Sometimes, the stressors of life can make the world feel like it’s spinning faster than a haunted carousel operated by members of My Chemical Romance. If you’re in the market for a soothing pause, here’s what you should do: grab a meal from Lil Red, a Jamaican restaurant in Columbia City that serves phenomenal BBQ and soul food. You can forget about political scandals and the skyrocketing cost of living (for now at least), while supporting one of Seattle’s best takeout spots in the process. Everything from the kitchen at Lil Red is pure comfort food royalty, whether eaten separately or in the same damn forkful. And while the menu here is made up of meals involving one meat, like peppery escovitch fish or pork ribs, and two sides, like smashed yams or collard greens, we’re here to tell you about the four things you cannot ignore: brisket, jerk chicken, mac and cheese, and the best mashed potatoes in the entire city. The charred brisket has an ideal blend of smoke and fat, the juicy jerk chicken has a ton of delicious heat, the spiced mac and cheese is like liquid velvet, and the flavorful garlicky mash deserves a standing ovation at Benaroya Hall followed by a backyard birthday party. With bounce houses. It doesn’t matter if you eat your plate on the curb outside the restaurant or at home after a trip in the car—all the meats and sides hold up incredibly well. They also make for delicious leftovers the following day, as a next-morning brisket starred in a breakfast taco with some shredded Beecher’s flagship and avocado that made our hallway neighbors really jealous. So maybe tender beef and spicy chicken won’t make a haunted carousel come to a full stop, as much as we want it to. But with a plate or two from Lil Red, you can feel great knowing you’re eating some stupendous soul food and doing your part to help a Seattle small business.