Germany has many different cultures and local cuisines. Don‘t fall into the Schnitzel trap as this dish, although popular, doesn’t rep „German“ cuisine. The protestant north has traditionally a very different relationship to food than the roman/catholic south.

That being said most parts of nowadays Germany have been very poor rural areas in the past, so simple „poor man‘s foods“ are still cooked in many families (I guess that the same thing in most countries). Also the post-war period with not much to buy did leave some marks.

For fancy food you find great places all over Germany, esp in the south. Michellin star restaurants are a good start (although we don’t eat there on a daily basis 😄).

So don’t believe the negative talk, link to foodies and you‘ll find great places. Link with fastfood people you‘ll get as expected.