Weber Performer Premium 22-Inch Freestanding Charcoal Grill - Green

The design of this grill is pleasing to the eye, but, in my opinion, it does have a design flaw. The new design of the ash catcher, while looking great, is way too difficult to operate when compared to the one I had on my previous grill. That ash catcher was simply turned and dropped, while this new design requires a lot of effort to remove. One has to squeeze the handle to release it, but for a person that has arthritis, that's a near impossible task. The old design was superior and I'd replace it in a heartbeat if a replacement item was available. Also, the utensil hangar is nicely designed for utensils on a string, but my tongs consist of a metal band that's a little over 1 inch wide. When hung on the hanger it easily falls off, pointed end down usually landing on my foot -- OUCH!! Otherwise, it's a great grill.

I love the convenience of the table, bin and cover-holder. Customer service is wonderful!

Cooking on Weber cookers for over 50 yrs, I recently added a 22" Weber Performer Premium (charcoal) to our patio cookerie. After cooking 6-8 meals on it, I can say I love this grill. Towards making Very Good even better, I offer the following observations: • The upper grill includes two opposed "trap doors" for adding charcoal during long cooks (genius!), plus a 12" removable center grill portion that allows use of optional accessories like a wok, iron grate, etc (meh...). To prevent this circular section from dropping thru, it's suspended even with the rest of the grill surface by four horizontal pegs. If one of these pegs is bent or snaps off, that center insert will drop thru or tilt. Either way, dinner's in the ashes. Unfortunately, when hanging the cooking grill vertically from the provided slot while starting a fire, this removable center can - and does - easily fall from the now-vertical grill and hits edge first onto the concrete, bending one or more of those pegs. It's already happened to me. Twice. I'm now on the hunt for a replacement 22" cooking grill with the two trapdoors, but no removable center piece. I hate spending the additional money on this already expensive new cooker, but it should prove worth the cost, given the avg. length of time I own them. • As a former owner of 4 previous Webbers (2 charcoal, 2 gas) over 50+ years, I've always been impressed by their detailed documentation (assembly AND cooking guides), so when I opened the box to assemble my newest prize I was disappointed to find the instructions were limited to A) only confusing pictographs illustrating the steps with little/no printed instructions to illuminate the instruction and, B) at the rear of the instructions, a single page of cryptic cooking "hints", organized by food type. I acknowledge both of these complaints - and the 2nd one in particular - are likely to fade into memory as I adjust techniques and gain experience, but they've led to a less than spectacular honeymoon. It's true, you know: you get one shot at making a first impression, and it's difficult to imagine that the few pennies saved thru scrimping on documentation warrants customer frustrations during the important "launch phase" of a new cooker purchase, and particularly a premium priced selection such as this.

I love this grill. I've been wanting to get back to having a Weber grill for a long time now and so happy that I finally made the purchase. This grill is so versatile and I love having the attached table. I also own the 22" Weber Smokey Mountain and couldn't be happier with the Weber products as well as Weber's customer service.

I bought this a month and a half ago and I am love using it unless more than my gas grill which is also upper

Purchased this grill to replace a previous model I left when I relocated. Really like the tabletop compared to the previous one which was plastic. The only feature I didn't realize this grill didn't have that the other one had was the gas starter, this feature was what really sold me on the first purchase and the weber name. This was not realized till a week after purchase as that's when it was un-boxed. I really like the new cooking grate with all the options that you can use to use different cooking methods.

I bought this a year ago and will never go back to propane again

Love the grill. Some of the pieces were bent and I had to straighten out with a rubber mallet (easier than shipping back). The assembly instructions are not the best.

I just received this as a late Father's Day gift. During the initial inspection and assembly found the wheel axle missing, leg brackets broke, the table scratched, the lid chipped and some hardware missing. Was not impressed with the packaging of this grill. Sort of afraid to light it with the chipped lid. I don't want it coming off anymore. Bought a new Genesis II last year and it was perfect out of the box. So I know they can do it, but missed the mark on this one.

I've been using Weber Charcoal grills 38 years now. Had a 22" w/o table, thermometer, hand heat shield. I bought the Premium for the Table, Higher, Thermometer, handle heat shield, and no starter. Putting it together was fairly simple except for the lid holder Page 11 part 7 Tuck-Away Lid Holder & Lower Support Assembly, and Page 10 Steps 9,10 attention to details of the ash catcher handle facing the Cook. My Son In Law bought one already constructed and his handle faces the Charcoal Bin. Steps 15 & 16 Page 13 The worse part of the whole experience was the "Factory Misalignment" of a Hole on the Table. I Manually straddled all the screws until all were seated. But this one would not align. The bolt would only screw 1/4 of the way in when I met resistance. I repeated twice all the holes on the Table, manually screwing them each a little at a time. But the first front hole was misaligned to one side. It stopped after 1/4" if that far. I didn't have the strength to continue (67 yrs.old.) I used my electric/battery screwdriver with no improvement. My drill was working fine. It was going down until something came loose in the tube and it just spun in-place. It still sticks up about 1/4". That's the biggest disappointment. As with most first time using of a new Car, Computer Programs, Cell Phones, there are adjustments. I am Left handed in a Right handers World. The table is on the Right side. Thirty-six years ago I bought a side table. Installed it on the Left side. I just have to adjust. The Lid is stored on the Left instead of the Rear Hook. I have to Adjust and change hands for storing the Lid. The Gourmet Grate is fine, but the Center keeps falling out when I hang it. So obviously I have to remove it. The Table is not Gray Composite but maybe an Enamel. I am afraid of scratching it with metal objects. Well for now that's it for the Cons. Pros- It's really Fun. I don't have to remove the Lid and hang it real quick before burning my fingers sometimes. Now its Cool. I love the Thermometer facing me and the vent on the opposite side of the Lid. I love using the Thermometer. I still use my watch instead of the Timer. I like the Charcoal Bin. I love the Ash Catcher. The overall extra Height is easier on my bad Back. The Grease catching pans work great along the Charcoal Baskets. I love Indirect heat cooking on this Grill. I can't wait to buy the Gourmet Accessories. 8838 Chicken Roaster, and 8834 are first on my list. Then the 8840. Don't forget to do the Dishes. Keep your Weber clean. After 36 years I still have a lot to learn. That's why the Jury Is Still Out. Thanks You Mr. Weber. Just like Roy and Dale, "Happy Trails".

1 user found this review helpful