20 Best Restaurants In Germany

First came The Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants in America, then 101 Best Hotel Restaurants Around the World. Now, The Daily Meal has set its sights on Europe. Each week this fall, The Daily Meal will highlight the best restaurants in various regions in Europe, culminating with the debut of our first list of the 101 Best Restaurants in Europe in December.

See 20 Best Restaurants in Germany Slideshow

Perennially on the quest to find the best places to eat and dine in cities large and small, The Daily Meal continues its European culinary tour in Germany.

The Daily Meal's list of the 20 Best Restaurants in Germany was carefully curated through a two-month-long nomination process; we consulted the Michelin Guide and other trusted sources and gathered recommendations from The Daily Meal's editors, who have traveled and dined extensively around the world.

Once we compiled a preliminary list of more than 100 restaurants, we reached out to a panel of knowledgeable judges, comprised of restaurant critics, food and lifestyle writers, and bloggers with wide restaurant-going experience. They added their own favorites, and then voted for the winners. Some of our judges requested anonymity. Among those we can thank publically are Dino Joannides, Evelyn Kim, Trine Lai and Luisa Weiss, author of My Berlin Kitchen: A Love Story who blogs at The Wednesday Chef.

Panelists voted in two categories: cuisine and style/décor/service. From innovative menu options to plating and presentation to freshness, quality, and taste, panelists evaluated each restaurant's cuisine and only voted for the restaurants which they believe are extraordinary. For the second category, panelists evaluated the dining experience, from the restaurant's interior and dining room ambiance to the service, voting for the restaurants which they believe offer an unrivaled experience. Each restaurant had the chance to be voted on twice during the survey. Finally, the percentage scores from each category were averaged to arrive at the final ranking.

With dozens of restaurants to choose from, it was a culinary challenge to whittle the list down to a select 20. Germany has 10 restaurants with three Michelin stars, surpassing all other European countries except France, for the country with the most three-Michelin-starred restaurants. The awarding of three stars to chef Kevin Fehling's La Belle Epoque at the Columbia Hotel in Lübeck in the latest Michelin Guide to Germany, released today, helped Germany attain the distinction.

Restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, from classic French to fusion, were considered. We did not discriminate according to location; no town or vilage was off the table. The list is populated with restaurants serving cuisine that runs the gamut from classic brewery fare at Der Pschorr in Munich to pan-Asian at Spindler & Klatt in Berlin to elegant modern German cuisine at Aqua in Wolfsburg. While many in the top 20 are in larger cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich, others are further afield, like Bareiss in Baiersbronn-Mitteltal in Southern Germany, Restaurant Amador in Mannheim in southwestern Germany, and Vendôme in Bergisch Gladbach east of the Rhine River. Relish at The Westin Grand in Berlin, which appeared on The Daily Meal's 101 Best Hotel Restaurants Around the World, also made this list.

While The Daily Meal's first list of the 101 Best Restaurants in Europe won't be revealed until December, The Daily Meal 20 Best Restaurants in Germany are sure to whet your appetite for more.

Colman Andrews is the Editorial Director at The Daily Meal. Follow him on Twitter @Colmanandrews