I live in Florida where the weather can tear the grill apart and looking for replacement parts every few years seems to be the local rule. Previously, I lived by the sea in South Carolina. Want to put your grill on the deck? Great – it will last a year. While the longevity of the grill is still in question, quality and functionality remain my top picks when buying these cooking power tools. Recently, I stumbled upon Monument Grills, a direct-to-consumer brand that also sells online through The Home Depot. It didn't take long before we asked Monument Grill for a review so we could see how it stacked up.
While the features like the inserts in the Stok Quattro 4-burner grill impress, the build quality and look of the 4-burner Monument grill (model 35633) made me curious about the low price of $369. The company only has six models to choose from. Two with Clearview covers (24633, 35633), two in black coated steel (24633, 13892), and two with searing side burners (24367, 35633). The models mix and match these features to create six grill combinations (see below).
Monument 4 Burner Propane Gas Grill Capabilities (Model 35633)
The grill we chose for review (model 35633) costs $369 and has a nice set of features for the price. First, you get 4 main burners, 1 side burner and 1 side burner. No need to guess what your food is doing, the ClearView glass window on the front makes it easy to see, and the thermometer is fixed in the middle. Appliance-grade glass can get greased up over time, but you can always clean it like you would an oven window (baking soda and water).
A separate battery compartment holds four AA batteries that power the blue LED lights surrounding each control knob. Monument Grills claim this makes grilling evenings easier. I don't know too many people who grill in total darkness, but I will say one thing. Because the knob has a line marking the temperature setting, the blue LED actually provides a way to know where the controls are in the dark. The light from the burner will help you see your food.
So, yes, you can technically use this grill in total darkness – we observed it in completely dark stores. How long an LED will last is anyone's guess, however, LEDs generally don't draw much power. Four AA batteries should suffice for your casual use, provided the batteries don't corrode.
Build Quality Monument 4 Burner Gas Grill
With the grill, #buildqualitymatters. One of the great things about Monument Grills is that they are more complicated to assemble than most. If you like that kind of stuff, you'll really enjoy the process. If not, then you may need to pay someone to assemble it for you. Doors, lids, and side frames are all 430 stainless steel. This is the same steel you'll find inside premium appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators. You can also find it on car trim. It has excellent heat resistance and good corrosion resistance. The 4 main burners and two side burners are made of more corrosion resistant 304 stainless steel. This is also typical kitchen sink steel.
Searing burners are expected ceramic. All told, you can cook approximately 72,000 BTUs using the 513 square inches of main cooking area and 210 square inches of warming shelf area. The cooking grates feature ceramic coating, cast iron and stainless steel flame regulators that try to even out the heat from the burners.
A single AA battery (yes, 5 total) powers the electronic push button ignition, which provides us with the arc in addition to the burner on the right. The removable grease tray has a nice wide funnel that looks like it will cover all the available bottom area. This will keep your tank and lower cabinets from getting covered in those delicious drips. The casters look pretty solid for grilling, and the first two lock to prevent movement while cooking. I once parked one on the edge of a small patio and forgot to lock the casters…no one likes a close call when grilling!
Six models to choose from (we hope)
While the Monument Grill has six models to choose from, we've seen all but two of them drop like flies to "sold out" status. Now, hopefully that just means they're selling fast and restocking is on its way overseas – but who knows. The fact that they're sold through Depot and Walmart, as well as directly online, is a good sign. The six types of Monument grills that currently use propane break down as follows:
Model 13892 – 4 Burner Propane Gas Grill
- Colour: Black
- LED control
- side burner
- usb lights
- Price: $399
Model 24633 – 4 Burner Propane Gas Grill
- Colour: Black
- ClearView cover
- LED control
- side burner
- usb lights
Model 17842 – 4 Burner Propane Gas Grill
- Color: stainless steel
- LED control
- side burner
- BBQ shop
- Price: $507
Model 24367 – 4 Burner Propane Gas Grill
- Color: stainless steel
- LED control
- side burner
- side burner
- Priced at $493
Model 35633 – Monument 4 Burner Gas Grill (Review Model)
- Color: stainless steel
- ClearView cover
- LED control
- side burner
- side burner
Model 77352 – 6 Burner Propane Gas Grill
- Color: stainless steel
- LED control
- side burner
- Priced at $549
Using the Monument 4 Burner Gas Grill
Having used more than a few grills in my time, it doesn't take much to know what you like. Porcelain-coated cast iron grilles are nice. They perform (by far) better than the steel you sometimes find on entry-level grills. They also make flipping burgers, grabbing steaks, and roasts simple. More expensive grills may have thicker, stronger cast iron grates, or even use thick stainless steel. Porcelain actually inhibits corrosion, as pure cast iron can start to deteriorate very quickly. There are some tradeoffs in terms of heat retention and searing ability. That might be a good reason to buy a model equipped with an infrared sear burner with a stainless steel grate.
Speaking of searing burners — this is a rare but nice feature. You can choose to sear your steak before or after cooking it. We find that cooking over medium heat for longer periods of time produces more consistent results. By "consistent" I mean you'll avoid major hot spots on the grill. You know, you start playing "ring-around-the-rosie" with your meat to keep it from burning…with a searing burner, you can cook it to about 90% and char it to lock it in juice. We did this with a couple of rib eye steaks and it came out great.
Brats and burgers are also great. We turned the grill on high and the internal temperature reached 400 degrees in a relatively short amount of time. After that, we put the meat and lower the temperature. You can cook with the lid facing up or facing down, but we tend to cook with the lid facing down so we can cook the meat on all sides. The glass works well, but we suspect it will be an ongoing cleaning process over time due to the baking splatter.
in conclusion
Monument Grills offers a one-year warranty on the grill and an eight-year warranty on the burners, offering strong competition in the midrange grill category. This is a company to watch. They have good competition with Stok, Nexgrill, and others, and the prices are great.