When traveling you want a good dining experience that reflects the city you're visiting and you don't want to have a dining experience that is a miss - wasted time and effort not to mention the opportunity to enjoy fine dining
Some things I been lucky with finding good dining anywhere
Usually I'm lucky and fall in with locals when traveling and can get solid recommendations - I'll always ask a few different people and go with the consensus
You can check the newspaper on line for a few weeks before you travel and read the restaurant reviews
Zagat also has good reviews and I've found them to be accurate
http://www.zagat.com/
Bartenders usually know the city well and were good dining can be found (at the hotel ask for a few recommendations as the bartender might push the hotel restaurant)
and sometimes the dumpiest place can have the greatest food
Example - When in New Orleans I always eat at Coop's. Little dive bar on Decatur but the food is made fresh (Gumbo is different every day) and the staff is funny/funky (in a good way) plus they take care of you (Charging me rail price for Red Breast - this trip I drank all the Red Breast they had over 3 visits)
Mmmm food