I love my Cobb-ecues. I have one that I use on my sailboat in Alaska and one in Maui. I find that they cook well and make the meat tender, but that I have to use more briquettes than they recommend to keep the heat up in the wind and to keep the cooking surface hot enough so it will brown the meat. I put fish in a aluminum foil boat on the cooking surface and add smoke chips to the fire pit...mmmmmmmmmm!
Pros: Efficient-A bag of briquettes lasts 3 months cooking 4 times a week. The food is moist, with a wonderful flavor and yet no cinders from the fire.
Cons: Cleaning the fire pit/drip chamber is a messy chore. I usually put it off for a couple of weeks. I keep the drip area coated with olive oil so it does not harden. On the second one I bought, about a square inch of the non stick cooking surface came off. It has stabilized (no more has come off) and still works well. If you like your meat charred, you will not like the Cobb.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
I purchased this item after seeing it in action on trip to England. On one occasion my son cooked a large chicken on the upright chicken stand with the dome extension ring (without which it would not fit, upright, under the dome) and the result was probably the most delicious chicken I'd ever tasted. I was sold!
Upon my return to California I immediately ordered the Cobb CB220 Premier Kitchen-In-A-Bag, which explicitly includes the chicken stand and dome extension ring (both in the product image and the product description). I first ordered one from Amazon Warehouse Deals in "Used, like new" condition, to save about $20 on the new price. It arrived early and was indeed like new (I doubt it had even actually been used) but the dome extension ring and chicken rack were missing.
In a chat with an Amazon customer service rep I was offered a refund and a credit towards a "New" Cobb CB220 Premier Kitchen-In-A-Bag, from Amazon (not Amazon Warehouse Deals) to make the price the same as the one I was returning, and free 2-day shipping, as I had planned to use it at the weekend. I ordered it, and it arrived on time, but the package contents were identical to the one I was returning: no dome extension ring and no chicken rack.
( The missing components can be seen in this image from the product page: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81FzfRm8HPL._SL1500_.jpg )
While these missing components are not expensive they were crucial in my decision to buy the "Cobb CB220 Premier Kitchen-In-A-Bag" kit rather than the (much cheaper) Cobb CB041 Premier (with no accessories) or the Cobb CB040 Premier (with some accessories, but fewer than the CB220)
My 2-star rating is not for the product in general (which is amazing, when complete) but to draw attention to Amazon's seriously misleading product description (I did not receive the product as advertised), and for the expense and inconvenience of having to return two very large packages.
I have since found the item at a different vendor (not through Amazon) at a slightly lower price and with free shipping. And I have the opportunity to talk on the phone with that vendor, before purchasing, to ensure I get all the accessories that are supposed to be included in the kit.
EDIT : The other vendor contacted me to inform that they currently have the CB220 on back-order, but that the kit is assembled by Cobb, not by themselves (or by Amazon in the case of the products I purchased) so my 2-star rating stands for now, but now reflects a discrepancy on the part of Cobb, not Amazon, for providing a product that falls short of the product description.
EDIT 2: I have since discovered, by browsing the UK Cobb website (not the US site search "cobb uk sets" to find the page), that in addition to the basic Cobb Premiere Grill/Oven they assemble seven 'sets' each of which contains some permutation of accessories. At the bottom of the range the set contains only the grill/oven and a carry bag. At the top of the range is the Kitchen-in-a-Bag, containing all the accessories, as listed and pictured on Amazon. What Amazon delivered to me, twice, however was not the Kitchen-in-a-Bag, it was the Cobb Premier Combo++, which contains everything from the Kitchen-in-a-Bag except the dome extension and chicken rack. These kits are assembled (by Cobb, I believe) and packed in unmarked plain brown boxes, so there is no way to distinguish between them until the box is opened.
Best Deals for Cobb CB220 Premier Kitchen-In-A-Bag
I have wanted one of these grills for years and finally bought one on Amazon.com last summer. I have a disability so standing in front of the traditional grill doesn't work. I can put this one anywhere and even transport it (HOT)on my lap when I'm in a wheelchair (safely)! This is a very well ventilated unit that lights quickly, heats up fast and it's almost impossible to turn out anything short perfect food. It's a grill, smoker, roaster and all-purpose frypan all in one! AWESOME!!
Honest reviews on Cobb CB220 Premier Kitchen-In-A-Bag
Our first use was chicken it was so moist and delisious can't wait to make pizza. Love the way it all packe together makes it so easy to take on our fifth wheel.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Cobb CB220 Premier Kitchen-In-A-Bag
My review does not reflect the grill itself, but the advertising for the grill set. I ordered this set, but the dome extender and chicken rack were not in it. I contacted Amazon, and they were very nice...sent me another set...but it was the same. I contacted Amazon again and told them about the problem. I was told they could not just send the missing items. I kept the first order, because this is a bit hard to find all together, even though I'm essentially out $34.95, the cost of the extender. A cook book (useless) was apparently substituted for the extender, because it was in both sets. I was told Amazon would look into it, and that this set wouldn't be for sale until it was investigated, but here it is a week later. I don't know if it has been resolved or not, but I would be VERY careful in ordering it. I did notice that the price has been reduced since I bought it about a week ago,(what the heck??) so that makes me a bit suspicious. Amazon, if you read these reviews, I really think you should send me the set I ordered if the problem has been solved. I'll gladly return what was sent to me.
