We recently downsized from a 2,200-square-foot home on California’s central coast to an 898-square-foot apartment in the San Francisco Bay Area. As passionate grillers and frequent entertainers, we regretted leaving behind our large Napoleon Mirage. Our new balcony offered far less outdoor space, and the Napoleon was simply too big to keep. We also wanted a grill that would be easy to transport for road trips and RV travel, so we focused our search on compact, portable models.
While researching tabletop and freestanding grills, we found the Char-Broil Patio Bistro® TRU-Infrared™ Gas Grill. The grill stood out for its clean design, compact footprint, portability, and reasonable price. An important plus was the TRU-Infrared™ cooking system, a feature we had enjoyed on our Napoleon but hadn’t seen on many other small grills. We also appreciated the generous stainless-steel cooking grate: at 320 square inches it offered enough space to feed our family of three comfortably and still leave room for extras.
In practice, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro has met our needs as a smaller grill and delivered most of the characteristics we wanted: portability, solid cooking performance, and ease of use.
Key Benefits:
- Compact footprint that fits small balconies, patios, and RV spaces
- Straightforward, quick assembly
- Easy to season and maintain—cleaning is simple
- Stainless-steel grate prevents small items from falling through
- 320 square inches of cooking area fits a Lodge 10″ skillet with the lid closed, and can accommodate a larger skillet or Dutch oven with the lid open
- Lightweight and convenient for transport
- TRU-Infrared™ technology promotes more even cooking and reduces flare-ups
Considerations:
- The grill lacks a built-in foldable side shelf or a dedicated place to hang utensils—adding one would increase convenience
- The gas version is available only in black; electric models offer more color options
- The steel lid and handle retain heat—exercise caution when children are nearby
- The ignition may not always light on the first attempt. If the burner fails to ignite, wait for any accumulated gas to disperse before trying again
Overall, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro® TRU-Infrared™ Gas Grill is a well-designed, portable option that balances size, cooking performance, and value—ideal for small-space living, RV travel, and anyone seeking a reliable compact grill. Thanks to Felicia and Neal Corcoran for sharing their review, and to Char-Broil for providing the grill for testing.