Here are some of the best and worst seafood choices from chefs. Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock; Ruslan Mitin/Shutterstock
Insider asked chefs for their top picks for seafood dishes they would order in a restaurant.
They claimed fluke is an underrated fish, and deep-fried Calamari might lack flavor.
Avoid seafood specials that may be hiding fish, according to chefs.
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Grilled mackerel can be very flavorful.
Grilled mackerel pairs well with a simple side dish. unicorn12two/Shutterstock
Priscilla, a private chef and caterer, told Insider she would recommend ordering grilled mackerel.
Casey said that Mackerel is an oily fish so it bonds with seasonings extremely well and is often very flavorful.
She suggested serving it with simple side dishes like asparagus, potatoes, and a slice fresh lemon.
Pan-fried seabass has a delicious texture.
Pan-fried sea bass is delicious. Libin Jose/Shutterstock
Pan-fried seabass is a wonderful combination of flavor and texture.
Casey said, "I love pan-frying sea bass. The contrast between the crisp skin and delicate fillet is just divine."
It usually has a mild flavor by itself, so the sauce or seasoning it is served with is vital to the success of the meal. Casey suggested adding lemon juice, vinaigrette or garlic-infused olive oils to spice up your dish.
Fluke is often underrated.
Fluke can be eaten raw or cooked. Chadchai Krisadapong/Shutterstock
Matt Ginn, Chebeague Island Inn's executive chef, said to Insider that he enjoys ordering fluke whenever he sees it on a seafood meal.
Ginn said that Fluke is one of her favorite fish dishes. It's delicious both raw and cooked.
It is also known as summer flounder. The mild, delicate flavor makes it a great choice for those who don't like strong fishy flavors.
For the best freshness, choose local fish
Consider the local selection. f11photo/Shutterstock
Ask your server if the menu item uses locally caught or harvested ingredients.
Ginn said, "I order only what has been caught within close proximity to the restaurant." This increases the chances that your dish is fresh.
Ginn suggested trying local delicacies such as lobster in Maine and red snapper, Florida.
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Consider what other diners order.
It's a sign of a good server if they are constantly serving a popular dish. artistique7/Shutterstock
Ginn stated that he looks at other tables and orders the most popular.
Ginn stated, "When you see plates after plates of the same type of seafood leaving the kitchen you can be sure that it is fresh and good quality."
You might end up with an older piece if you order unpopular ingredients.
Black cod is rich and satisfying.
Black cod is a common ingredient in Japanese restaurants. vsl/Shutterstock
Insider was told by William Eick (executive chef and owner at Matsu in California) that he recommends ordering black cod.
Eick stated that black cod is a good choice because it is a delicious, fatty, and rich fish. It's often paired with miso glaze which is full flavor.
Black cod, also known as sablefish, can be found in many Japanese seafood restaurants.
Spot prawns can be expensive, but they are worth the effort.
Spot prawns can be a bit more expensive than regular prawns, but they are well worth it. EJ Nickerson/Shutterstock
Spot prawns, sweet shrimp with a delicate texture, resemble little lobsters.
Eick said that although spot prawns can be expensive, they are always worth the price. They are also an indicator that the chef is sourcing high-quality ingredients.
Eick said that spot prawns should only be lightly cooked, and should be served with their roe or eggs.
Skip the special seafood offer
Enjoy the seafood platter. Dawna Moore/Shutterstock
Insider spoke to Devan Cameron, Sous Chef, about his tendency to skip the seafood specials when dining out because it might not be the most fresh.
Cameron stated that many bars, pubs and casual restaurants offer seafood specials as a way to sell older fish before they go bad.
This rule is usually not applicable to high-end restaurants. Ask your server if the seafood special is made with freshly caught fish.
Halibut can be difficult to prepare correctly.
Skip the halibut. Foodio/Shutterstock
Halibut is a white, firm fish that has mild flavors. Eick suggested that you choose a more adventurous recipe, even though it is a common seafood option.
Eick said that alibut is almost always overcooked in restaurants, and often lacks flavor.
You might prefer cod or grouper if you are looking for milder fish.
Tilapia has some safety concerns as it is flavorless.
Tilapia has its risks. Charles Brutlag/Shutterstock
Tilapia is a very popular freshwater fish and it's often found on seafood menus.
Cameron stated that tilapia is generally bland. Cameron said, "I would skip this fish because it is plain boring and unresponsibly farmed."
According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch List, which ranks fish sources on safety and sustainability, some consumers might want to avoid tilapia from China, especially because of "reliable evidence" that illegal antibiotics are being used in farming practices.
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), China is the largest supplier of tilapia in the world.
Seafood carbonara might include low-quality fish.
Carbonara sauce may be able to cover the problem. Aris-Tect Group/Shutterstock
Carbonara's cream sauce can overwhelm the flavor of seafood, which may be intentional.
Casey stated that restaurants have a tendency use heavy sauces to mask lower-quality seafood.
Casey suggested asking about the preparation of heavy sauces to avoid paying high prices for subpar seafood.
Fried calamari is often bland in flavor.
Instead, opt for fresh squid. Arvy Mench/Shutterstock
Squid eat plankton and crab as well as smaller sea creatures such shrimp and orange roughy. Casey explained that this diet gives the squid flesh an unusual flavor.
Casey said that the taste of the squid becomes muted when it is fried and battered. "Plus, most restaurant Calamari is frozen."
Instead of deep-frying calamari, order fresh squid coated with a tempura batter and bread crumbs.
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