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Bayou Bakery's BLT

Celebrate the Summer Tomato with These Standout BLTs

Most people love bacon, but the tomato is the important part

by Lani Furbank Updated Aug 10, 2016, 11:48am EDT

3 comments / new

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Bayou Bakery's BLT

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by Lani Furbank Updated Aug 10, 2016, 11:48am EDT

3 comments / new

A BLT may be one of summer's simplest pleasures. The stars of this sandwich shine on their own, but in tandem, they're taken to the next level. Juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, and crunchy lettuce come together to form the perfect combination of flavors and textures.

Each summer, DC chefs find a way to make this trio even harder to resist. Many enhance the key flavors of the sandwich with interesting sauces or toppings, like lemon-dill aioli, tzatziki, or guacamole. Some substitute or complement bacon with other proteins, including soft-shell crab, pâté, tasso, and even vegetarian options like tempeh or mushrooms. Others skip the bread altogether and create a deconstructed version of the classic sandwich. But mostly, the secret to a great BLT is to put it on the menu when tomatoes are at their best.

During the height of tomato season, here are some mouthwatering creations inspired by the trifecta of bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

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Bayou Bakery

The Bayou BLT ($8) gives a little extra TLC to the T. It features oven-cured tomatoes, Benton’s bacon, baby arugula, and mayo, sandwiched between two slices of Texas toast.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

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Also featured in:

Beuchert's Saloon

Beuchert’s Saloon puts a French spin on their BLT. The PBLT ($15) comes on grilled sourdough with pâté, Benton’s bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and sauce ravigote.

623 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

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Also featured in:

BLT Steak DC

Even though the steakhouse isn’t named for the sandwich (BLT stands for Bistro Laurent Tourondel, after the chef and restaurateur), it does offer a take on the BLT. Their BLTDC ($12) is a panini-style sandwich filled with bacon, cress, tomato “vinaigrette” dijonnaise, and Colby cheese.

1625 I Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

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Also featured in:

Brookland's Finest Bar & Kitchen

Brookland’s Finest caters to veg-lovers with their Fried Green Tomato “B”LT ($14). The B stands for braised portobello mushroom, which is topped with spinach, fried green tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and sweet onion aioli, all stacked on brioche.

3128 12th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20017

Also featured in:

Buffalo & Bergen

Buffalo & Bergen’s towering BLT bagel sandwich doesn’t play games. The “Hey Y’all…It’s a BLT” ($9.75) has pimento cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cheddar.

Open in Google Maps

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

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Equinox

Basically the epitome of summer, Equinox serves a Crispy Eastern Shore Soft Shell Crab BLT ($16 or $31). The crab is accompanied by crispy pork belly, braised romaine, and tomato coulis.

818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Homestead

Smoking Goose in Indianapolis makes a lamb bacon just for Homestead. It’s featured in the LBLT Sliders ($9), which come with lamb bacon, baby iceberg lettuce, smoked tomato jam, pickled red onions, and tzatziki sauce.

Open in Google Maps

3911 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20011

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Jackson 20

Jackson 20’s BLT follows one of the golden rules of cooking: put an egg on it. The BELT ($14) includes bacon, over easy eggs, lettuce, and fried green tomatoes. It’s served on brioche with hash browns during weekend brunch.

480 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Little Red Fox

Bacon, arugula, tomato, avocado, smoked garlic aioli and provolone make up this sandwich served on ciabatta ($9.50). Order it "extra fancy' and end up with a fried egg on top.

Open in Google Maps

5035 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Visit Website

Mason Social

Instead of bacon, Mason Social uses house-cured tasso ham for their BLT ($9). The sandwich comes on sturdy Texas toast with tasso, tomato, lettuce, and garlic aioli.

728 N Henry St, Alexandria, VA 22314

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Also featured in:

Neopol Savory Smokery

Showcasing their house-smoked meats, Neopol’s Salmon BLT ($9.95) stars smoked salmon and bacon. It also comes with tomato, greens, red onion, and a lemon-dill aioli on a choice of toasted white, rye, sunflower-flax, gluten-free bread.

Open in Google Maps

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Parkway Deli & Restaurant

Guacamole gives the California BLT a bit of west-coast attitude. It’s also stuffed with bacon, melted cheddar, lettuce and sliced tomato ($8.25).

8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

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Also featured in:

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

Of course, Pearl Dive puts a seafood spin on the BLT with their CEBLT Po-Boy: fried catfish, an egg, Benton’s bacon, lettuce, and tomato. ($17)

1612 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009-4307

Also featured in:

So's Your Mom

For a no-nonsense sandwich that’s easy on the wallet, try So’s Your Mom’s toasted whole wheat BLT with mayo. ($4.50)

1831 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Also featured in:

18 Places for a Hot Pastrami Sandwich in D.C.

Sticky Fingers Bakery

Plant-based Sticky Fingers stays true to form with a vegan take on the BLT. Their TLT ($10) includes house-made tempeh bacon, lettuce, tomato, and egg-free mayonnaise on multi-grain bread.

