Top 5 Onion Rings in St. Louis, Chosen by Our Critic
French fries may be the classic sandwich side dish, but there's a case to be made that a perfectly executed onion ring has the potential to steal the show.
At these five restaurants — where the o-rings range from battered and plump to flaky and light — they're certainly good enough to be the main event.
Mabel Suen
Wright's Tavern
The Tavern Rings at Wright's Tavern (7624 Wydown Boulevard, Clayton; 314-390-1466) are a case study in texture: crisp, yet pillow-soft; firm enough to contain the perfectly softened sweet white onion slice, yielding so that the coating and onion melt together on the tongue. Chef Cary McDowell is on an unyielding pursuit of perfection at this marvelous restaurant, and the rings are no exception.
1 of 5
Mabel Suen
Twisted Tree
If you can resist the temptation to make an entire meal out of the croutons at Twisted Tree (10701 Watson Road, Sunset Hills; 314-394-3366), its onion rings are a must-try. Tender sweet onions are dipped in light-as-air, flaky batter and served alongside a delectably smoky, surprisingly spicy, dipping sauce. These addictive beauties are offered in two sizes, but you're a fool if you don't get the large one.
2 of 5
Andy Paulissen
O'Connell's Pub
For decades, this Botanical Heights institution has been the place for quintessential pub fare like delicious burgers, fish and chips (on Fridays) and that glorious roast beef sandwich, which is affectionately called the "roast beast" by those in the know. No matter what you get, though, the magnificently salty, fluffy battered wings at O'Connell's Pub (4652 Shaw Avenue, 314-773-6600) are the essential accompaniment.
3 of 5
The Parkmoor Drive-In
Though the sting of the original Parkmoor's demolition is still present every time you pass the Walgreens at the intersection of Big Bend and Clayton Road, it's become more bearable over the past few years thanks to its reincarnation at the nostalgic Webster Groves eatery the Parkmoor Drive-In (220 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-938-5554). Though the menu is smaller than it was at the old place, thankfully it includes the restaurant's beloved thick, batter-dipped rings that are a vital piece of St. Louis restaurant history.
4 of 5
Lester's
Alone, the chunky, batter-dipped rings at Lester's (9906 Clayton Road, Ladue; 314-994-0055) are excellent, but when dipped in the accompanying ancho chile ranch, they become otherworldly. The only way to make them better is to serve them alongside the restaurant's mind-blowing Reuben.
5 of 5
