Traditional European ranges are a beautiful focal point for the kitchen. Some well-known luxury brands include La Cornue, Lacanche, and Officine Gullo. While we’re obsessed with these brands, spending $10K+ on a range is not always in the budget. Made in Italy, the Ilve Nostalgie range can give you classic European style, without breaking the bank. They come in a wide variety of colors and widths, and are priced from $2.5-5K depending on the size. Our favorite is the 36” Dual Fuel White Range with brass accents. This Ilve Nostalgie review discusses the pros and cons of the range, and will help you decide if it is the right range for you.
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Our Ilve Nostalgie Review
Pros
Appearance
First and foremost, we love the Ilve Nostalgie Range because of its classic, elegant appearance. The details and quality are just as impressive in real life. This is a range that you can build your kitchen around, making it the center of attention for your space. This range perfectly compliments traditional kitchen aesthetics. Traditional kitchens are often paired with modern, stainless steel appliances, which can sometimes feel unnatural.
Oven door glass adds practicality
Ilve ranges have a glass window on the oven doors. This may sound like a basic feature, but most European made ranges do not have this. La Cornue, Lacanche, and Officine Gullo all have solid doors. While this looks nice, it is not as functional if this is the oven that you are doing most of your cooking in. Not being able to look through the glass means that you have to open the oven (letting heat out) every time you want to check if your food is done.
Special Features: Griddle, pizza, and convection settings
Many models, such as the 36″ range top that we are reviewing, come with a griddle, which can be adding to the middle burner. This is such a fun feature, and is perfect for cooking breakfast with the family. We enjoy it so much that we prefer to leave the griddle on, since there are still four other burners. It also makes a nice resting surface for cooking utensils or ingredients.
The range also has a double burner, which is great for distributing heat consistently or when trying to quickly boil water. There are nine oven settings, each with different features. My favorites are the pizza setting (where heat comes from the bottom so that the cheese doesn’t burn) and the convection/fan setting (this works well for roasting vegetables or baking cookies since it keeps the air circulating, making everything cook evenly). There is also a rotisserie setting with spickets that spin – perfect for making a rotisserie chicken!
The range has an optional toe kick, which can be purchased separately.
Critiques
Ordering process
The Ilve Nostalgie range can take a long time to get in after ordering. Therefore, if you are building a home or remodeling, order ASAP! Do not wait until the kitchen is ready for the range. Depending on the season and retailer, it may take months to arrive.
Since Ilve is not an extremely common brand, you may have trouble finding a retailer to see the range in person. Because of this, you will most likely need to order it sight unseen, which can be nerve wracking for a large purchase!
Knobs vs. electronic controls
If you are used to a standard stove with a control panel at the top, European-style ranges will take time to get used to. Everything is controlled with knobs above the oven door. There is one knob for the oven setting, one for the oven temperature, and one for each burner. I had to keep my user manual out for the first few weeks to memorize the symbols and settings. There is a small control panel next to the knobs, which displays a digital clock and has a timer function.
Functional issues and warranty claims
With this 36″ Ilve, we quickly found that the oven was cooking everything much faster than it should. This is something that many people in the comments have also encountered. After checking the temperature with an oven thermometer, we found that it was heating 50-100 degrees warmer than what it was set to. We learned that the Ilve Majestic can be recalibrated, but the Nostalgie cannot.
We also found that the burners needed a bit of adjusting. The main issue was that the double burner took some time to light, and all of the burners had a hard time re-lighting after having just been turned off. When a technician came out for our warranty claim, he was able to take off the top of the range and adjusted how much air was able to get in. If you allow for more air to get in, the burner lights more easily. We also found that it helps to not have a pot on the burners when trying to light them.
In the process of filing a warranty claim, we learned that Ilve (an Italian company) subcontracts their United States marketing and customer service (including warranty claims) to a company called Superior Marketing. We filed a warranty claim with Ilve/Superior Marketing, and they sent out a technician (through a smaller, regional third-party repair company). The technician successfully adjusted the burners the day he came out and determined that the best fix for the oven was to replace the thermostat.
The thermostat had to come directly from Ilve, so it took about a month from when it was ordered to when it was installed. However, the range still burned hot afterwards. After lots of testing, I realized that it burns at the correct temperature when it is in convection or quick heat, it is just the other settings that are far too warm. I am not sure if that was the case before the thermostat was replaced, but it is the case now. I reached out to Ilve after encountering this and they sent the repair company back out. The company was able to confirm that it was indeed still burning too hot, and said that it was potentially the actual heating elements rather than the thermostat. They said that they could relay this back to Ilve, but ultimately it was up to them on what to do next. After that, I was unable to get Ilve/Superior Marketing to email back or discuss what next steps would be. I try to mostly use convection since the temperature is correct in this mode, but I haven’t fully given up on trying to figure this out.
FAQs
How to clean your range
For the range top, we recommend this range cleaner. It does a great job of cleaning any splashes or spills that have been cooked on by the burners.
