There are restaurants that evolve, and then there are restaurants that completely shed their skin and come out on the other side looking like they always knew exactly what they wanted to be. Healthy Habit just did the latter.
Andrea and Nick Bergelt have been building this thing for nine years on Hilton Head Island, and what just happened to their space at Park Plaza is the clearest sign yet of where it’s all headed. Fresh paint, new furniture, more greenery, better lighting – the whole place feels like it finally caught up to the vision they’ve had in their heads all along.
The renovation story alone is worth telling, because it didn’t happen the way you might expect. There was no weeks-long closure, no construction crews taking over the parking lot. Most of it happened over a single weekend, and it did not go exactly according to plan.
“It was supposed to be a six-man job plus our team of chefs and everything,” Andrea Bergelt recalled. “But yeah, so we had the chefs and three guys.”
Andrea Bergelt. owner of Healthy Habit.
Half the crew, same amount of work. And no shortcuts, either. When it came to the multiple coats of painting, they did it the old-fashioned way. “We did not use sprayers,” Bergelt said. “No, no, no, no, because that goes everywhere. … All of us had rollers.”
The result was a restaurant that reopened Monday morning smelling like nothing at all – not a trace of paint – and looking completely transformed. Whites and blues replacing what was there before. The pinks still make an appearance, but subtly now. New chairs throughout. A lush wall of vegetation that stops you when you walk in. New lamps. A brightness that hits you before you even order anything.
“It was intense,” Bergelt said. “It was fun.”
That combination – intense and fun – might be the best two-word summary of how Healthy Habit operates in general.
This renovation isn’t just about aesthetics, either. Bergelt was pretty clear about the bigger picture here. “This is our next revelation,” she said, describing this as the brand’s third evolution. “This is always what we envisioned it to be.” And more than that, this space is meant to serve as the prototype. If Healthy Habit ever expands beyond Hilton Head Island, this is what it’s going to look like.
Along with the new look comes a tweaked menu. More gluten-free options are in the mix, including gluten-free wraps. Bread is now being made in-house. You’ll find organic focaccia sandwiches and toasts that weren’t there before.
The foundation of what makes Healthy Habit work – the pressed juices, the smoothies, the superfood bowls – is all still there, just with a few more thoughtful additions layered in. Full details are on their website and worth a browse.
And then there’s the ice cream situation, which deserves its own moment.
The new menu items at Healthy Habit
Healthy Habit now offers what might be the only healthy soft serve on Hilton Head Island, and if you haven’t tried the mango, turmeric, and coconut flavor yet, that needs to be corrected immediately. It is legitimately delicious – the kind of thing that makes you wonder why you’ve been eating regular ice cream at all. It’s bright, it’s tropical, and the turmeric gives it something you can’t quite put your finger on but absolutely want more of. Check their website for the full breakdown of what goes into it, because it’s worth knowing. Yes, including the activated charcoal. Trust me.
Finally – and this is the news a lot of people have been waiting for – Healthy Habit is now open on Sundays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with brunch-style options. This addition offers a healthier way to ease into the week after whatever Saturday threw at you.
“Everyone always asked us to,” Bergelt said. “People want it.”
She’s right. Sunday in a beach town calls for something fresh and clean, and now there’s a place on the island that answers that call. Go check it out. The new look alone is worth the trip – and whatever you order, add a cup of that mango soft serve. You can thank us later.