-Broil Patio-Bistro is no exception. There’s one drawback we thought you should know about as you evaluate your buying options.

Doesn’t retain heat effectively – Well, the grill does heat up to 500+ degrees without breaking a sweat, but that’s about it. Customers say once you open the lid, it loses a lot of heat in record time, and takes forever to recover. Others say they found it hard getting the meat to sear when the lid is open. The grill simply doesn’t get super hot which may work you up if you’re roasting thick steaks and your team likes their meat well done.

Other Tailgating Grills to Consider:

If you’re still not convinced that this grill is the right fit for you, check out these Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill alternatives:

• George Foreman Electric Grill – Almost similar features, heats up better
• Coleman RoadTrip 285 – Stand-up grill with wheels, roughly the same size, 3 independently controlled burners
• Weber Smokey Joe – Charcoal alternative, cheaper but smaller

Should You Buy the Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill?

There are tons of reasons why four out of five people loved their Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill. Tru-Infrared prevents flare-ups and locks in the juices superbly well. There are no hot spots or cold spots to avoid, just pure even heat. Again, the Patio-Bistro has a precision temperature dial to control the Tru-Infrared wide range from low and slow roasting to hot searing heat.

Also, if you live in an area where gas grills are restricted or you just don’t like dealing with the gas tank or charcoal, the electric Patio-Bistro is a perfect fit. With its small footprint and standard 120 volt plug on a 4 foot cord, it meets requirements from many high-rise balconies or small condo patios.

In addition, the porcelain-coated premium grates hold the heat and are easy to clean. Also, just drop wood chips directly on the grates for delicious smoky wood flavors, like apple and hickory. And finally, you can roll it into a corner for neat storage or leave it out as a handsome feature for neighbors to admire.

So if you think the Char-Broil Patio-Bistro Electric Grill is worth the money, you can buy it on Amazon.com where there are always deals and offers to take on, like the FREE 1-3 Day Delivery of you’re a Prime member.

What’s Hot

• Durable
• Portable
• TRU-Infrared technology

What’s Not

• Doesn’t retain heat effectively

Well, it’s a wrap, folks! If you still haven’t had your fill, you can find answers to frequently asked questions in the product’s Amazon page. If you feel we missed something or you would want to engage with us, feel free to chime in below in the comments section.

Chris