Product Name: Char-Broil TRU Infrared Patio Bistro Electric Grill
Manufacturer: Char-Broil LLC
Rating: 3 of 5
Shipping: FREE Shipping
Color: Multiple Colors Available
Power Source: Electric
Verdict: A decent electric grill for under $150
To say the performance of electric grills can be hit or miss is an understatement. With some electric grills, you might as well be throwing your burger on a radiator as you’ll get the same result.
The Char-Broil Patio Bistro Infrared Electric Grill outperforms most electrical grills available today by leveraging their 70+ years of experience manufacturing grills. Starting as the W.C. Bradley Company in the 40’s and eventually changing their name and brand to Char-Broil.
They’ve innovated over the years resulting in a compact electric grill that maintains its temperatures well. Its infrared cooking system results in juicier meat as well. But is it worth a closer look? Find out the pros and cons and you be the judge…
Pros:
Design
One of the best things about the Char-Broil Patio Bistro Infrared Electric Grill is its design and the many aspects that go into it. The first and most obvious aspect of the design is its size. This grill is one of the best choices if space is limited. It’s ideal for balconies, condo’s, and small patio areas.
Its design also lends its self to portability. With two wheels on the back of the stand and a handle under the temperature controls the Patio Bistro can be easily moved and tucked out of the way so you can make the most of limited space when you’re not grilling.
Char-Broil has also kept city dwellers in mind offering 5 different colors options (Black, Blue, Graphite, Chocolate, and Red) to coordinate with the funkiest of small outdoor spaces.
Lastly, the Patio Bistro wastes no space when it comes to the grilling surface. The porcelain coated premium cooking grates extend to the absolute edge of the grill maximizing an impressive 240 square inch cooking surface.
Infrared Cooking System
Another nice aspect is the Char-Broil Patio Bistro’s Infrared Cooking System. Some lesser quality electric grills simply heat food like a space heater heats a room resulting in a dry less flavorful product.
Char-Broil uses its infrared heating system in most of its grills. By nature, infrared heat works by evenly heating surrounding objects rather than the food itself which tends to dry out food less than traditional convection style grilling.
Temperature Control
Good electric grills work well in cold weather, the wind, and rain as their temperature control is maintained digitally. In other words, if the grill’s temperature dips, it will automatically heat itself up rather than having to stoke the coals or turn up the propane.
The removable dial-control plugs into any common 120V power outlet and provides 1750 watts of grilling power which allows the grill to reach temperatures of up to 550 degrees which is pretty good for an electric grill.
Capacity
As mentioned above the Char-Broil Patio Bistro maximizes the cooking surface area with 240 square inches of primary cooking surface and an 80 square inch raised secondary cooking surface gives it a total of 320 inches. Large enough for 8 – 12 burgers.
Price
At under $150 there is a tremendous amount of value to the Patio Bistro. We found this to be priced in the middle of the electric grill category however its quality is far better than the electric grills priced just below it. Conversely to find an electric grill that outperforms the Patio Bistro plan on dropping a couple hundred dollars more which is why we see it as a value.
Cons:
Assembly
Putting any grill together is one of the worst things one can find on their Saturday afternoon to-do list. Unfortunately, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro is no exception. There are many pieces that need to be bolted screwed and connected. Because it’s smaller it isn’t quite as bad as a monster sized gas grill but none the less, plan on at least a couple of hours and a bit of a headache.
Sturdiness
The grill’s sturdiness goes hand and hand with the assembly. Because there are some many individual pieces that need to be connected together, over time the connections can become loose making the grill feel wobbly. Its portability also exasperates the issue. The more the grill gets moved around the greater the likelihood parts become loose adding to the issue.
One last item of note is that this grill should absolutely be covered. Over time, it will rust if it’s not. Do yourself a favor and invest in a cover from day one to keep it from becoming a rust bowl.
Check Charbroil Patio Bistro Prices On Amazon
Bottom Line
Our Rating: 3 out of 5
Amazon Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (1200+ Reviews)
We recommend this grill based on its value in the electric grill market. While you can find better-constructed grills that outperform the Patio Bistro you will also pay a lot more. The grill does what it claims and its design complements any outdoor space making the Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Patio Bistro Electric Grill a solid buy for anyone looking for a grill that will work well in a small outdoor space.
Read More Reviews
This sounds right up my alley. I live in a small one bedroom apartment with a tiny patio. I love to grill and have had several small charcoal grills. They’re nice but I’m getting tired of all the cleanup associated with charcoal.
Do you know if the legs can come off easily? I just might be able to fit it in my patio closet if the legs came off or maybe folded up.
I agree – one of the hassles of grilling in small spaces is the clean up. This grill is fixed to the legs and the stand however there are many tabletop models that might work well for you. Good luck
I’ve used many door grills in the past but this be is so much better! It cooks food evenly and is big enough for large family gatherings! 5 stars all the way!
Certainly sounds like a good idea, probably wouldn’t need dismantling could be put away in the garage or shed. Really like the idea of very little clean up though.