Purna Dining Hall

at the Art of Living Retreat Center

Purna
pūrṇa pur·na

1. Filled; fullness; fulfilled. 2. Complete.

dining hall flyer

Purna
pūrṇa pur·na

1. Filled; fullness; fulfilled. 2. Complete.

We invite the local community to experience our unique dining service in our beautiful Purna Dining Hall. We offer self-serve, buffet-style dining with a vegetarian menu that changes daily. Seatings are available from Wednesday dinner through Sunday lunch by reservation only through OpenTable.

Join us at the Center for a nourishing meal—combined with the spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s a feast for the eyes and the belly. 

The Particulars

  • The Purna Dining Hall is a buffet-style, self-service restaurant.
  • Reservations must be made at least 12 hours in advance, limited to parties of 1–6.
  • Our campus is meat-, alcohol-, and smoke–free to promote health and well-being and leave a smaller ecological footprint.
  • Beverages are limited to water and hot and iced herbal teas.
  • We are not able to accommodate special orders.
  • While we do allow children, please be mindful that this is an adult retreat center where many of our guests have come for a peaceful and meditative experience. We do not offer a separate kid’s menu.

MEAL PRICING

Lunch $17.95 Special $14.95 + tax 
Dinner $22.95 Special $19.95 + tax
Kids 10 & under $9.95 + tax
Kids 5 & under Free

Payment by credit card only.

MEAL TIMES

Wednesday
Dinner 6:00–7:30 pm

Thursday
Lunch 12:00–1:30 pm
Dinner 6:00–7:30 pm

Friday
Lunch 12:00–1:30 pm
Dinner 6:00–7:30 pm

Saturday
Lunch 12:00–1:30 pm
Dinner 6:00–7:30 pm

Sunday
Lunch 12:00–1:30 pm

Dining Hall Buffet Line
dining
dining hall buffet line

The Menu

Lunch
Dinner

About Us

The Art of Living Retreat Center has been dedicated to health and well-being since it opened in 2012. The Purna Dining Hall has provided thousands of guests with nourishing and nutritional vegetarian foods carefully and mindfully prepared and selected. 

Ayurvedic principles tell us to eat nature—real food grown by sun, soil, wind, and water that is full of nature’s prana, or life force. Our professionally-trained chefs know this, and they know that food prepared with love for the planet and for the person being fed is the best food. ⁠We grow a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs right here in our own gardens, and the rest we source organic, seasonal, and local whenever we can. 

 

Our Food Philosophy

We are committed to serving nourishing food which creates balance and harmony for the mind, body, spirit, and planet. We seek to promote a sense of well-being with the choices we make. 

The principles of our food philosophy guide our menu creation and kitchen ethos, our community’s enrichment, and our guests’ satisfaction. Our intention behind everything we serve is to support our guests and staff in having a peaceful and joyful retreat experience. 

These are the five foundational principles of our food philosophy:

  1. We are a vegetarian, mostly whole-food kitchen.
  2. The ancient science of Ayurveda inspires us.
  3. Our menus are welcoming, inspiring, and accommodating.
  4. We have the utmost respect for our community and planet and are mindful of the impact of our kitchen.
  5. Love is at the core of all we do in our kitchen.

Learn more about our food philosophy here.

We believe that removing most animal products and processed foods from the diet promotes health and well-being and leaves a smaller ecological footprint. Therefore, our menus emphasize vibrant fruits and vegetables, whole grains, plant-based proteins, healthy oils, and unrefined sugars. 

We are committed to creating balance and harmony through food—a central idea in Ayurveda. Per Ayurvedic guidance, we avoid onion (including leeks, shallots, chives, scallion, etc.), garlic, mushrooms, eggplant, and eggs as they are considered to have negative prana. 

We understand that people come to us from all walks of life and with varied dietary needs and preferences. For these reasons, we seek to satiate their palettes through delicious dishes, familiar flavors, and an aesthetic presentation. At the same time, we aim to inspire our guests to expand their minds and embrace vegetarian cuisine if it is new to them. We also provide varied options for vegan guests and those with food allergens and sensitivities, such as nuts, dairy, and gluten. 

For these reasons, we aim to source organic, seasonal, and local products whenever we can. In addition, we keep sustainability at the forefront of our decision-making process when sourcing ingredients, planning menus, preparing meals, and handling food waste.

 Because the emotions and energetics of the person preparing the food influence the food, we lovingly feed our guests with an attitude of service. We want them to leave with happiness on their faces and love in their hearts.

food

Directions

Located at 639 Whispering Hills Road in Boone, the drive to the Center is a scenic winding path through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Get directions to the campus here. Once you arrive, make your way to parking lot P2, the first parking lot on your right after you enter the property. From there, cross the street and a bridge on the right will welcome you to the Purna Dining Hall. ► View campus map here.

Group Inquiry Request

Group Inquiry Request