Swissmar KF-77480 4 Person Raclette with Reversible Grill/Griddle Plate, Black

I was concerned that a product like this might be poorly constructed and short of heat, but this one is the exact opposite. It seems like it made from a reasonable gauge metal with appropriate design to support the food on the top. I think it will be important to store the unit somewhere where it will not get stuff stacked on top of it, however, to prevent both scratching of the nonstick surfaces and bending the vertical braces.

It does indeed get hot enough to cook! The top surface gets hot enough to make sausage sizzle, hot dogs brown nicely, vegetables get warmed and browned. The unit does not come with a plastic spatula for turning foods or removing them so you'll need to have one on hand. The pans in which one melts the cheese are larger than I expected with enough space to hold an entire sandwich size slice of cheese. It seems to take a bit longer to get the cheese actually browned than I expected, but with good conversation and company, that's not an issue, really. This device is as much about being social as it is cooking.

I got the 4 person instead of the 8 because my dining room table would be too large for people near the ends to reach something in the center, so I plan to use two of these making it convenient for all. The next one will be this same brand, I am now confident.