To my dearest In-N-Out:

We've had a couple of great years together. Whenever I needed you, you were conveniently located. Whenever I was upset, you brought me solace in the form of a cheeseburger with grilled onions, not to mention animal-style French fries. You've filled my stomach with so many good things, but I can't do this anymore. I have to tell you the truth: I've started eating other burgers.

Let me tell you about them.

With only two locations in Berkeley, Bongo Burger is the best place to go for a mushroom burger: melted Swiss cheese, succulent sauteed mushrooms, a juicy beef patty. The crinkle-cut golden fries are delicious too, with just the right amount of potato, fried to the perfect texture of crispiness. Even though Bongo Burger doesn't have the best ambience, I learned that there is more to life than just consuming regular beef patties: Persian (lamb) burgers and black bean burgers are waiting to be eaten too.

But most recently and importantly, I had a brief fling with the Shake Shack in New York City. The memory of eating this gourmet burger still continues to haunt me to this day, teasing me to come back. The burgers are excellent, with an emphasis on quality not quantity (the burgers are petite). However, Shake Shack has something In-n-Out and Bongo Burger doesn't: custard. Or rather, very heavy frozen yogurt with the options of mix-ins like pie-crust, bananas, mint chocolate cookies and more. What I love about Shake Shack is the mere fact that it is located in Madison Square Park. Nothing beats eating a gourmet burger while lounging in the park on a sunny day.

So, my dear In-n-Out, please don't be upset with me. The world is full of different burgers and you and I couldn't last forever. We're better off if we just stayed, you know, friends.

In all seriousness wideeyedeggplant would like to give this quick run-down of burger joints:

Best all-around (food, location, menu-options): Shake Shack, in NYC. It is open for a limited amount of time per year, including September. Expect long lines.

Best food (not atmosphere): Bongo Burger in Berkeley, CA

Best quick bite to eat: In-N-Out, all along CA. Still trumps all other chains.