Customer Reviews

J.A. Henckels Bellasera 45-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 8

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased two 45 piece sets of this flatware and am so pleased with it.

I love the design of the handles. They feel great in the hand and fit together well in the drawer. Storing service for 16 in my standard-sized silverware drawer is no problem because the pieces "spoon" so well together.

There are no sharp edges on the handles, despite their square-cornered appearance. I am perfectly comfortable having my kids use the flatware.

The knives feel heavy for their size, which I like, and they cut through meat much better than standard place setting knives. I don't anticipate having to use our steak knives for anything. I was pleasantly surprised by this, but I guess I shouldn't have been since the flatware was manufactured by a knife company. The knives sit on their edge, which takes some getting used to, but makes a really unusual and interesting place setting.

I have run the flatware through both handwashing and the dishwasher several times now and see no evidence of rusting or spotting. I specifically wanted 18/10 stainless for this reason. Both my handwashing and automatic diswashing detergents are lemon scented, but there have been no problems. The directions that come with the flatware contain really helpful suggestions - items you don't want to soak your flatware with, etc.

The five serving pieces that come with the set are: Cold meat fork, serving spoon, slotted serving spoon, butter knife and sugar shell. The first three are of a good size that we'll use every day. The cold meat fork's tines flare out slightly, which is very attractive.

We purchased 16 placesettings of Bellasera when we married 2 years ago. Today's Amazon price is a bargain. I might buy another set! It has held up well to hand washing and to the dishwashing machine. Maintains its beautiful luster. No rusting or pitting. We wanted something different, and the knife is what sold us on this pattern. Shoppers considering Henckels products should be aware Bellasera comes from the "twins" line--their premium products. If you see Henckels products with a logo of a single "person" (instead of twins), that means the products come from their "value" line.

The flatware looked very attractive online and in the box. It was also great during the first few uses, now it's iffy. Considering that it was supposed to be stainless with 18/10 steel to keep it looking great and allow it maintain the finish through the dishwasher, it's a disappointment to me. After a month or so of use and washing it started to show signs of rust and less than mirror finish.
I can buff it a little as it comes out of the dishwasher but since I never had to do that with my old, cheap flatware I resent new more expensive flatware that doesn't live up to the promise.
It also would have been nice if it came with more teaspoons, or had loose additions available.
On the positive side I like the feel and heft of the flatware, the style and appearance (from a distance) on the table.

Overall, I really like this flatware. My only complaints is that the knife constantly slides off the plate onto the table or falls down while carrying the dishes to the sick.

I received the set in April and so far so good. I was a bit hesitant about ordering it because my friend has an Oneida set that rusted after a few cycles in the dishwasher. I hardly use my dishwasher because there aren't many people to justify running a full load when I can just wash after every meal--so I cannot rate how this set stands against multiple dishwashing loads; I would imagine it doesn't rust either way. I was looking for something contemporary and liked the design on this to match the square Corelle dishes I ordered. The set is different in that its butter knives are different from other sets because they stand on their own. If you want something simple and modern, this is a good quality set.

We registered for 2 of these sets for our wedding about a year ago. We got both and have used them heavily, cleaning them mostly in the dishwasher. They've held up beautifully. They are basically in as good of condition as they were when we bought them. I am someone who relies heavily on consumer reviews before I buy things, which is what led me to these. Don't hesitate, they're great!

After 15 years of marriage, the flatware I brought to the marriage was falling apart. So, I decided to buy new flatware. The flatware I REALLY love is about $500 for 4 place settings. I still have kids, who tend not to take care of our things. So I looked around for a less expensive alternative. This set is perfect! For the price, you get 8 5-piece place settings, plus 5 serving pieces(butter knife, meat fork, serving spoons)! I ordered 2 sets, so I have service for 16, and it cost me about $160.00! The pieces are beautiful. They are simply styled, and go with my dishes. I think that this flatware would also go well with a variety of other styles, such as modern, Tuscan, eclectic, transitional, southwestern, etc. They are very versatile. I do not have a problem with the weight of this flatware. I was actually surprised how heavy it was, for the price. A lot of low-priced flatware is as light as plastic flatware! This flatware also washes beautifully in the dishwasher. The 1st few times I washed it, it streaked, and I was concerned, because the streaking looked bad. But, that has stopped now, and they come out of the dishwasher shiny and clear! I recommend this flatware to anyone looking for attractive and functional flatware for a good price. I only wish, there was a matching cake server.

UPDATE: I've had this flatware for 1.5 years now and it is still in excellent condition. We run 3-5 loads in the dishwasher per week and it still looks great!

I LOVE this product! It's a rarity to have guests actually comment on how nice my new flatware is to use! And I love how unique and beautiful the butter knife is. Also, as I'd read in other reviewers comments, the knife works very well on meat as I have hardly had to touch my Henckels steak knives at all since receiving the set

This is a great flatware set for everyday use. The design is simple, but the pieces feel solid and the "standing" knives keep the table clean. Overall, a good value for the price.

I chose this set due to knife standup feature (coolness and attractive), and that the reviews on Amazon saying the knives are sharp enough for most meat, so that I didn't have to get separate steak knives. Being one of the best reviewed flatware set on Amazon closed the deal.

The good:
Sharpish knife, usable enough so you don't really have to buy a nice set of steak knife for guests if you dont entertain often, but I'm still going to pick some up for myself to truly enjoy slicing steaks.
Looks nice especially when knife stands up, very different.
Good quality so far, I use a new dishwasher on them, still look new.

The bad
The ergonomics on the handle isn't good imo, it's too narrow and thin. Hurts my hand if I need to use more force than usual for longish period of time. (not often enough so that I'd consider replacing the set, but bothers me enough to not recommend it)
The knife standing feature is not very functional. Nice when you pick it up (you can stand it or lay it) but not so nice when you try to place it on or against plates. Can slide off easy due to the unique shape and the weight distribution.