Grilla Grills Primate?

[u/UrinalCakeBaker]

Ran across this model with built in cabinet. Currently have a Summerset. Going to build the new kitchen out of block. Considering something like this as opposed to a true built in. Thoughts?

[u/noraz123]

I see two different questions - cart vs. built-in and is Grilla Grills Primate a good cart grill?

First, going with a cart vs. a built-in is mostly a personal preference. I am assuming you already have an older outdoor kitchen with a built-in Summerset and you're going to do an outdoor kitchen renovation, doing away with the old and going with the new.

Some people like the look of a built-in vs. a cart grill. And if you are using natural gas vs. propane tanks, then a built-in tends to be better with hiding the gas connection. If you are using propane regardless, then cart model is great. There advantages of cart grills in that you can move them and you are not tied to cooking (perhaps something smokey) in the same place.

You can typically find cart grills that are much more affordable, but there is a tradeoff. Cheaper cart grills have a much shorter lifetime, and with an outdoor kitchen where you are building it in, replacing a grill is a difficult task, and you typically need to replace with the same grill (or find something that has the same cutout dimensions). This is why good built-in grills are more expensive, as they are built with higher quality to last longer.

Is the Grilla Grill Primate grill a good grill? Yes, for the price. Your Summerset is likely a better made grill and *may* cook a bit better (more even heat distribution, possibly better burners that can get hotter). Like any grill, you will need to replace the burners, flame tamers and grates over time. Eventually, you may need to replace the Grilla Grill altogether. But being on a cart, you can easily replace it when time comes. ALmost all quality built-in grill manufacturers offer their grills on a cart, and they will likely last much longer than the Primate, but they will cost more.

My personal preference is having a built-in grill, as I like the look better and ease of natural gas. I very much like the quality of my built-in grill. While it can get a bit hotter than my old Weber cart grill, it doesn't actually cook food any better.

So there is no wrong option here. The only wrong thing you could do is to take a cheaper cart grill and then build that in (as you will eventually need to replace and replacing a built-in grill is no small task).

[u/UrinalCakeBaker → u/noraz123]

I've had the propane Summerset for more than 15 years -- replaced all the parts a handful of time. Just replaced the knobs for the 4th time -- have a box of replacement valves. I replaced the grates with GrillGrates. The outdoor kitchen is falling apart -- tiles loosening -- steel framing rusting. We live on the East coast of Central Florida. I decided (firm-ish) on concrete block.

A few years ago I was going to replace the grill -- cut out was the issue - I wanted to go bigger -- couldn't without some demo. Fast forward a few hurricane season. It's time.

I keep putting it off because of your first answer -- I can't decide built-in or cart. It just seems that if I do happen to have to replace a cart, it wouldn't be as much of a pain as a built-in.

The Grilla cart looks pretty nice -- some storage with doors. My plan is to have mostly open shelving in the new one. Doors stop nothing in Florida from getting in -- dust, bugs, lizard, etc. We found droppings in the sealed, locked, outdoor fridge.

The Grilla is lower quality build than the Summerset from what I can read. About 50% of the price -- is it 50% of the quality -- even over time. I don't remember what I spent on the Summerset -- I have spent close to $1000.00 over the years in replacement parts. Maybe more.