We've had Wolf range with charboiler for 7 years. I like it and it's why we chose the Wolf over others at that time. For what griddle style cooking we do I prefer to use pans. Yes it has a cover, a learning curve and it is hot (which for what we cook--meats, chicken, thicker cuts of fish) and that's what I wanted. We use it sparingly as we also grill outside, however in winter and inclement weather, as well as for the occasional appetizer when entertaining we use it. My spouse prefers the grilled flavor over our NG Weber. IR is closer to charcoal in how it cooks, and our next outside grill will definitely have an IR searing burner rather than the more common radiant searing burners. The heat can be moderated by covering parts of the ceramic burner with their "blank off" plates which we rarely even have to use. As for the salesman's comment the griddle does everything a grill does, having worked behind the line in restaurants as well as cooked for many years, he is completely wrong and misleading. Both have different methods of heat-to-food transfer which is sort of what cooking is all about.

Wekick, cat_mom and nunyabiz1, I thank you all for your response. Nunyabiz1, what a review on the Chef King! Most people, if not everyone, who have them seem to rave about them... My cooktop (the Wolf CT36G/S) have all the burners touching so I do not have any space between my 2 sets of front to back burners like you do (see link below). The dimensions of my front to back burners which I will use are 11-3/4 x 18-5/8, so the 13-5/8 x 22-5/8 would overhang quite a bit in all directions (preventing the use of the adjoining burners) and also not fit in my drawer (which is a good plus). The 14x23 also weighs 7 lbs more than the 12x20... 17 lbs versus 10 lbs and I do not think I will use it every day and keep it on my stove all the time. So far the Chef King is ahead in this race so unless someone can educate me on something better (Nunyabiz1 says no such thing!), it is now just about which size... Anyone have the 12x20 Chef King and can comment on it's size and/or show me a photo of it sitting on a stove or preferably a cooktop where the burners are adjoined? (My little boy asked for pancakes again this morning because, said he, "it's the weekend" - I said no because I knew one-by-one they would take forever and I made them yesterday, Saturday. He knows they take too much time on days when he goes to school. As Nunyabiz1 said, we need BreakFAST, not BreakSLOW so maybe we can even work some in occasionally on school days if I don't have to wait forever to cook them - I know I will need to plan ahead for the pre-heating, etc.). Thank so very much! Here is a link that might be useful: Photo of Wolf CT36G/S Gas Cooktop

I have a vision board. I bought a sheet of foam core board from Staples. Then I covered it with some printed wrapping tissue I like (just wrapped the front and taped it on the back. Since I don't have lots of magazines, I copied and pasted pictures, saying and items of things that I'd like to do, earn, have, be, places I'd like to go, etc onto printer paper like a collage. Then I glued the sheets on the board and filled in the blanks with some magazine cut outs. There is plenty of space to add more things. I keep it where I can see it off and on throughout the day. It's very cheerful & makes me happy to see it. It helps me stay focused. I fully expect these dreams to come true! A vision board should inspire you. I've heard it's a good idea to put it out of sight when others who might laugh or ridicule it are around. Only supportive people should be allowed to see it.

So glad this post is still "alive". I have the Thermador dual fuel 48" also. I don't love it. If I had to do it over again, I too would have wall ovens and a cooktop. My griddle is scraped up. We had someone who used metal utensils and overscrubbed when cleaning it also. Because I'm lazy, now when I use it (mostly for grilled cheese and hot dogs, maybe pancakes - I really don't use it much), I put a piece of aluminum foil over it and cook on that. I'm probably going to buy a replacement for looks. I think my current foil method and the fact that I don't use it much will help it look new for the life of the unit. Maybe my husband can use the old one on the gas grill in the yard. Does anyone know if it would work for that?