Hey @jasonf! I love to eat sushi too and that is one of my main concern. My husband has an ability to spot fresh sushi and the restaurant that has been serving this is our instant favorite that we frequently dine in.
These are some guides on how to know if the sushi that is being served is fresh:

1. Be observant and try to look at the restaurant in its overall cleanliness and orderliness. You will notice this the instant you walk in and you smell a pleasant aroma when you walk in.

2. Before ordering, look at the fish displayed in the sushi bar.

3. Look at the color of the fish. A fresh fish should have an even coloring and devoid of dark patches.

4. When you are eating sushi, try to check the texture. If the fish is some and melt in your mouth, the fish is fresh. Of course, there are exceptions to this like the octopus and squid which is chewy.

Here are more tips:
*The color of the Yellow tuna or hamachi should be creamy to light yellow and has a buttery texture that melts in the mouth.
* Red tuna or maguro should have a light pink color to red with little variation when it comes to its color

If you go to a restaurant that is a reputable establishment, you shouldn’t have a problem with getting a food borne illness. According to FDA stats, there is a less chance of getting sick from eating bad raw fish than eating bad poultry or beef. However, if you end up getting sick from bad sushi, you won’t really care about the statistics. Here are some tips to try to get the freshest sushi.

1. Check out the temperature of the fish. A lot of times the restaurant, at least a buffet type sushi bar, will actually have a thermometer by the fish showing what the temperature is. If not, check to make sure that the glass in front of the raw fish is very cold to the touch. If not, don’t eat it.

2. Check out the restrooms. Most of the time, the employees use the same bathroom as the guests so make sure there is plenty of clean running water, paper towels or hand dryers and soap. If it isn’t well equipped, chances are that the workers are not washing their hands before creating your meal. If so, eat elsewhere.

3. Locate the restaurant sanitation report. It is a law that a recent sanitation report be visible usually by the entrance or cash register. If you don’t see it, perhaps the restaurant is hiding something.

4. Inspect all surfaces used to prepare the sushi. If they do not look clean, including the display case, sushi counter or cutting board, leave the restaurant. Everything should be spotless when handling raw fish.

By following these tips along with the others you have received, you should be a safe sushi patron.

You can be sure to get fresh sushi if you go to a sushi house that has a reputation for excellent, fresh sushi.

When you enter the restaurant make sure that the building looks clean and organized. Notice if the aroma of the overall place is enticing you or putting you off.
Before you order, check out the aquatic display. Are the fish happy and healthy looking?

When your meal arrives, notice what the texture of the fish is like. It should be soft and melt in your mouth. Exceptions are octopus and squid, which should be wonderfully chewy.

Some traditional restaurants have certain requirements, although eating out at a sushi bar requires no absolute requirements, other than general politeness.
Eating sushi at a notable sushi bar is a great experience as well as a healthy food choice.