I have owned other panini grills but I like this one so much better and it is so versatile. I like the temp setting and the reversible grill plates. The best idea I saw from another reviewer was using parchment paper to grill food, which means NO clean up!
I love my Griddler! I haven’t used it in the open position yet, but I love that I have that option. And I love the almost square shape because things seem to fit better on it.
Grills great, but could be simpler to operate. To get both plates the same temps you have to push 2 different buttons about 5 to 6 times. Have to read manual constantly for the sequence of buttons. I also wish it came with waffle, panini, and quesidilla plates. I bought it because of its size and opens up flat as well.
The accompanying User Guide is very thorough in its instructions on teaching a person how to operate this Contact Griddler with Smoke-less Mode. I love the cooking chart in the User Guide that makes for precise grilling of steaks and hamburgers. I haven't had the opportunity to try out the griddle but plan on doing so. Cuisinart is a high quality brand I trust.
I am very happy with the griddler. I primarily use it for bacon however it works great for quesadillas too. I like the new exterior of the griddle because it’s easy to keep clean. The digital screen for setting temperatures works really well and it keeps temperature much better with better heat dispersion.