



Despite playing the biggest late night talk show on television daily, and having won their fair share of Grammys, Ahmir Khalib Thompson — a.k.a Questlove — admits that his group, The Roots, still think of themselves as floating below the radar. This is an interesting thought, though it feels like a bit of a stretch. The band collectively owns so many accomplishments, viral moments, and measures of success that it’s fair to say they’ve captured the ear of the masses. Quest himself is not only a renowned musician but also a bestselling author, whose Tweets themselves are news. A well-known food nerd, the man even has a Beard nomination under his belt.

Still, if Questlove doesn’t feel “mainstream famous,” he must be right… at least in NYC (where no one besides Jay Z, Beyonce, and Leo truly hold that title). But there’s no chance the impresario drummer can walk down the street without getting recognized in his hometown Philadelphia. Folks love him too much to not say “hey.”

Though their day jobs have forced The Roots to relocate to Manhattan, over the past decade Questlove and co. have returned to the City of Brotherly Love to throw their flagship music festival Roots Picnic, which will take place on June 2nd. This year, the festival’s line-up is stacked, featuring 2 Chainz, Dirty Projectors, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Kid Capri, and will be co-hosted by comedy legend and 2018’s #1 comeback story Dave Chappelle.

When it comes to his home city, no one is better than Questlove at knowing where to sit down for a meal. Here’s where he told us to find the best food in Philadelphia — whether you’re in town for The Roots Picnic or just to visit.