In 1960's, A&W became the first fast food chain to add onion rings to their menu. Since then, the American-made appetizer has taken off.
In honor of National Onion Ring day June 22, here are 15 of the best onion rings around central Pa.
6852 Derry St, Harrisburg, 717-564-9920
Driving by on Derry Street, you have no idea how lovely the patio is at The Wharf. Decked out with flowers and foliage, outside tables are enclosed and buffered from traffic and indoor bar noises. Huge smothered helpings of pasta or simplified grill-marked steaks with crisply, deep-fried waffle fries are more than substantial. “House specialty” tender, premium onion rings with dipping sauce are phenomenal ($6.95)
Johnny Joe's Sports Bar and Grill
5327 Trindle Rd, Mechanicsburg, 717-766-2254
Call in an order or risk exposure to second hand smoke at this motorcycle friendly dive bar. It takes three full size take out containers to fit one humongous The Joey Sampler $10 consisting of 6 wings, mozzarella sticks, crunchy-coated chicken tenders and huge pile of amazing onion rings. Thick and skinny rings explode with crunchy dark but not bitter deep fried batter. Soft caramelized sections of onion surface where there are cracks in the coating.
3406 E. Market St, York, 717-755-7300
For over six decades, this free standing brick house has been serving up consistently good American fare from jumbo lump eastern shore crab cakes ($26.95)to 16oz. Angus ribeye ($23.95). Don’t eat here without trying legendary Paddock’s famous onion rings ($7.95). Hand cut and battered sweet onions are crunchy throughout.
13 S. Main St, Marysville, 717-957-422
The Waterfront Bar & Grill has one of the best views, if not the most all-encompassing view of the Susquehanna River. Enjoy beer and menu item specials every day of the week including Sundays.
Homestyle onion rings ($5.95) are uniformly coated. You can also find these rings as part of the Waterfront sampler platter ($8.95) next to herb crumbed mozzarella sticks, potato skins and chicken tenders.
1 Laurel Rd, New Cumberland, 717-938-0930
Follow signs at exit 36 off of I-83 to this neighborly, old-fashioned steak house. Family owned and operated since 1956, Midwestern steaks are hand cut and ever-popular homemade thinly sliced onions rings ($4) are paper thin and crisp. Dunk carefully in mixture of Thousand and French dressings, the rings tend to break apart easily.
Mimi Brodeur | Special to PennLive
304 E. Main St., Mount Joy, 717-653-4224
A fire destroyed this small, roadside take-out joint in 2014. Rebuilt with three new dining areas, the BYOB restaurant does a very steady business when the doors open at 11 a.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Knotty wooden paneling and Edison light fixtures create a rustic, clean and contemporary setting. All meats are smoked in-house. Wispy coated, hand-dipped onion rings are delicate and crispy.
1110 N. Third St., Harrisburg. 717-412-4342.
Look no further for the best beer-battered onion rings ($7). Murphy's Irish Stout is the finishing sip that comes to lips after biting through crisply deep-fried and battered sweet onions. Smoked ketchup comes alongside. Alternatively, go with the hand-cut truffled herb fries ($6) that melt in your mouth and take your breath away. You won't be able to eat just one of either the rings or fries.
600 Old West Chocolate Ave., Hershey, 717-298-1461.
This hidden neighborhood hangout bar has some of the best juicy, finger-dripping burgers ($7.50). House dipped, amber colored onion rings ($8) come with happy sauce; a cool and spicy mix of ranch and Cajun seasonings.
449 S. Front St.,Wormleysburg, 717-730-4443
The restaurant lures customers with views of the Susquehanna and bountiful menu. Portions are huge so plan to share or take home for tomorrow’s lunch. For starters, order tower of thick and crunchy-coated hand breaded onion rings and pungent dipping sauce. (New Orleans style remoulade sauce)
Mimi Brodeur | Special to PennLive
The Bear's Den at Hershey Lodge & Convention Center
325 University Drive, Hershey. 717-533-3311
There’s room for all sports fans on this mock-arena floor plan. Purple, black and gold jerseys abound on the “ice” and up on massive 9’X 12’ video screen, but if football isn’t your top team pick, switch channels on TV insets at individual booths. House made beer battered onion rings ($10) are smooth coated and hot to the touch. Cool them down in nose-tingling horseradish mayo. You’ll have to share this massive tangle of rings. The portion is huge.
226 N. Second St., Harrisburg. 717-232-5020
Order small portion or basket of these specialty Brew City onion rings. Don’t slather too much dipping sauce over delicate crusted onion rings. Horseradish and Thousand Island dressings will over power faint sweetness of these rings.
50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. 717-221-1080
Burgers and handhelds come with ABC homemade Brewhaus chips or fries. Knowing customers head to the substitutes column for the Wheat Gap beer based battered onion rings, side $3 or basket $4. Thick, chunky and pleasantly greasy are the best ways to describe these rings. Don’t forget to pair these golden gems with BBQ ranch dipping sauce.
23 N. Fourth St., Harrisburg. 717-236-6082
This place offers some of the best loaded down cheesesteaks in the area. Pair hoagies with baskets of deeply golden fat onion rings ($2.99.) Stuff some of these rings between the bun for added sweet crunchiness.
165 Gateway Dr., Mechanicsburg 717-796-9464
Teetering tower of two finger thick sliced O-rings look more like old fashioned door knockers than appetizers. Evenly breaded there are no revealing onions poking through thick outer crusts. These rings are sturdy enough that they won’t break apart in side of Louisiana Lickers dipping sauce.
Mimi Brodeur | Special to PennLive
101 E. Main St, Middletown, 717-944-0450
Darts, pool table and flat screen sports events liven this expansive smoky scented, open space around elongated bar counter. There are booths lined up in a separate room with picture windows facing Main Street. Pub style American menu caters to beer drinkers seated around the bar. Pass down crackly, beer-battered onion rings. Crackling batter allows plenty of caramelized exposed onion.
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