Weber 10020 Smokey Joe Silver Charcoal Grill, Black

Though this is a portable grill, it is terrific for at home use if you're single, or have a small balcony apartment. It takes very little space, and is easy to maneuver when cleaning time comes.

I've used this gem for years. My apartments, on the whole, mandated the simplicity and efficiency offered up by the Smokey Joe.

A great feature is the rounded top. This enables better smoking, as air and smoke circulates more fluidly.

The downsides:
The legs aren't as sturdy as they could be. Given time, a bit of bumping around and general abuse, and the screwed on legs might turn askew. If you notice this while the grill is hot, you've a problem. The solution is to keep them tight during non-use.

The air intake at the bottom gets clogged with ashes. A key to good charcoal grilling is the manipulation of air flow. The intake might be open, but stopped up. If you are diligent to clean the ahes, you'll be OK.

Because the grill is so close to the ground, you need to be careful. Unlike most of Weber's grill, this one os also apt to getting kicked over, run into by dogs, cars and children.

I fully recommend Weber's Smokey Joe. Now, I'm hungry. Time to stir the coals and pop on a few brats.

Anthony Trendl

I've had my Smokey Joe for just about two years, and it was a replacement for a Smokey Joe that I had for 6 or 7 years before that. It's my only barbecue grill and I use it at least 15 or 20 times a year. I leave it outside for the entire grilling season, uncovered and unsheltered. The only maintenance it gets is emptying the old ashes and cleaning the grill with a wire brush before each use. It is very durable.

As a barbecue, the only really useful feature it lacks is the ability to change the distance between the hot coals and whatever is being grilled. Other than that, it does as good a job as any unit regardless of size.

If you like charcoal grilling, but there are only one or two of you to cook for, this is an obvious and inexpensive choice. You won't be disappointed.

If you're short on space, cooking for only 2 people or grill only a couple of times a year, this will be the perfect grill! You'll get the same exceptional cooking results and flavors with Smokey Joe as you would with the larger Weber charcoal grills. This extremely durable grill is an outstanding value, and also makes an ideal "second grill" for those with larger Webers who wish to cook items using "direct-heat" and "indirect-heat" at the same time. Not only does Weber provide great recipes in the owners manual, they also have additional recipes on their Web site at www.weber.com! Love my Weber Smokey Joe and won't part with it or stop using it even though I also now have the "One-Touch Silver".

The smaller sized Weber kettle comes through with all the quality and performance as it's larger big brothers. For hamburgers, medium steaks, shish-kabobs, and small family get-togethers, the Smokey Joe lives up to its' family name. Food is prepared to your liking in quick order and domed cover returns heat from charcoal to cook evenly and retained heat and adjustable vents on top and bottom greatly reduces flare-up. Best way to start charcoal with this unit, is with electric starter, and only drawback we found is accumulation of ash in bottom of grill after a few uses. Cleans up easily, and 14" grilling surface is able to meet most needs.