For the griddle, we would not advise the use of chemicals, as food is prepared directly on it. Instead, pour water onto the griddle while it is still hot (preferably right after cooking on it), then use a metal griddle spatula with a flat top to scrape any food debris off. We recommend this one – it works great, and is dishwasher safe.
Is the Ilve Nostalgie the same as the Hallman range?
According to our research, the Ilve Nostalgie is the same range as the Hallman. They are just branded differently.
Summary
The Ilve Nostalgie is a beautiful range that will be the focal point of your kitchen. They give you a similar look to La Cornue, Lacanche, and Officine Gullo ranges at about a quarter of the price. Unfortunately, the heating elements in the oven do seem to burn hot, and the customer service is not the best. However, I personally still would purchase this range or a Hallman again. Now that I am aware of the heating issue, I have adapted and am able to cook everything properly. If your number one priority is a consistent, top quality range with zero issues, then Ilve might not be the range brand for you. If you are willing to compromise a bit for the aesthetics, then you can purchase an Ilve knowing what to expect.
24 Comments
Tom Wojo
May 1, 2023 at 12:12 amI bought the 38” dual fuel and it has been problems from day 1. Oven thermostat failed, (oven wouldn’t shut off) ordered a new one on, the new one was bad also. ( oven won’t turn on) Front burner burns improperly. Repair man said it’s a design issue. Looking to purchase different brand.
Elizabeth
April 18, 2023 at 6:25 pmHi! I just had this range installed and I have followed the instructions for the first system startup process multiple times (i.e. washed the parts and let the oven run empty on 440 for over an hour) & the unpleasant smells the instruction manual ensures will go away have not. This is the third time I have run the oven for over an hour. Did you experience this? Any tips? Thanks!
House Refined
April 20, 2023 at 2:04 amI experienced this for maybe a week but it went away. I think the thing that helped the most was letting it run for several hours at one time so that everything can fully burn off 🙂
Linda Staker
March 21, 2023 at 10:36 pmI was so excited a year ago when I saw this range. Now after reading the reviews I’m telling my decorator “no thanks”!
Liz
March 14, 2023 at 12:31 pmHi! I am in love with the looks and functionality claims of this stove, however, the reviews do scare me. Can I ask how it is holding up for you now? Thanks!
House Refined
August 28, 2023 at 2:37 amHi! I’ve updated my article with my experiences with Ilve’s warranty and how the range is holding up for me 🙂
TOM
February 7, 2023 at 12:34 amI purchased the ILVE 36″ UP 90 range 3 years ago. It has been nothing but a disappointment since day one.
Right off the bat one of the burners wouldn’t stay lit at all. Took ILVE a month to get a repairman out to look at it. Diagnosed problem, ordered part and took 2 more months to get that problem fixed. Now other burner is hard to light and won’t always stay on. Sometimes it just shuts off even when at full heat. Also, you have to stand there with the igniter clicking for 30 seconds just for it to stay lit. After a long wait they sent out the repairman again (after several calls and a runaround with ILVE) only to hear him throwing “f” bombs in frustration trying to fix the thing. Finally he just gave up and said to me “I’m a repairman, not an engineer”. The other issue is that it won’t go down to a decent simmer. If you turn any of the burners down to a low simmer they eventually shut off. So basically you have to keep the flame higher to avoid this but then you burn your food if your not careful. The oven is terrible. The broil mode is incredibly weak and useless,the element barely gets red. Heating the oven to 350 takes at least 45 minutes. The oven bakes unevenly. We went back and forth with ILVE for a year to get this piece of junk replaced but to no avail. NEVER will I buy another ILVE product again!
John
December 1, 2022 at 10:57 pmIlve sure does make some beautiful ranges, but they are total junk and their customer service is non-existent. I had a 36″ Nostalgie installed in mid June and the oven completely stopped heating up in early July. I contacted Ilve and at first they were helpful and walked me through some troubleshooting steps. The troubleshooting didn’t fix anything though so Ilve said they’d send a tech. One never came. I’ve emailed Ilve many times and they promised that a tech would be calling me no later than tomorrow. A tech has yet to call me. It’s been 6 months now of this and Ilve won’t even respond to my emails or calls anymore. This company is a complete scam. Please do yourself a huge favor and do not but from them if you are considering it. Yes, they look amazing, but you will hate yourself when you have to drop even more of your hard earned money on a second range a few months later so you can feed your family.
M.
December 9, 2022 at 9:39 pmI completely agree with John here. We were so excited about our Ilve 36″ Nostalgie, and have done a lot of designing our new kitchen around it. (And the person we spoke with at the company was certainly very effective in selling it to us). We tried to use it, and at the moment, one burner and the oven need repairs, we have had to call repeatedly to try to get a tech to our home, and we have had HORRIBLE customer service – inept and non-existent, with no follow-through. What good is purchasing an extended warranty to keep the stove functioning properly if there is one coming to repair it? We are trying to be good sports about this, and Ilve can certainly still make this right, but we are losing faith in this company. If you are considering this product, do further research, for forego the extended warranty and secure yourself a great local contractor who can help you with problems, should they arise. House Refined, if you have access to Ilve, let us know your secret, because it is a mystery to me.
