When I was in the Navy, my ship was stationed out of Charleston, SC (early 80's.) In Charleston we used to go to a restaurant, Carey Hilliard's, and it had the BEST onion rings we ever had. Since then every where we go we have tried to find onion rings as good as Carey Hilliard's - but none have matched up. It became sort of fun game over the years. It appears that specific restaurant in Charleston is no longer open, but it seems there are some CH in Georgia. So my question to members in the area, or any that have eaten them - are they still the best onion rings?

They are. It's a Savannah original. Also home to the best Brunswick Stew ever cooked up.

Onion rings, IMHO, are a bit like Chinese food. A lot of restaurants make onion rings, very few do them well. Years ago, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen used to make some awesome onion rings, but they took them off the menus because they were too expensive to make.

Boy, those look like great ‘rings!

They look and are described as I remember them. My mouth is watering. I have a brother that just moved the NC, sounds like a visit and a day trip to Savannah needs to be scheduled.

quote:

Originally posted by chuck416:
Onion rings, IMHO, are a bit like Chinese food. A lot of restaurants make onion rings, very few do them well. Years ago, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen used to make some awesome onion rings, but they took them off the menus because they were too expensive to make.

This may sound like blasphemy to some but I have always liked the onion rings at White Castle.

Never got a chance to try the Popeye’s version, though.

In Tucson - Thirsty's Neighborhood Grill and Bar. N. Pantano rd.

A little hole-in-wall bar and grill with the best Onion Rings I have tasted. No grease, just crunchy, tasty Onion rings.

The rest of the menu, meh.

I was stationed at the Charleston base late 70's early 80'sand ate more than my share of their pulled pork and onion rings. Several years ago I even got them to ship me a case of their sauce so I could make it at home.

Yeah, lots of places offer onion rings. Most of them are not good, but those look great. One of my favorite foods- onion rings.

Really good onion rings are like really good poontang- kinda hard to get.

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker:
In Tucson - Thirsty's Neighborhood Grill and Bar. N. Pantano rd.

A little hole-in-wall bar and grill with the best Onion Rings I have tasted. No grease, just crunchy, tasty Onion rings.

The rest of the menu, meh.

Wow.....thanks GWB! Just last weekend I was lamenting that I had not found really good onion timgs since moving here. I am going there tomorrow!

The best onion rings I've had are from little clam shacks in the New England coastal towns.
Made from scratch and delicious.

Carey Hilliards onion rings are amongst the best. There are 3 Hilliards restaurants within 5 miles of my work.
My favorite is their pork club sandwich with outside meat.

quote:

Originally posted by p113565:
outside meat.

Now that'll get you some poontang.

or arrested

Tony Roma's used to have really good onion rings, but their menu offerings have changed quite a bit, and not for the better.

In the Orlando area, Boston's Fish House on Aloma Avenue has really great onion rings and onion nuggets. The company also has a newly opened location in New Smyrna Beach, but that one is disappointing.

The rings in the photo look delightful.

Now, can we pickle the onion rings, so they still have a great crunch, then bread and fry them?
That would be fantastical.

I’ll probably get run out if the forum for my onion ring blasphemy.

If you are ever in the Cincinnati area, venture to Ft Mitchell, KY and try out the Greyhound Tavern. It's a small family restaurant in operation since the 1920s. They are known for their southern cooking including some of the best fried chicken any where. Their onion rings are huge, and they are fantastic.

All right I've just got to get in my vote. If you are ever in the New Hope, PA area, you have to try the onion rings at Havana. They use Vidalia onions and bread them with a sesame seed batter. You can easily make a meal just out of the onion rings.



From the 70's I remember a small German restaurant in Tampa, FL, just outside the fairgrounds, called Karl's. Used to serve-up a plate of onion rings. I'm sure they are long gone, but I'll always remember them.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

The best onion rings I ever had was at a small café in Carmel Ca. They were part of an appetizer plate made up fried Calamari, fried clams and the rings. They were done in a lightly spiced batter that was cooked to perfection. I would eat the whole thing as a meal. I've judged every onion ring I've had since then using those as the baseline and none have come close.

Jim

Usually the Mom and Pop restaurants have the best onion rings. But as for the normal fast food joints I think Arbys and Culvers have decent rings too.

How depressing. I appears I'm the only one here who cannot eat onion rings without feeling debilitating distress.

Simple life for simple times. Boring diet.