Louisiana Grills Colonial Savannah Pellet Smoker Review

This model has been discontinued.

The problem with Louisiana is they are in a prolonged state of change. They continue to explore different manufacturing sources and design features to improve their smokers, but progress is slowed partially by the need to sell off existing inventories before introducing updated models on a global scale. In 2014 they made significant upgrades to their Country Smokers line and plan to finally upgrade all or most other models to digital controllers and make some other add-ons standard as well. We believe they will eventually achieve their goals, but until they arrive at the intended destination we cannot recommend their Colonial models.

Louisiana Grills Colonial BBQ Grills are pellet smokers mounted on carts offered in two styles. They resemble gas grills on carts with cabinet enclosures. Both smoker heads are the same design with 408 square inches of cooking surface. The Savannah, aka Kentwood, has a slightly smaller cart with two side shelves and a single door storage enclosure. It has a double wall hood for better heat retention and cast iron grates, which generate good conductive heat for searing, but rust immediately and require ongoing maintenance.

The controller, which uses a dial potentiometer with variable temperature settings instead of the more common notched settings, is a weak link in all Louisiana Grills. Although it is better than the old style 3 position controllers used on some entry level pellet smokers, it has no thermostatic control so owners must use a digital probe to determine the internal temp, and then manually adjust the potentiometer. Do not rely on the heat indicator built into the hood. It is guaranteed to be wrong. This system is particularly awkward when used to slow cook overnight when temperatures typically drop. Without a digital thermostatically controlled mechanism, pellet feed rates remain constant regardless of changes to internal temperature. LG offers an optional digital controller, but you have to buy it in addition to the standard controller and install it yourself. When we get into this price range, many other manufacturers, including Traeger, make digital controllers standard.

Savannah features a slide out ash/grease pan that can be removed from the front. It is available in Black Powder Coated Steel and Stainless Steel. Our posted price is for the powder coated model. The stainless is several hundred dollars more.