You will find lots of strong feelings here for both these brands (both positive and negative). I'm curious to know what your priorities are--what kind of cook are you, size of your kitchen/aesthetic concerns, etc. Both are nice products but very very different from each other--so am wondering what you're looking for most of all??
(P.S. If you like Bertazzoni you should also look at Fratelli Onofri--I'm biased because that's the direction I went in after seriously shopping Bertazzoni for a while.)

These are good questions. I was all set on induction, but for a number of reasons have dropped it and decided to go with gas. I haven't had gas a very long time, and have been using a 4 burner GE Profile ceramic cooktop for the last 8 years.

The new kitchen will be an L shape with a large island, with the distance between the cabinet run with the rangetop and the island with the sink at around 52".

I am a decent cook, getting better all the time. I need something that I can crank out a basic weeknight dinner for a husband and three kids, but with the ability to get creative with new skills and entertaining on the weekends. I come from a family of 7 siblings who like to have culinary competitions for entertainment when we get together.

Additionally, I have an 8 year old who shows promise and love for cooking so I want to invest in something that will accomodate her growing interest and needs in 5-10 years should this be something she continues to pursue as doggedly as she has for the past three years. I don't purchase appliances for the short run, so it is important to me that whatever I buy last a good, long time.

Aesthetically, both of these rangetops are beautiful as far as I'm concerned, and my husband wants me to go with the Viking because of the name recognition should we ever, God forbid, sell our home.

I hope that gives you more info. Thanks for your help!

Good info there! I've looked at the threads, and honestly, they make me want to stick with what I've got, lol! At least it works, though without the versatility I"m hoping for.

I am looking only for the rangetop, as I've already got one wall oven and a micro/convection that I'm happy with and don't have to cut granite around if I need to change. It seems like most of the Viking problems are with the oven component vs the cooktop component. And the CR rating of the Viking gas cooktop hasn't escaped me - even though the one they rank isn't the one I'm looking at.

However, the price and the look of the Bertazzoni are very appealing, and like you said, my cooking will probably be fine without the extra power of the Viking.

I'm going to check out the Fratelli, so as to confuse myself further. :)

The Bertazzoni doesn't relite if it goes out. And the Viking has big burner rings, so the gas goes up the sides. For about the same $$I like the American rangetop, it has some small, and some med/large burners. My favorite range top would be Bluestar, but it's pricey.

Here is a link that might be useful: American Range top

".....The Bertazonni doesn't relite if it goes out".
What does that mean? If I am in the middle of cooking and a burner goes out, I can' relite it?
What am I missing?