I had a Berta range before we moved. 2 years. Liked it a lot. Thought the top was really good. The big burner is 15K BTU with a simmer center. It can be used singly or doubly. It boiled water for spaghetti very quickly.

The thing to understand with Berta is the ignition. I didn't mind it at all but some do. It's electric and you have to hold it while it clicks and then ignites. The quirk is that when you lower the heat sometimes you lose the flame and it's a mulligan But it has a good simmer and the grate is very heavy duty and even. The Italians do a lot of stove top cooking so it's really geared to that.

Compared to a Wolf there isn't as much nuance or power. I know Wolf added an 18K BTU burner to their cooktop so expect it's the same for the rangetop. I'd compare the various burners. But if you're looking for a decent budget range top (the Wolf is not budget) the Berta is a good choice.

rococogurl, Thank you. I actually am most concerned about the simmer, as I do some cream sauces, puddings, stock, etc. that I've found the simmer can be an issue vs. the high output heat. Thanks for sharing your experience. I think I'd like that feature on the ignition, to help with accidently bumping and lighting the stove, it seems like a good safety feature. ?

Did you go back to a range after moving?

I love the rangetop look, but know I'll like the simplicity and function of the Wolf cooktop. For some reason, the knob placement really bugs me for throwing off the symmetry. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so weird about silly details like that.

Seems like the Berta is definitely a good option for me. Guess I have to really decide cooktop vs. rangetop.

Did not go back to a range as kitchen had been done already. No gas here.

Our dd has a Wolf dual fuel and the top is good. Also like an older wolf cooktop at a friends house. Different ignition, no clicking.

The new Wolf cooktop looks very nice. I prefer the front knob placement of a rangetop though, because controls are not in the way of any burner. Wolf cooktop has all controls in a square on the right with a burner behind them.

But its completely preference.

Do NOT buy the Bertazonni. I bought the 36" professional stove in February 2015. I must admit that I was looking for a professional style stove at a bargain price for my 2nd home. Bertazonni was most definitely less expensive--but with this stove you get what you pay for. The burners are very temperamental, Even after you get the hang of lighting them, it's a crap shoot as to whether or not they catch on. The stove is even worse. The oven knobs are difficult to turn to the on position, and there is no way of knowing if the stove is really lit without opening the door and looking for a flame. There is no temp gauge, and the oven has significant hot and cold spots that make baking extremely uneven. Last but not least, the stainless cooktop is poor quality, easily stained and impossible to clean--no matter what kind of stainless cleaner or soft cloth you use. My suggestion is spend a lot less or dig into your pocket for another $1000 and get a Wolf, Blue Star or Capital.

We have been cooking on a 36" Berta range for about 7 years. I have no problems cleaning it, and prefer the stainless to the super industrial tops. The center double burner can be touchy, but the others are fine, and the front right simmers nicely. The oven is terrible- similar experience to trimsunltd above. It roasts well, but that's about it.

Just for clarification I said: "Compared to a Wolf there isn't as much nuance or power." Compared to Wolf..... which I feel is true. I feel Wolf rangetop burners are more nuanced and easier to adjust -- our DD has a Wolf dual fuel range which I've used. My opinion. But the Wolf rangetop is also significantly more.

I liked the Berta range and didn't have the oven issues others seem to have. Berta is a budget range with some significant drawbacks, one being the oven doesn't go very low and the knobs are not calibrated. The oven is small by American standards and a good deal of forgiveness needed. OTOH it doesn't cost $5k.

Personally, I would never buy a Blue Star or Capitol range. I'd buy Lacanche or Wolf DF.

I guess that makes horse racing. I had a professional Wolf range for almost 30 years, and feel there is absolutely no comparison in the quality between the two brands. In my experience the Wolf is heads and shoulders above the Berta range--in its construction and operation.

@trimsun - Perhaps you are misreading. There is no horse race. I agree with you. My point, however, is that there is a significant difference in price. Berta is a budget range. Wolf is not.