Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 46
 Good charcoal grill July 14, 2000
T. Chan
17 out of 24 found this review helpful
This is a good grill, but I say that with a disclaimer - unless you absolutely insists on charcoal, go with Weber's gas-n-go grill as your portable. It's not so much that this grill has any problem as the gas-n-go is really excellent. This grille is about three times as heavy and you have to lug the charcoal around. At home, I don't mind, but when I'm tailgating at a concert or game, I'd just as much like to worry about it. The Gas-N-Go gives you the best flavor I've seen for the five gas grills I have and is easier to carry and clean.
 I replaced a no name brand with this one! April 22, 2004
Donald Smith (Martinez, CA United States)
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
When I first moved into my apartment with a small balcony I wanted a little bar-b-que. I went to a large store and bought a brand X never-heard-of-it-before bar-b-que. The silver finish disappeared before the coals finished burning off the starter fluid.I took it back and got this Weber. I LOVE it. It cooks great. Steaks for two, burgers for four, chicken drumsticks for up to six (depending on how hungry you are). It seems to cook pretty evenly, without hotspots other than right in the center of the grill, and if you are only cooking one piece of meat, the center is fine. I have to agree that it would be nice if there was an ash dump, but here's a thought--your BBQ is small--WAIT UNTIL IT COOLS, take out the grill, hold the grill over your dumpster, turn the grill upside down. All done! *****Final Thoughts*****
This is a great grill, and it cooks well, but don't plan on feeding the 5,000 because its just a little guy. Despite negative reviews regarding convection, this grill cooks very well, and evenly. I have to agree on the ash emptying level, but I think it's easy to deal with.
You really can't beat a Weber grill March 26, 2006
A photographer (Planet Earth)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
I had one of the original Smokey Joe grills when I was single (a long time ago). I used it at my apartment and took it on camping trips. It worked well at home, but it was a pain to take camping. It was tippy and always fell over in the truck, sending the grates, lid and kettle all over the place. The Gold model remedied that shortcoming. The lid locks down tight for portability. The tripod leg system still isn't as stable as a four-leg system would be but the Gold model is not as tippy as the standard model I used to have. (I wonder whatever happened to my old Smokey Joe?)
The Gold model also remedied the other shortcoming of the original Smokey Joe--that silly pan to catch the ashes and cinders. It never worked well, the vent in the bottom would clog up, the ashes blew all over the place in the wind and it was a royal pain to clean up. The Gold model holds the ashes in the belly of the kettle so there's less mess. I line the bottom of the kettle with aluminum foil, set fire to the charcoal and, after everything cools down, I just pick up the foil and dump the ashes with little left to clean up.
The Smokey Joe works great for indirect cooking of small roasts or other small, but thick, cuts of meat. Put the charcoal on a side of the kettle with a vent, put the meat on the other side. Close the vent on the kettle on the meat side, open the vent on the fire side, open the lid vent and put the vent holes over the side with the meat. It creates a draft inside the kettle that works extremely well. The size of the grill prevents true slow cooking but this modified indirect method works extremely well.
I have to disagree with a previous reviewer who said the venting system didn't work and the charcoal fire goes out. It just doesn't happen if you get the fire going properly to begin with. I love it that the vents are on the sides of the kettle instead of underneath the coals.
The Smokey Joe Gold is for our RV. It fits in the storage compartment and if it tips over it doesn't create a big mess. It's perfect for cooking and relaxing around an isolated campsite or adding a little downhomeness to those concrete parking lots they call RV parks that we sometimes have to use when traveling. It's a great improvement over the original Smokey Joe if you need a portable grill to take along with you.
We always go back to our Webers... June 11, 2002
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
We have owned a weber of some type for over 25 years, (charcoal that is). This Smokey Joe is the greatest. You can jusify firing up a small load of charcoal for just a few burgers or steaks with this one. Haul in the boat to the beach. Haul it in the car for a picnic. You won't be sorry you spent the $ on this even as a second grill to your big one.
excellent grill makes great gift July 18, 2002
Edward K. Perry (summerfield, fl United States)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
we've used the smokey joe for 10-12 years,had to replace the original 2 years ago. we gave each of our three children one for xmas.you won't find a better grill for steaks, burgers or dogs and we also use it for a slab of ribs occasionly. it vents well,which means you can control how your meat is cooked. the gold smokey is built even better than the original smokey, we will get one as soon as our smokey wears out, maybe 9-10 years from now! don't be fooled by lookalikes, get the weber.
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