I just bought, assembled, and cooked on this griddle for the first time (there was some wind and it was in the high 30s while cooking.) This review focuses on those elements and does not evaluate how well this griddle holds up over time. I was hesitant to purchase this griddle due to it being a new/refreshed model and the lack of real reviews, so here you go and hope this helps.
Images (in order):
1: Seasoning - 1 coat
2: Seasoning - 5 coats
3: White bread test to show where it's hot/cold
4: The prep before cooking - space on the griddle shelves
5: How it looks after cooking + cleaning
Build quality: The griddle uses what feels like quality materials. Nothing feels flimsy. There are multiple (I believe) heat shield elements, blocking heat from traveling throughout the cabinet underneath. The placement of the propane tank makes sense and feels very secure. The space to the side, while it feels generous, is quite small/difficult to use due to the three wires connecting the base and the back side. The knobs feel premium and operate smoothly. You can close the lid while cooking, but the grill only recommends doing so for no more than 15 minutes. The side shelves are substantial and very sturdy. Overall it took about an hour and a half to assemble with the good instructions. In summary, the griddle feels sturdy and dependable.
Griddle: It's fairly smooth for rolled steel. No warping in mine. The griddle contains L bars/brackets attached to the underside likely to prevent warping. I've seen no issue there, but time will tell. It seasoned easily and cooks wonderfully. The hole for draining sucks, though. It's both too small and in just an awkward place for actually scraping oil/grease/fat into. It's 100% fine/a good location while actively cooking, though.
Burners/cooking: The burners are nicely spaced and truly span across the entire griddle well. I've attached photos, but you can see a few things. 1) As with any griddle, the hot spots are around the burners. Due to the number of burners in the smaller space, there is very even temperature across the griddle. 2) The only cold spots are in the back corners and the first 3-4 inches in the very front, but all the way left to right. 3) Temperatures on high range between 500 - 550 F through the middle. The area above my left burner was consistently lower in temp, but the rest were very similar after running on high for 30+ minutes. 4) The wind I had was lower but seems to have little to no effect on the flames underneath thanks to the (seemingly) good shielding
Pros:
- Very even heating
- Big cooking surface
- Build quality
- You can use the lid while cooking
- Price
Cons:
- Drainage hole sucks
- Cabinet space is limited/awkward