When you’re in a bad mood - because of traffic, the weather, or your date last night who smelled like Febreze and stole your Ventra card - it’s important to know about some things that can make you feel better. For example, restaurants with the Feel Good Factor™. And Soule, a BYOB soul food restaurant in West Town, has so much of it that you’ll forget all about that $37 cab ride you took home. The Feel Good Factor™ at Soule is apparent right when you walk in, despite the fact that you almost definitely won’t get seated for a while. The delicious-smelling food, and a nice, helpful person taking your name (and number if you want to hang out at the bar next door), will immediately make you feel glad you’re here. The atmosphere is enjoyable - it’s brightly lit and cheerful, with a lot of comfy booths. And the food is worth the wait. Soule’s short menu has excellent versions of Southern and soul food classics. For example, juicy and flavorful fried green tomatoes covered in a spicy remoulade, and crispy fried catfish that’s perfectly seasoned. There’s also a big bowl of shrimp and grits in a buttery, garlicky sauce that’s so enjoyable we wouldn’t be surprised to find out it’s made with teddy bear tears. Then there are the sides, which take a meal here from really good to great. The lineup includes smoky collard greens that have the perfect balance of vinegar to fatty ham, simple-looking mac and cheese that’s actually some of the best we’ve ever had, and a chicken spaghetti - with chicken breast, American cheese, and a tasty cream sauce - that illustrates why, deep inside every person, there’s a hidden appreciation for casseroles. Most entrees come with a choice of two sides, but the only reasonable thing to do is order as many as you want, on principle. In fact, the only real problem with Soule is that it’s too small for the number of people who (understandably) want to eat here. Depending on where you’re sitting, you’ll have a view of all the hopeful diners milling around waiting for a table. But they never seem particularly impatient - maybe because they understand what happens when you sit down here: you don’t want to leave. Soule has eat-your-feelings food in the best way possible. And you shouldn’t just save it for when you’re sad - it’s as good for celebrating a special occasion as it is for getting over your ex’s joke about your morning breath at Laugh Factory’s open mic night. The point is, no matter what kind of mood you’re in when you arrive here, you’re going to leave feeling even better.