Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism is provided for setting a gap between upper and lower platens of a griddle, comprising: a height plate coupled to an armature of the upper platen, a stud and a lower end to engage a stop of the lower platen when the upper platen is in a lowered position; an adjustment plate coupled to the armature for rotation relative to the height plate and including a cam slot to receive the stud; a coupler; and a clamp that is movable between an unlocked position wherein the rotation of the adjustment plate causes the stud to move within the cam slot to adjust the height plate to a position corresponding to a desired gap when the lower end engages the stop, and a locked position wherein the clamp prevents rotation of the adjustment plate, locking the height plate in position and setting the desired gap.