We've been shopping around for a countertop grill for a few months, reading reviews and making in store inspections of the different products offered. The Cruisinart GRIDDLER FIVE suits our needs beyond our expectations. It's very easy to operate, holds temperatures steady and is a breeze to clean. And, it fits well with the other Cruisinart Appliances we have in our kitchen. We have not experienced any of the bad results talked about in the negative reviews. In fact, we like this unit so much that we purchased one for both of our adult children and their familes.