The Ultimate: BLT

We admit it's tough to make a bad BLT (there is bacon in there, after all). But it's a genuine challenge to ace every element—crisp strips of meat, sweetly ripe tomato, lettuce with just the right crunch—and elevate this humble sandwich to warm-weather classic. Scup's in the harbor rises to the occasion with cherry wood–smoked bacon and roasted cherry tomatoes nestled on red leaf lettuce. Sliced cheddar and a spot of pesto mayo add zing and texture without overpowering the key players, and sturdy slices of toasted wheat keep hands clean and flavor at the fore.

Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina, Bldg. 16, 256 Marginal St., East Boston, 617-569-7287, scupsintheharbor.com.

Other Pigs That Flew [The Runners-Up]:

**** 1/2 Scampo This light, airy BLT literally overflowing with fresh burrata cheese and tangy greens shouts summer with every bite, but lost a bit of essential bacon-ness. The Liberty Hotel, 215 Charles St., Boston, 617-536-2100, scampoboston.com.

**** All Star Sandwich Bar With a dense mound of salty bacon, tomato and lettuce, and lightly grilled sourdough bread, this traditional (if plain) sandwich is a must for purists. 1245 Cambridge St., Cambridge, 617-868-3065, allstarsandwichbar.com.

*** 1/2 Channel Café A standout spicy mayo and delightfully crumbly bacon earn this otherwise predictable entry an extra half-star. 300 Summer St., Boston, 617-426-0695, channel-cafe.com.

** Flour The juicy, flavorful applewood-smoked bacon is a treat, but gummy bread and unremarkable accoutrements keep it from the top. 1595 Washington St., Boston, 617-267-4300; 12 Farnsworth St., Boston, 617-338-4333, flourbakery.com.