Tyler Groenendal has written nearly 50 reviews about one thing and one thing only: onion rings. The Michigan-based Local Guide has developed a theory he calls the “Onion Ring Standard.”
“The theory goes that onion rings are simple, and easy to cheap out on—either in quality of ingredients or prep time—and still be passable, from the perspective of most people,” he told us. “However, if a restaurant goes to the trouble of hand-making onion rings, in a quality way with quality ingredients, it’s indicative as to the effort they put into the rest of the menu.”
We spoke to Tyler over on Google’s blog, The Keyword, about his passion for onion rings and his tips for writing helpful food reviews.
Here’s an excerpt:
What information do you think is important to include in your reviews of onion rings?
I review based on four broad categories.
- Presentation and appearance—takes into account the plating, the quality of the batter, the color and so on.
- Taste—looks at the overall taste of the onion itself, the breading or batter, and any accompanying dipping sauce.
- Texture—looks at the overall mouthfeel, the crunchiness of the batter, the mushiness of the onions, and so on. This category also accounts for overall structural integrity.
- Value—Given the quality and quantity of the onion rings, and the price I paid for them, does it match up to be a good value?
Finally, a picture of the onion rings, as they look when they arrive, plated, at my table, is essential.
What do you look for in the perfect onion ring?
Generally speaking, though not exclusively, a perfect onion ring will consist of a thickly cut onion (both tall and wide), a consistent beer battering or more traditional breading, with both the onion and batter fried to an optimal texture and color. That is, they aren’t overdone, the onions aren’t mushy or too raw, the batter is cooked through, but not burned and the parts aren’t separable. Separability of parts is the biggest plague in the world of onion rings today.
What do great onion rings tell you about the restaurant you ordered them from?
Essentially, great onion rings tell me that the restaurant puts time and care into even the most mundane dishes. I view onion rings as a proxy for the quality of any given restaurant.
Read more about Tyler and his onion ring expertise on The Keyword.
Do you have a favorite food you love to review? Tell us in the comments below!
