If you do a search of this forum, using the search facility at the bottom of the page, you'll find lots of threads about Bertazzonis. People who have them love them. I have a drop-in cooktop, which I'm thrilled with - and, notwithstanding your thoughts about price, I chose because it was $500 cheaper than a Dacor that I had considered. I think max BTU is actually 18k, but I can't recall. Anyway, it's fine for me. Those who favour high performance stoves seem to think that's not high, preferring 22k, but I'm not in that category, and suspect their cooking styles may differ from mine (although I stir fry a lot).

Not sure about temperamental: the ignitors use thermocouplers, which require you to hold the knob down for a few seconds until it ignites. Perfectly simple once you get the hang of it, but if you're accustomed to a different system, it can take some getting used to (if you haven't been told).

Anyway, don't take my word for it - try the search box. There's lots of opinions here!

I have a Bertazzoni cooktop and can't stand it. It simply doesn't simmer. I can't cook rice or tomato sauce without it boiling over and splattering, and the stainless top is impossible to keep clean. The ignitors take some getting used to, but can be temperamental even after you've gotten the hang of it. I bought it because it was good looking and relatively inexpensive, and I'll be selling my house soon... so glad I'll be leaving my Bertazzoni behind! (p.s. My architect has the range, and agrees that it is tempermental.)

Just a thought, but I couldn't simmer initially, until I got the gas people to come back and check it: turned out they hadn't adjusted the thing properly, so I could never turn it down low enough. Now I can cook rice to perfection and keep sauce on a low low simmer all day.

I'm also amazed that you're having trouble with the stainless steel: all mine ever needs is a wipe with a wet sponge and then a microfibre cloth. And, believe me, we are very messy cooks.

I'm not disbelieving you, I'm just surprised that I have such a different experience.

We just bought a Bertazzoni over the weekend -- replacing a old Frigidaire range. Will report back in a couple weeks once we have some cooking under the belt but we're excited!

Thanks for the responses. I did look for a search box, didn't find it. Maybe I needed to log in. I'm a long-time forum user, so I know about searches. Anyway, I appreciate the information to satisfy my somewhat idle curiousity. It is a good-looking range, I will admit that. I hope that everyone who bought one enjoys it.

Here you are, in case you can't find the search box:

Here is a link that might be useful: Bertazzoni search results

We have had our Bertazzoni for four days now and so far are loving it.

Have cooked both on the cooktop as well as the stove and both were a pleasure. Takes some getting used to as we came from a consumer range but really appreciate the finish and the power of the stove.

Sauces, eggs (poached and fried), roasts, and pasta have all been successes. Perhaps we;ll break out the wok this weekend. :-D

I bought the Bertazzoni P36500X 36" gas cooktop on eBay 18 months ago at a rock bottom price, and I love it. I don't know the correct terms for the parts of the cooktop but the "simmer" eye works perfectly for simmer and the eye in the center even came with an alternate wok friendly grill. I can see that it might be a problem if you're trying to simmer something on the hottest eye. As for cleaning the cooktop, I haven't tried the sponge and microfibre method but I can testify for Weiman Stainless Steel wipes...at first wipe it looks like it just spread the grease around, but in 30 seconds it dries to a mirror finish.

New Berta owner here. I'm extremely happy with this range and very impressed with the value.

I got a wonderful steady simmer on every burner; ample power on the double burner in front. I get perfect control over an omelette pan -- which is one test of a good stove. It's a pleasure to cook on it.

Oven heats up quickly and holds a steady temperature. This range does require an oven thermometer -- the oven knob isn't as precise as a wall oven with a digital readout.

I don't find it temperamental but, as with every appliance, there is a learning curve.

We have had the 48" for about a month now. LOVE IT. Not finding it temperamental at all, does help to read the manual tho - needed a small adjustment in the large oven but since the distributor adjusted it, oven settings are spot on. Also no problems simmering. I find it MUCH easier to clean than my old Kenmore and a heck of a lot prettier! I do a ton of canning and the big burner gets the canner boiling in no time. My husband bakes bread a couple of times a week and the loaves have cooked evenly and are beautifully browned. The griddle is efficient and easy to clean as well. I did a lot of research prior to deciding and found the threads here very very helpful. This stove has loads of bang for the buck in both function and aesthetics.

At the opposite end of the size spectrum from lmiersbond, I have had the 24" Berta for about 18 months and love it. My little urban kitchen is a grand total of 56 square feet, so every inch counted! I agree that reading the manual is very helpful. I used an oven thermometer for the first few months, but find it unnecessary now.