Monument Mesa Gas Grill Review

Are you looking for a premium, full-sized gas grill under $500? I recently tested five different models, all under $500, and the Monument Mesa 415BZ came out on top. No other gas grill at this price point is as big or includes as many features, including the clearview lid, dedicated searing zone, and side burner.

Read on or watch my video review below to learn more about this grill.

First Impressions of the Monument Mesa Gas Grill

Out of all the gas grills I’ve tested at this price range, the Mesa was the best value.

You get much more space and features (including four stainless steel burners, a convenient side burner, and a dedicated sear zone) for less money than the 3-burner Weber Spirit E-325 we reviewed.

The compact powerhouse also offers 62,000 BTUs and 630 square inches of cooking space. That’s enough room for 23 burgers or a 22-pound Thanksgiving turkey!

Monument Mesa 415BZ specifications:

Total Cooking Area	630 sq. in. (450 primary + 180 warming)
Grate material	Enamel coated cast iron
Total BTU’s	62,000
Assembled Dimensions	55 W x 22 D 45.5 H in
Weight	91.5 lbs
Warranty	1-8 years depending on component
Price	Check Latest Price

What I like:

• Cooking space: 630 square inches of total cooking area is impressive for a grill at this price point.
• Broil zone: My favorite feature is, hands down, the dedicated sear burner.
• Side burner: Multitask like a pro with the side burner.
• Storage and prep areas: The grill includes two side shelves with tool hooks and a large bottom cabinet.

What I don’t like:

• Plastic wheels: I’m not a fan of the typical Monument plastic casters.
• Long assembly: It did take longer than expected to assemble the grill.

Unboxing and setup

I’m always impressed by how Monument fits all its pieces and parts in such a small box. However, I wasn’t super impressed that it took two experienced grill assemblers 1.5 hours to assemble it. But hey, I guess that’s the price you pay for the full size and features.

Build quality

The Monument grill is made from stainless steel. It’s slightly better quality and sturdier than the typical stainless steel build. It’s also 27 inches across, so it’s compact enough to fit on smaller decks.

The grill sits on four rotating and locking casters. On a smooth surface, the pit moves around pretty easily. But those plastic casters won’t roll as easily on gravel.

Burn-off

The Mesa reached 750 degrees during the initial burn-off with the dedicated sear burner turned on.

In the video, you’ll see that I did a Burnt Toast Test, and the only piece of toast that looked slightly less cooked than the others was in the back right corner. This tells me to avoid cooking in that corner and to reserve it as a holding zone.

Cooking performance

The Monument Mesa 415BZ includes 450 square inches of cooking space on the bottom rack and 180 square inches on the top warming rack. That’s 630 square inches of total cooking area.

Both cooking grates are made from durable porcelain enamel-coated cast iron, equaling even heat distribution and consistent temperatures. The cast iron also protects the grill grates from abrasions and corrosion.

The electronic ignition worked flawlessly and immediately ignited the burners (including the convenient side burner).

All five burners in the chamber mount up to 50,000 BTUs, while the side burner has 12,000. That equals robust heat in a compact form. The side burner quickly reaches a rolling boil in under two minutes. I love to use it to whip up sauces or side dishes while grilling my meat.

Keep an eye on the prize through the Clearview lid. With its built-in temperature gauge, you can conveniently monitor your food while preserving flavor and heat.

Broil zone

I must take a moment to shine the spotlight on the broil zone. As mentioned, the built-in sear burner is undoubtedly my favorite feature. With independent temperature control, it reaches searing temperatures of 630°F in just 10 minutes.

Check out the video to see the complete sear it gave my delicious ribeye steak. I also love using it for my prime rib’s final sear. If you’re a fellow grilling enthusiast, you know the sear is where the flavor is, and the broil zone delivers every time.

Storage

The Monument Mesa grill includes two large side shelves with three hooks to hang your tools on both ends. One of the shelves includes the side burner. But slide the lid on and instantly use it as a shelf or prep space instead. You’ll also find a handy built-in bottle opener.

The spacious double-door bottom cabinet is perfect for storing your LP tank. There’s also plenty of spare room for storing extra cooking equipment or utensils.

Cleaning

The Monument Mesa 415BZ grill includes a removable drip tray. So, you can simply slide it out for easy and thorough cleanup. The grill grates also provide a non-stick barrier, making them easy to clean.

When it comes to glass on a gas grill, be ready to clean that lid with some vinegar because it gets dirty pretty quickly.

Accessories

Two main accessories available for the Monument Mesa 415BZ are a grill cover and a rotisserie kit.

But built-in accessories include distinctive knob lights. I know this is a cool feature for city folks. But up here, we won’t turn them on much because the skeeters will get us!

The idea behind the knob lights is to offer a more intuitive grilling experience. The white light means the grill is off, while red indicates high heat mode.

Alternatives to consider

The Monument Mesa propane grill is our runner-up pick for gas grills under $500. But here are two alternatives:

• Choose the Weber Spirit if you don’t have the space for a 4-burner grill. The 2-burner E-210 is one of Weber’s entry-level options and has better build quality and a longer warranty.
• Pick the Char-Broil American Gourmet Classic 3-Burner for the most affordable grill. It doesn’t have a side burner or sear zone. But it does have three burners and 360 square inches of cooking space.

Wrapping it up

You truly can’t go wrong with the Monument Mesa 415BZ Propane Grill if you want a full-sized grill with optimal features for under $500. No competitor comes close at this price point. It’s a great budget gas grill for beginners.

If you want something even bigger, check out our Monument Denali 605 review. It’s more expensive, but you get two additional burners and some other nice features.