Go with the griddle. One really shouldn't be grilling inside the house putting out all the nasty gasses, smoke etc inside where all your kin folk will be breathing. Any rangehood powerful enough for indoor grilling brings with it a whole range (inadvertent pun) of other problems.

Here is a link that might be useful: ApplianceAdvisor.com

disagree if you are fan of grilling, A griddle can be easily duplicated with an accessory pan on a two burner rangetop , but the grilling experience can't be. Sure there are grill pans that will put grill marks on your entree, but that's only half the equation of grilling. I suppose that some might point out that a seasoned builtin griddle adds to the experience , but that too can be duplicated with the right griddle pan. What it really boils down to is do you like charred foods enough to warrant the grill? As a novelty or once a year use , it is not a good use off $$$ or space. There are also different type fuel sources for both, electric or gas griddle, electric or gas powered grill and some are just tubes heating a rack while others are char-broiler types that don't have very much temp control.

With regard to your question about lines vs. pancakes - I'd say that if you don't know the benefits of having a built in one, then you would better off with a 6 burner top a a pair of pans - one with a flat surface and one with grill humps. There are a few combo pans on the market if you have a storage problem. That will give you more versatility and be a little easier to clean if that's important to you.

While advisor brings up a good point about powerful rangehoods needing makeup air, especially in a tightly sealed house, he fails to tell you that you're probably going to need that feature with a griddle too ! You're also going to need that system if you have a wood burning fireplace in that same house.

Shame shame advisor, I think your pithy industry editorial style is clouding your judgement when dispensing advice here. By the way , which nasty gases does grilling produce??? You make it sound like a health hazzard, and just because YOU don't like it doesn't mean that there are not fans of BBQ smells and sights. If your going to dispense advice as a pro around here you should really give both sides of the story ,not just your opinion veiled as fact.

I believe the question was:
"are there practical reasons to choose one over the other?"

I gave the practical reasons. You gave the reasons related to your love affair of grilling. I suppose that louietouie knows if he/she loves grilling.

I am not a scientist, but I'm a Googlist. And here is a link to the un-healthfulness of Grilling smoke:
http://www.foodsafetynetwork.ca/aspx/public/publication_detail.aspx?id=368

Yes you do need ventilation with the griddle, just not as much. I can't think of a griddling activity that would require as much ventilation as grilling.

I wish to make amends as Antss points out. I have not given both sides of the story. So here goes:
Yes I like grilled food just not grilled in my house.

Here is a link that might be useful: ApplianceAdvisor.com

We chose to add the griddle to our range, but we would never expect that to substitute for a true grill. I need both. Adding the griddle to the range brings mostly convenience...yes you can replicate most of what we do with pans but the griddle is nice to have and we use it frequently. But an outdoor grill, that is a necessity.

Here is a link that might be useful: Commercial Range with Griddle

Thanks for the info. Though I will have a venting system, I will keep the grilling outside and the griddling on my range.

You must must must get away from thinking that a griddle is JUST for pancakes. How about fajitas, fish, chicken, burgers, grilled cheese, cheese steaks, bacon, fish, sausage, hot dogs, sauteed mushrooms (and other veggies). The sky is the limit!

In my opinion, a griddle is MUCH more flexible than a grill. In fact, it can act as an extra burner. There's no reason why you couldn't put a pot directly on the griddle to keep things warm, etc.

Just my two cents...

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