Ana
November 3, 2022 at 9:52 pmHow would you recommend coordinating this white stove with brass knobs with other appliances that aren’t panel ready?
House Refined
November 7, 2022 at 4:39 pmHi Ana! On the white stove with brass knobs, there are still some stainless steel parts – I would probably go with a sleek and simple stainless refrigerator and dishwasher. Make sure they are the same brand as each other, as there are variations between color/texture amongst brands. I wouldn’t try to match any other white appliances. Good luck 🙂
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September 11, 2022 at 4:05 am[…] Source: https://houserefined.com/ilve-nostalgie-review/ […]
MARY Beth Rocchio
April 24, 2022 at 1:35 amI am totally disappointed in myILVE stove. I have reached out for service and not one person really understands the complex settings.Today I baked a cheesecake and as an accomplished baker I am aware of all the details I of a cheesecake. I used the setting for traditional oven as your guide recommended. Following directions and proper temperature, cake center was still uncooked in the center.Out of desperation changed to convection and baked longer but with . oven opening and temperature change he cheescake fell.
TThst is one of many frustrations and no one really seems to be able to service the stove.
No I haven’t and no one reached out to me to solve the problem. Please post.
Nancy Healy
April 10, 2022 at 3:16 pmBest place to order is A J MADISON
Also better prices
Mindy Jewett
February 4, 2022 at 12:12 amI have the same range! I love the style and functionality. How do you clean the griddle and burners? After attempting to clean them they still have stubborn stains.
House Refined
August 27, 2022 at 10:34 pmHi Mindy! For the griddle, I pour water on it when it’s hot, then scrape it with a flat metal spatula. For the burners, I use this cleaner (click to follow link).
Beverly Grimshaw
October 29, 2021 at 4:33 pmHi!…. Almost ready to push the button on this range, … can you fit a small turkey in the iven?, and what about a standard cookie sheet?
Also, i read that the fan is noisy, can you comment on these questions?, thankyou!
House Refined
October 29, 2021 at 5:44 pmHi Beverly! The inside of my 36″ oven is 25″ wide x 13.75″ tall x 16″ deep. You could definitely fit a turkey in it. All of my cookie sheets have fit, but you could measure yours to be sure that they fit into the dimensions that I shared. Regarding the fan, I agree that it is louder than other ovens that I have previously had. If I had to compare it to something, I would say it is maybe a little bit louder than my microwave (but it is a vent fan, so more of a blowing sound than a microwave). It comes on for several minutes about every 10-20 minutes, including shortly after you turn the oven off (timing fluctuates based on the temperature, etc). It personally doesn’t bother me, but it could be worth keeping in mind if you think it would bother you. I hope this helps 🙂
Alissa
October 6, 2021 at 9:08 pmConsidering purchasing the 30″ Ilve Nostalgie but reviews are so mixed! Are you still happy with your range? It’s obviously beautiful but I also need it to work.
House Refined
October 29, 2021 at 5:54 pmHi Alissa! I have had my range for almost a year now, and I am still very happy with it! The only issue that I have had is needing to recalibrate it, but that is not uncommon for any range.
Bob Hurley
October 5, 2021 at 5:14 pmI have heard that the Hallman is made by Ilve but lt seems my research is giving the Ilve a slight edge in quality and a big edge in customer service after the sale. My wife and I are ready to decide on one of the two and it is a bit confusing. We are also seeing that the price for the same range is about $1,000 more for the Ilve versus the Hallman. We are buying the 40” gas stove with electric oven in white with the gold brass fittings. We also need the conversion kit to make it run on propane. Any feedback or recommendations would be helpful. Thanks, Bob
House Refined
October 29, 2021 at 6:26 pmHi Bob! A couple of things to keep in mind – the Ilve has two models (Nostalgie and Majestic). The Nostalgie is the version that is the same as the Hallman, while the Majestic is more high-end – so just ensure that any reviews that are comparing them or talking about quality focus on the Nostalgie. Prices fluctuate, but it looks like at Home Depot the 40″ Hallman liquid propane version is $4,699, which is $300 more than the natural gas version. In comparison, interestingly the 40″ Ilve Nostalgie is the same price for propane versus natural gas, but is currently $5,299 at Wayfair and Perigold (so $600 more). Wayfair and Perigold frequently offer coupon codes for holidays, or signing up for their emails, etc., so if you decide you want to go with Ilve, you could hopefully make up most of that difference there.
I personally have not had to reach out to customer service, so I can’t speak to that 🙂
Gail E Hurley
October 5, 2021 at 2:09 pmHow do I order the IIVE range
House Refined
October 5, 2021 at 5:05 pmHi Gail! You can order the range through Wayfair. Here is a link to the exact one that I reviewed: https://www.wayfair.com/appliances/pdp/ilve-nostalgie-series-36-355-cu-ft-freestanding-dual-fuel-with-griddle-ilve1132.html?piid=49423555%2C49423556
And here is a link to all of the Ilve ranges at Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com/brand/bnd/ilve-b40138.html
Let me know if you have any other questions!