Did you know that, according to SeafoodHealthFacts.org, Americans consume more than 15 pounds of seafood annually? While that pales in comparison to our consumption of red meat, more and more Americans are seeking out delicious, well prepared seafood from their local sushi restaurants and other favorite seafood restaurants.
Unfortunately, because seafood consumption is relatively uncommon, when Americans do go out to their local sushi bar or other local seafood restaurant, they really don’t have any idea what to look for in order to ensure they’re eating at a quality establishment. If that sounds familiar to you, here are three telltale signs that you might want to take your need for a delicious seafood platter to another eatery.
Three Telltale Signs of Bad Seafood Restaurants
- Their Fish Just Doesn’t Look or Feel Right
- They’re Not Busy
- The Restaurant Stinks
If you have the chance to, take a look at the fish each restaurant uses to craft the dishes on its seafood menu. Do the fish have clear eyes and a healthy slime-coat on the skin? If not, chances are it’s way beyond its prime. Additionally, take a second to check the meat used in your favorite piece of sashimi. Fresh, sashimi-grade fish should be supple, meaning it retakes its form after you press on it. If it turns to paste with the slightest bit of pressure, you might want to eat elsewhere, as New York suggests.
For TripAdvisor, one of the simplest ways to tell if you’ve found a great seafood restaurant is by looking at how popular it is. Sure, it can be a pain in the butt to wait in line, but when there is a line, it’s a sure sign that you’ve found something wonderful. This rule applies to all sorts of eateries, but a line is an especially good sign when you’re looking for something fresh from the sea on which you can dine.
Contrary to what you might think, fish shouldn’t smell fishy. Better yet, any restaurant specializing in seafood shouldn’t smell like fish. Ask any chef worth their salt what the biggest sign of a great seafood restaurant is and they’ll undoubtedly tell you it’s the scent of the ocean. Awesome seafood joints have that salty, briny scent of the sea, not the stink of two week old tilapia.
How can you tell when you’ve found a great seafood restaurant? Let us know in the comment section below. Continue reading here.
