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Phantom Gourmet: Great 8 Onion Rings

Battered, fried and served up hot, onion rings are the ultimate snack. These are the 8 Greatest spots Phantom has found for rings.

Mr. Bartley's Gourmet Burgers
Harvard Square

Kicking off the Great 8 is Mr. Bartley's Gourmet Burgers. Located in the heart of Harvard Square for more than fifty years, this is where brainiacs and burger lovers come together to get their hands on some thick, juicy, piled high, griddled beauties. Nothing goes better with a burger than a plate-tipping order of some of Bartley's crispy, crunchy onion rings that are sliced thin and fried to order- so they're always screaming hot.

Brewer's Coalition
Newtonville

Brewer's Coalition in Newtonville has a casual atmosphere with high ceilings, big windows and a huge wooden bar. With an ever-changing lineup of beers and a collection of bottles bordering the entire space, you can tell they're dedicated to their draughs. Even back in the kitchen, suds are an essential ingredient. So the Fish & Chips are covered in a Sam Adams based batter, and the Black and Tan Onion Rings are coated in Guinness Stout.

"It gives it a much different taste, a much richer taste. Especially a darker beer really gives it a real kick."

Del Frisco's
Boston Waterfront

Another Great 8 winner is Del Frisco's. This national chain has taken Boston's waterfront by storm with its huge selection of hand cut steaks, fresher-than-fresh seafood and unbeatable water views. Here they take the art of making onion rings to another level, hand selecting each individual, over-sized ring before it's dipped in Harpoon beer batter and fried until crunchy.

"We could go ahead and cut say 50 to 60 onions, and we'll only hand pick two or three of the actual cylinders."

Frank's
Cambridge

Frank's on Mass. Ave has been a Cambridge institution since 1938, making it the oldest steakhouse in Greater Boston. Signature steaks include the sizzling New York Sirloin, a tender ten ounce Filet, and the perfectly rosy prime rib. But for the true Frank's Steak House experience, you have got to order the Onion Loaf. This incredible appetizer is a mouth-watering block of deep fried onion rings fused together into a cube of golden goodness, served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.

WATCH: GREAT 8 ONION RINGS PART 2:

5 Napkin Burger
Back Bay

5 Napkin Burger in the Back Bay has a retro-cool feel, with eye-catching lighting, tiled walls, a big bar, and chalkboard artwork. Burgers are their specialty, but there's also plenty to snack on like lobster roll sliders, fiery wings and the eye popping, jaw dropping tower of thick cut onion rings, made with a super crispy panko breading.

Arnold's Lobster and Clam Bar
Eastham

Another Great 8 winner is Arnold's Lobster and Clam Bar, on Route 6 in Eastham. For over 50 years, customers have come here for fresh seafood, ice cream, cocktails, and a round of mini golf. The clams melt in your mouth, and the lobster rolls are truly overloaded. But it's the overflowing bowl of crispy thin-cut onion rings that are a true Cape Cod classic. In fact, during the season, Arnolds pumps out over 2 tons of these wildly popular rings a week.

"Arnold's onion rings are the best on the Cape. They're the best anywhere. I don' think you'll have another onion ring in the country, perhaps the world, that are as good as Arnold's onion rings."

The Boynton
Worcester

The Boynton in Worcester is a popular bar and restaurant serving up a little bit of everything: from burgers and pizza to fried food and Italian. But the tastiest option is the Boynton Bloomin' Onion.
Homemade and huge, it comes with a honey mustard dressing that puts the Outback to shame. And if you want to kick up your down under experience, try the hot and spicy buffalo blooming onion.

Boston Burger Company
Somerville & Boylston Street

Rounding off the Great 8 is the Boston Burger Company. Located in Somerville and on Boylston Street, this fun and funky hamburger haven sports some wild creations like the 420 burger loaded up with mac and cheese, French fries and mozzarella sticks. But nothing is as over the top as the Killer Bee burger- stacked high with a tower of onion rings drenched in honey BBQ sauce.

"People look at it and they ask the waitress, 'How am I supposed to eat this?' And the response you're gonna get is squish it down, open up as wide as you can, and just jump into it."

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.

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