When it comes to the Japanese delicacy known as Sushi, people either love it or they hate it. There’s just no in between and this is probably because Sushi is made from raw fish and other ingredients that evoke strong reactions of love and hate.

Those who love their Sushi agree that there are certain tips that will help those starting out to have the best possible experience as they try a new food. Follow these guidelines, and it’s possible you may end up in the Sushi-lovers camp.

Start by checking out any Sushi restaurants in your city. All quality sushi establishments have a bar where the fish is displayed. Don’t be reluctant to take a look, that’s what the bar is there for. Take a good look at the fish. It should look juicy, not dry, and it should be what the chef is using to prepare sushi dishes. If he isn’t using the display fish, ask why not. Truly reputable sushi restaurants take great pride in showing off the quality and freshness of their fish, which is what this culinary specialty is all about. If the restaurant doesn’t have a fish display, don’t even think of eating sushi there.

The second tip is to avoid Sushi restaurants that have an “all you can eat” policy. To be able to do this, the restaurant would need to prepare large quantities of Sushi ahead of time, meaning that the fish used will not be absolutely fresh. While eating in an “all you can eat” Sushi restaurant will cost you less (quality seafood is quite costly), a first-rate Sushi meal, where you pay by the piece, is worth every extra penny. The best way to prove this to yourself is to try both types of restaurants. You’ll find that there really is no comparison between the taste of the quality food served at a traditional Sushi restaurant and the food you get at an “all you can eat” place.

You should also avoid restaurants where you are expected to order all your meals at once. Reputable Sushi restaurants have no problems with diners sampling just a few pieces of Sushi at a time, taking pride in the quality and flavor of each piece they serve. Sushi is a gourmet delicacy in Japan. It is not meant to be gobbled up fast, in great quantities. Restaurants that try to force you to order all your meal at one time may be serving fish that is less than fresh, or they may have prepared large quantities of Sushi in advance.

While fish is the main ingredient of Sushi, you should also pay attention to the flavor of the rice used. Rice used in Sushi dishes should be of the short-grain variety and combined with rice vinegar, water, salt and sugar to give it a delectably delicate flavor. A Sushi restaurant where the rice has no flavor is not the place to eat this gourmet dish.

Quality Sushi restaurants typically list traditional Sushi and Sashimi dishes as well as modern Sushi varieties such as California Rolls. If a place has no traditional dishes on its menu, it is not a good Sushi restaurant. The absence of authentic Sushi varieties from the menu usually means that the chef is not an accomplished Sushi cook.

Finally, treat yourself to the “chef’s special. Just as the sushi chef to prepare what he thinks best with the available fish. It’s a risk, true, but it could also lead to a tasty experience – to say nothing of creating a good relationship with the chef!

Michelle is an experienced blogger whose discipline is composing about basic, but yummy, house cooking. Her articles or reviews often stress the many advantages of crock pot recipes including slow cooker recipes, which is certainly one of her absolute favorites.