Napoleon PT450RB - First Impressions

"After some lengthy research, procrastination and theoretical grill chats on this forum, I have finally bought a grill and will be able to speak from experience.

After considering several gas grills in $1000 to $1500 range, I have finally settled for the gas grill as noted in the subject line. You can read about how I got here by clicking on the link below.

http://forums.about.com/ab-bbq/messages?msg=1932.1

Since I saw and explored floor display of this grill at the the dealer, I felt like I already knew the grill, but operating it was a whole new experience. After hooking up propane tank (I wish if it had a slide-out tray or some mechanism that will make changing tanks easier) and checked for leaks, I fired up the grill. Outside temperature was 42F at 6pm, and it took 15 minutes for the grill thermometer to read 500F and another 5 minutes to climb up to 550F then I turned off the grill. Not too bad given the ambient temperature. I also let the side burner go at full blast for 5 minutes. About an hour later, intermal temperature had cooled off to ambient temperature.

I never got to see actual side burner for this grill until today and I was quite disappointed when I saw it. Weber Summit and Genesis both use cast metal for their side burners, but Napoleon's side burner is basically a flimsy pressed sheet aluminium. Also, instead of electric igniter it has the rotary kind. The build was more appropriate for a cheap camping stove than that for a $1000 grill. On the other hand, it does have a broad stainless steel surface and detachable lid that allows the use of a large wok or a skillet. If I knew about the buid quality of the side burner, I would have held off buying it until a little later to see if I really need it or not.

I cooked burgers. Also cooked mushrooms and sliced peppers on the griddle. Griddle is heavy stainless steel and it retains heat beautifully. The vegetables came out perfectly - slight char but mostly juicy and warm. The grill surface had no obvious hot and cold spots. All six burgers that were spaced evenly out on the remaining grate area cooked evenly with beautiful wavy sear marks from solid stainless steel wavy grates on both sides and nicely browned everyhere. There were some flareups especially when I opened the lids to turn the burger, but given this was a fatty meat (80% lean) meant to break in the grill, i am not too concerned about the flare-ups. The lid operation was smooth and effortless as anticipated. Something that has been quite an issue for me when I was choosing a grill.

Luxidio working surfaces, what I loathed most about this grill, was extremely useful with its generous area - I owe these shelves an apology for bias and unfair treatment.

I was aware of the lack of tool hooks within arm's reach from front of the grill so I bought Weber Tool Holder 1201 and installed it on the leading edge of condiment rack. It is meant for 18" dia. charcoal grill but the metal is malleable and easily conforms to different contours (just try not to bend at the welds as this will most likely break the tool holder). The lack of convenient tool hook is always an issue with grills with condiment racks, but this solution is great and I may get another holder. In a perfect world, Napoleon should design a tool holder without sacrificing the condiment tray.

I am getting really tired and will have to end here, but more to follow as I proceed to use the grill."