"Cologne, for me, is an odd eating experience. There's areas of the city where there is plenty of choice of places to eat, but not so much choice in WHAT you eat. Lots of heavy, stodgy food available in slightly different variations but mostly unappetising. Seeing a dish which was basically curry, sausage, pasta and potato all mixed together made me realise just how bad things can get . . . I avoided that one. Il Forno looked like a decent place from the menu, and it turned out to be more so. Three courses, all of which were of a very good quality, supplimented by a nice wine list, a waiting staff that were happy to converse in Italian (my German is dreadful) and very reasonable prices. My only minor gripe was my dessert order getting held up in the kitchen (well, lost, to be more accurate) by the apology was heartfelt and more than adequate. All in all, I feel I made a good choice for the evening's meal given the options close by."