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Straw Stick & Brick Deli

When a place makes its own bacon, odds are the BLT might be a good one. Here, for $10, get one on brioche with just enough mayo.

Open in Google Maps

5111 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C.

Visit Website

Teddy & The Bully Bar

Teddy and the Bully Bar’s BLGT ($17) features basil bacon, fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, greens, and honey mayo.

1200 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Bayou Bakery

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

The Bayou BLT ($8) gives a little extra TLC to the T. It features oven-cured tomatoes, Benton’s bacon, baby arugula, and mayo, sandwiched between two slices of Texas toast.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

Visit Website

Beuchert's Saloon

623 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Beuchert’s Saloon puts a French spin on their BLT. The PBLT ($15) comes on grilled sourdough with pâté, Benton’s bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and sauce ravigote.

623 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

BLT Steak DC

1625 I Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Even though the steakhouse isn’t named for the sandwich (BLT stands for Bistro Laurent Tourondel, after the chef and restaurateur), it does offer a take on the BLT. Their BLTDC ($12) is a panini-style sandwich filled with bacon, cress, tomato “vinaigrette” dijonnaise, and Colby cheese.

1625 I Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

Brookland's Finest Bar & Kitchen

3128 12th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20017

Brookland’s Finest caters to veg-lovers with their Fried Green Tomato “B”LT ($14). The B stands for braised portobello mushroom, which is topped with spinach, fried green tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and sweet onion aioli, all stacked on brioche.

3128 12th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20017

Buffalo & Bergen

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Buffalo & Bergen’s towering BLT bagel sandwich doesn’t play games. The “Hey Y’all…It’s a BLT” ($9.75) has pimento cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cheddar.

Open in Google Maps

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Equinox

818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Basically the epitome of summer, Equinox serves a Crispy Eastern Shore Soft Shell Crab BLT ($16 or $31). The crab is accompanied by crispy pork belly, braised romaine, and tomato coulis.

818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

Homestead

3911 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20011

Smoking Goose in Indianapolis makes a lamb bacon just for Homestead. It’s featured in the LBLT Sliders ($9), which come with lamb bacon, baby iceberg lettuce, smoked tomato jam, pickled red onions, and tzatziki sauce.

Open in Google Maps

3911 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20011

Visit Website

Jackson 20

480 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Jackson 20’s BLT follows one of the golden rules of cooking: put an egg on it. The BELT ($14) includes bacon, over easy eggs, lettuce, and fried green tomatoes. It’s served on brioche with hash browns during weekend brunch.

480 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Little Red Fox

5035 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Bacon, arugula, tomato, avocado, smoked garlic aioli and provolone make up this sandwich served on ciabatta ($9.50). Order it "extra fancy' and end up with a fried egg on top.

Open in Google Maps

5035 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Visit Website

Mason Social

728 N Henry St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Instead of bacon, Mason Social uses house-cured tasso ham for their BLT ($9). The sandwich comes on sturdy Texas toast with tasso, tomato, lettuce, and garlic aioli.

728 N Henry St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Neopol Savory Smokery

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Showcasing their house-smoked meats, Neopol’s Salmon BLT ($9.95) stars smoked salmon and bacon. It also comes with tomato, greens, red onion, and a lemon-dill aioli on a choice of toasted white, rye, sunflower-flax, gluten-free bread.

Open in Google Maps

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Parkway Deli & Restaurant

8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Guacamole gives the California BLT a bit of west-coast attitude. It’s also stuffed with bacon, melted cheddar, lettuce and sliced tomato ($8.25).

8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Visit Website

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

1612 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009-4307

Of course, Pearl Dive puts a seafood spin on the BLT with their CEBLT Po-Boy: fried catfish, an egg, Benton’s bacon, lettuce, and tomato. ($17)

1612 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009-4307

So's Your Mom

1831 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

For a no-nonsense sandwich that’s easy on the wallet, try So’s Your Mom’s toasted whole wheat BLT with mayo. ($4.50)

1831 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Sticky Fingers Bakery

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Plant-based Sticky Fingers stays true to form with a vegan take on the BLT. Their TLT ($10) includes house-made tempeh bacon, lettuce, tomato, and egg-free mayonnaise on multi-grain bread.

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Visit Website

Related Maps

Straw Stick & Brick Deli

5111 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C.

When a place makes its own bacon, odds are the BLT might be a good one. Here, for $10, get one on brioche with just enough mayo.

Open in Google Maps

5111 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C.

Visit Website

Teddy & The Bully Bar

1200 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Teddy and the Bully Bar’s BLGT ($17) features basil bacon, fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, greens, and honey mayo.

1200 19th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

Related Maps