Root & Sprig opens at Mercy

Catholic Health celebrated another milestone with the opening of its third Root & Sprig location at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre.

Root & Sprig is a fast-casual restaurant that brings creative healthy food and beverage options to hospital employees and visitors. It was developed and founded by Tom Colicchio, host of Bravo’s Top Chef.

“We couldn’t be happier with the opening of Root & Sprig on our campus,” Mercy Hospital President Joseph Manopella said. “We are always looking for ways to promote wellness to our patients, employees and visitors. I’m confident that our hospital staff, and visitors alike, will feel comfort in knowing that they can purchase healthy food options — all made with fresh ingredients that will fuel their bodies because, as we always say, food is medicine.”

Colicchio created Root & Sprig to deliver bold flavors and friendly service to patients, visitors and employees in health care facilities nationwide, while calling attention to the crucial role that food plays in health. Menu items reflect healthy dietary selections and feature sandwiches, salads, soups and breakfast items that include vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Catholic Health is working with HHP, a health care amenities company, to curate and host high-quality food retailers such as Root & Sprig, who provide healthy, fresh and nutritious food, and are dedicated to bringing a sense of hospitality to health care.

“It’s been gratifying to see the positive impact of bringing healthy food options to hospitals in the Catholic Health system, and Mercy is no exception,” Dan Kodner, founder and chief executive officer of HHP, said. “We can’t wait for the neighboring community to come enjoy the space and all that it has to offer.”

Catholic Health is focused on ensuring that patients have access to healthy food options as poor diets are associated with a higher probability of diabetes, stroke, hypertension, obesity, cancer, asthma, arthritis and kidney disease. In addition, campaigns have been implemented to address food insecurity in the communities Catholic Health serves and beyond.

Root & Sprig locations on Catholic Health campuses are currently open at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center in Roslyn and St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown.

The next Root & Sprig location will open at St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage. And, when the Good Samaritan University Hospital new Patient Care Pavilion opens in 2025, you can expect a Root & Spring location in that new complex as well — located in West Islip.

For more information, visit CatholicHealthLI.org or RootAndSprig.com.