Weber Q 200 Portable Propane Grill, Silver Series

The Q is a good looking, stylish grill. Added to that are clever design features (folding trays, ultra-light composite shell), a high quality regulator, and a cast iron cooking grate that weighs more than the rest of the grill. Weber has also designed accessories that add to the functionality of the Q. Out of the box, assembly is a breeze. A useful Owner's Guide and a nice recipe card booklet are provided.

I've cooked one meal so far. The food cooked evenly across the whole surface. Once it was preheated, the medium gas setting was plenty to keep the heat up. I was very impressed with how well it cooked. Also, don't be fooled by the thought of a portable grill being small -- the Q can handle a lot of food. I had 4 sausages and 12 large shrimp on it and there was plenty of room for more.

As a longtime dedicated charcoal guy, I find that gas grilling just doesn't provide the same flavor. But the Q has won me over for quick, clean, and convenient weeknight cooking. The idea of being able to take it on the road adds to the value. It may even prove to be a handy double-burner for weekend barbecues. Thanks, Weber, for another great grill.

(Update: I've now grilled potato planks, chicken breast, pork chops, pizza, polenta, pinwheel skirt steaks, garlic bread, eggplant, mushrooms, and beef skewers. All have turned out pefectly. Can't say enough about the cooking grate and evenness of cooking across the entire surface.)

The Q is a perfect hybrid grill. It works great for everyday cooking at home (when I don't feel like starting up the charcoal) and doubles as an awsome beach grill. I can't tell you how great the work surfaces on the side of the grill are. This is an amazing feature on a portable grill. No more leaving grilling accesories in the sand!

The first two uses, the food stuck to the grill a little bit, but now that the grill is "seasoned" I don't have that problem. Be sure to pre-heat the grill (lid closed) for at least 10 min on High, then you can drop the heat down for cooking. So far I have cooked steak, chicken, fish, hot dogs and burgers on the grill. The grill heats evenly, and cooks evenly. It took me a little while to get used to the heat settings. I used to cook only on charcoal. However, working with the grill for a while, everything comes out evenly cooked every time. Grilling time is the same on my full size grill and the Q.

Last weekend was the first beach outing I had 8 hotdogs and 4 burgers going on the grill, with plenty of space on the sides to toast the buns. The group was honestly "amazed" with my portable grill. The electric starter works great at home on the deck, but just in case I recommend bringing a lighter with you to the beach. The wind was just enough to keep the electric starter from lighting the burner. Once started with a lighter the grill stayed lit and perfomed like a champ.

If you plan to use this grill often, invest in the 20-lb Tank adapter hose, and a larger propane tank. To save on size, and still keep the grill portable, I purchased a 10lb external tank. I have used the grill constantly over the past few weeks and still have plenty of gas left for grilling.

By the way, assembly is a breeze the Q grill comes almost fully assembled right out of the box. As I recall, I needed to install the handle on the lid, and the drip tray, that was all.

My next investment will be the rolling cart. While portable, the grill still weighs about 40lbs because of the cast iron cooking grate. One person can carry the grill, but it is probably best carried by two - protect your back :)

So what business do I have buying this Weber Q gas grill? In a word -- Convenience.

I've owned Weber charcoal grills (still have a Weber Smokey Joe!), and decided that it was time to get a gas grill, and wanting one that I could bring to tailgate parties, I settled on the Weber Q. The other portable grills by other manufacturers are basically silly griddle pans with raised "grill" ribs to put marks on the food.

The Weber Q is a real-man's grill -- it cooks with FIRE. And the cast-iron grill grate is no chrome-plated joke. It's serious business and professional quality. You can tell by the weight, as it weighs a good 25+ lbs.

For now, I'm using it with the 1 lb propane canisters, which I found in the power tools section of the hardware store (I guess these canisters are used for welding/cutting torches). I will definitely invest in the hose adapter so I can use a 20 lb propane tank.

I also bought the rolling cart and the vinyl cover, both excellent purchases and what I would consider basic necessities. The rolling cart is stable, although the wheels are kinda cheap plastic, but it does the job. The vinyl cover is heavy-weight and fits over the grill like a glove.

OK, the taste test. First, a word of warning from experience -- wash the wax coating off the grill before use. This tidbit of info was buried somewhere in the Weber website FAQ. At first, my food tasted a little funny, like gas or oil, and I was reluctant to write this review. But, after a few rounds of grilling, and scraping the grill down with a Weber grill brush, food is tasting great. I've cooked hot dogs, hamburgers, and rib-eye steaks. All came out delicious, evenly cooked, and with perfect grill marks.

Final words -- It's an excellent choice for a portable gas grill. Although I prefer the taste of food cooked over charcoal, when it comes to cooking with gas and for convenience and portability sake, this Weber Q grill is smokin'.