Good Restaurants in Cologne and Nuremberg

In Cologne, Papa Joe's Biersalon in the Altermarkt. Pretty standard German fare, but the inside makes it special. A room full of antique music machines like player pianos, musical automatons, and even new ones of their own invention, Tuenes & Schael. Old time Cologne characters, Laurel & Hardy types that play the tuba and accordian. Drop a Euro coin in the box on the column and pick from your choice of current pop and German traditional tunes.
Live music on weekends. Dixieland jazz, and special occasions, Otto Reuter tribute nights. Germany's greatest cabaret singer from the early 20th century.

Well, under "good" we can understand a lot. Here is a top down approach for Nürnberg and the surrounding area:

1) there are some starred restaurants, including

Two star:

Essigbrätlein: http://www.essigbraetlein.de/

One star:

Entenstuben: www.entenstuben.de

Zwei-Sinn Meiers: http://www.meierszweisinn.de/

In the region, accessible by public transport:

Heroldsberg, Sosein: http://www.sosein-restaurant.de/

Langenzenn, Keidenzeller Hof: www.keidenzeller-hof.de

2) Among the less expensive (or should I say more normal?) restaurants, my personal favorite is Weinhaus Steichele (Knorrstraße 2, www.steichele.de). It offers Franconian cuisine interpreted in a modern way (I mean, not as heavy as traditional Franconian cooking) and has good wine, partly from its own vineyards.

A good Indian restaurant is the Sangam at Königsstrasse 17, not far from the train station (http://www.restaurant-sangam-nuernberg.de/). My favorite Italian is Padelle d 'Italia (open only in the evening, Southern Italian cuisine); there is another big but average Italian restaurant at the south edge of the main market (Hauptmarkt).

Sometimes I see mentioned here those two beer halls on the Königsstrasse, which I personally would consider tourist traps, and I'd also avoid the "Bratwurst-somthing's" around the town hall, which are better but overrun by tourists. But of course I don't wont to stop you from making your own experiences.

I used to research restaurants when I overplanned my travels. Never once ate at one of the restaurants as I either didn't care for the food being served or they were too expensive. Now, I just ask the hotel front desk where to eat or wing it. Save so much time and nerves being that way.

The three most memorable restaurants I ate at in Nuremberg were:
Bratwurst-Häusle - very cheap, and a great place to get Nuremberg's famous small, skinny bratwurst, plus potato salad, sauerkraut, and beer

Heilig Geist Spital - A really unique experience, this 650 year old restaurant is perched over the river, and serves a variety of traditional Franconian dishes.

Weinhaus Steichele - another unique experience, but where Heilig Geist Spital is cavernous and lively, Weinhause Steichele is cozy and intimate, a favorite haunt of Herman Hesse back in the day. Also serves traditional Franconian and Bavarian food.

In Nuremberg we ate at Restaurant Nassauer Keller zu Nürnberg. The food was fine as was the service once the waitress warmed up a little. If you eat there, immediately after entering, watch your step as there is a steep stairwell down to the restaurant. For pastries we enjoyed Neef Confiserie Café.