There’s a very good reason my stint as a vegetarian was short lived, and that reason is bacon. This delicious meat can be part of breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or any meal in between. One of the best bacon-centric meals out there is, of course, the BLT.
When hunger strikes and you crave bacon, lettuce and tomato, head to one of the following restaurants in the D that serves up a traditional BLT, as well as a few who turn the concept into something new entirely. Let’s take a look!
The Fly Trap, 22950 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, has BLTs for both breakfast and lunch. The BLAT+C is an omelette packed with pepper bacon, tomato, spinach, avocado and cheddar cheese. It’s served with toast and smashed garlic fried potatoes. The perfect way to start your day? I think yes.
If you’ve already had breakfast and are interested in lunch, try the BLAT, which is essentially the omelette in sandwich form. It includes pepper bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and garlic aioli on sourdough bread. The sandwich is served with your choice of fries or small salad.
Mercury Burger Bar, 2163 Michigan Ave., Detroit, is known for its out of this world burgers, but that’s not all the menu has to offer. Below the burgers, you’ll find sandwiches including the BBLT (applewood bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo on white, wheat or rye) and the Fried Green BLT. The latter consists of applewood bacon, lettuce and fried green tomatoes on white or wheat bread.
You’re going to want to add a side of fries to your meal, I promise. There are plenty of varieties to choose from, including sea salt, sea salt and black pepper, garlic, chili cheese fries, sweet potato fries and bacon fries. And that’s excluding the tater tot selection.
Public House, 241 W. 9 Mile Rd., Ferndale, has a menu full of sliders so you can mix and match your meal for maximum happiness. The PH BLT is a slider with pork belly, tomato jam, lettuce, avocado, jalapeno and red onion on a bun. Since this particular BLT is tiny, you can get away with having a few without feeling the guilt. Additionally, no one will fault you for sticking with a few BLT sliders and saving the mixing and matching for your next visit.
Tom’s Oyster Bar, 318 S. Main St., Royal Oak, might not instantly spring to mind when you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a BLT, but it should. Tom’s serves a Smoked Roasted Salmon BLT with Dijon dill sauce on a Ciabatta bun.
As if a regular BLT with crispy bacon wasn’t good enough, now it’s got a delightfully delicious twist. Once you’ve had a BLT with fresh seafood, a regular BLT will never be the same again!
Diamond Jim Brady’s, 43271 Crescent Blvd., Novi, has been serving up bistro food and bar cocktails for the past 60 years. If you love BLTs and lobster rolls, Diamond Jim Brady’s has the perfect hybrid lunch or dinner for you: the Lobster BLT.
The sandwich consists of applewood bacon, tomato, arugula, lemon mayo and fresh lobster on a Ciabatta roll. It comes with fries or coleslaw, or both for an additional charge. A BLT with lobster might sound a bit decadent, but it’s worth every bite.
Sweet Lorraine’s, located in Southfield and Livonia, has similar menus at each location, and both include the Avocado-Crab BLT Crab Cake Sandwich, with applewood bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and red bell pepper aioli.
If that sounds good, you’ll probably also enjoy the Eastern Market “BLT” which is only on the Livonia location’s lunch menu. It includes applewood bacon, lettuce, tomato, Granny Smith apples and red pepper aioli. The sandwich is then grilled and served with your choice of house-fried chips, French fries or sweet potato fries.
Green Lantern Pizzeria, with locations in Madison Heights, Clinton Township and Royal Oak, serves… wait for it… BLT pizza. The specialty pizza consists of bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and cheese. That’s enough to make this cheese and pepperoni girl switch things up next time I order a pie. Plus, lettuce on a pizza? Last time I checked, lettuce was a vegetable, rendering this pizza good for you.
Om Café, 23136 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, has been serving fresh, vegetarian and macrobiotic meals for nearly 30 years. You must be thinking I’m crazy, advocating that vegetarians nosh on a BLT. You can! Sort of. Try the TLT, which swaps bacon for tempeh and includes romaine lettuce, tomato, avocado and garlic aioli on toasted sourdough. Served with Michigan-made corn chips, this sandwich is a great way for vegetarians to get in on the BLT game.
Bacon, lettuce and tomato on bread is a sandwich that can’t be beaten. That is, unless you add lobster to it or turn the ingredients into a pizza. Whether you’re a traditional BLT fan or enjoy something a little jazzier, there are plenty of BLT varieties to try at restaurants in Metro Detroit. EYBLT! (Enjoy your BLT).