For something reportedly born on the playing fields of England — specifically, as legend has it, an 18th-century card table — the namesake creation of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, has managed to circle the globe in impressive fashion.

The sandwich ranges as wide as the British Empire once did, and has outlasted it. You’ll find ingredients stuffed between two slices of bread in Saigon street stalls, Parisian bistros, Mexico City food carts, New Orleans oyster houses and backroom joints in Havana.

Here in Denver, we are as infatuated with sandwiches as our peers in other time zones. And why not? A sandwich is flavorful, portable and generally inexpensive, although the $20 lobster roll at Steuben’s, tasty as it is, doesn’t qualify as cheap eats unless you’re a 1 percenter.

There are three keys to a top-shelf sandwich. Two are inherent to any good dish: Quality ingredients and artful preparation. The third factor is specific to the very thing that defines a sandwich, the bread. It must be fresh and, just as important, properly matched to the sandwich.

We rounded up a few Mile High restaurants that do excellent sandwiches. The list is by no means inclusive, and we leaned toward mom-and-pop places.

Here is our lineup. Feel free to e-mail us (wporter@denverpost.com) or post comments at denverpost.com/food on sandwich places that you enjoy.

Masterpiece Delicatessen

1575 Central St., 303-561-3354; masterpiecedeli.com

The sandwich: Beef brisket

The skinny: This is a carnivore’s delight, especially for folks with trencherman tendencies. Masterpiece piles slices of 12-hour braised beef on a crusty baguette, then tops them with taleggio fondue, caramelized onions, arugula and a red-wine gastrique. The melted taleggio binds with the beef; cue the angels singing.

Vert Kitchen

704 S. Pearl St., 303-561-3354; vertkitchen.com

The sandwich: Lemon tuna

The skinny: While we love Vert’s braised pork shoulder sandwich, we felt obligated to put at least one seafood entry on our list. This is it. The lemon tuna is a delightfully light warm-weather option, with quality albacore marrying cucumbers, chervil and creamy, tart Greek yogurt.

Marczyk Fine Foods

770 E. 17th Ave., 303-894-9499; marczykfinefoods .com

The sandwich: Parisian

The skinny: Yes, Marczyk makes some fine hot sandwiches, but if you want a taste of France between two slices of bread — a baguette, of course — the Parisian is tres bon. It’s simplicity itself: a lightly buttered baguette packed with Belletoile brie. Marczyk also has a shop at 5100 E. Colfax Ave.

Carbone’s

1221 W. 38th Ave., 303-455-2893

The sandwich: Italian sausage sub

The skinny: This is one of the most popular sandwiches at this legendary family-run spot in north Denver. The sandwich, featuring house-made sausage seasoned with fennel and red pepper flakes, is a pork delivery system topped with provolone. You’ll want it with marinara and some jalapeños.

Snarf’s

1001 E. 11th Ave., 303-832-9999; eatsnarfs.com

The sandwich: Roast beef and provolone

The skinny: The name is self-explanatory, but make it a point to ask for the spicy, house-made giardiniera. Go crazy with the oil and spices if you wish, but the top-shelf ingredients speak for themselves. (OK, this is a mini-chain, with Chicago and St. Louis outlets, but it’s mostly ours.)

Ba Le

1044 S. Federal Blvd., 303-997-5941

The sandwich: Banh mi

The skinny: The banh mi, one of Vietnam’s national treasures, comes in numerous incarnations. Ba Le does a fine version with pork and crunchy vegetables (including pickled carrots) on a house-baked baguette. Be sure to ask for it with fresh jalapeños.

Spinelli’s Market

4621 E. 23rd Ave., 303-329-8143; spinellismarket.com

The sandwich: Caprese

The skinny: This is a terrific sandwich, basically the time-honored caprese salad on an chewy Italian loaf. The ingredients: sliced, super-fresh house-made mozzarella, sliced tomatoes and torn basil. And a touch of olive oil. It’s a mouthful of summer.

Cuba Cuba

1173 Delaware St., 303-605-2822; cubacubacafe.com

The sandwich: The Cuban

The skinny: This classic pressed sandwich is packed with flavor. Slices of ham and roasted pork are paired with Swiss cheese, mustard and sliced pickles, assembled on Cuban bread, and run through a press. This is the gold standard of this sandwich in Denver, and it would hold its own in Miami’s Little Havana. No surprise, given that the folks who run the restaurant are the son and daughter of Cuban ex-pats.

Chicago Style Beef and Dogs

6680 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, 303-233-5100; chicago-colorado.com

The sandwich: Chicago Style Italian Beef

The skinny: Nothing skinny about it, paisan. This is classic slow-roasted Italian beef, sliced thin and piled on Gonnella with a cup of jus on the side. Be sure to ask for some sweet peppers or giardiniera. Or what the heck, both.

William Porter: 303-954-1877 or wporter@denverpost.com