Cooks Illustrated just did a testing of a number of them. Issues were accuracy, consistency, cooking surface, cleanup and overall performance. The winner was the Broilking Professional Griddle with Backsplash #PCG-10 for about $100. Their best buy, much less expensive, but with a smaller cooking surface, was West Bend Cool-Touch Nonstick Griddle #76220 for about $50. Here is a link that might be useful: Cooks Illustrated Review of Electric Griddles

Have you plugged the electric grill in to see if it works? Electric grills provide no smoke and thus no flavor. The previous owner may have liked the flavor that charcoal imparts, so they turned it into a charcoal grill, which seems dumb (and might fry the electrical components). I'd just get a charcoal grill. We have a propane grill and the only way it smokes is if we put soaked wood chips in it. We also have a propane fire pit that is 50,000 BTU's, puts out a lot of heat but no smoke or sparks. It seems to me that your neighbors like smoke in all it's forms. Maybe just keep your windows shut and turn on the AC?

You brought back a memory of a Farberware indoor grill we received as a gift years ago. As I recall, it did an okay job of cooking whatever we put on it. I can't remember anything about temperature adjustments. However, as you said, cleaning ours was a major production. It's the main reason we got rid of it. Also, at the time we did not have much storage space. I found a photo online of what ours looked like. Hopefully your Rival Grill is less of a contraption than this one was.

To code might not be what you are wanting where they are visible. I need to see the plan there is no way to answer this without one. I have elcetrical lower on the wall for my outdoor kitchen I use them for a blender and spot for any other appliance I might need . We have a huge grill and a smoker and 3 burner stove in ours and honestly other than the blender I never use a plug. Lighting fo the space is a huge deal we have seating along one side but honestly usually everyone just mingles like a big cocktail party . Our kitchen is U shaped to hold everything . It is right outside my kitchen and someday I would like an out door fridge but right now it functions well for our life. We have an ice maker inside so just big buckets of ice for drinks. My hubby does competion BBQ so hence the smoker We have a huge outdoor seating space on one side and a large dining space on the other . There are drawers for my outdoor glassware and dishes I do bring those in for the winter A bit of planning is really needed for these outdoor kitchens to make sure you have what you need but be practical. Do you have gas there ? I have never seen an electric pellet grill what is the advantage ? I have 2 side burners on my grill that I do love but with the 3 burnwer stove not really a neccessitity