This salad bar stretches a whole 50 feet, which is close to the length of a full semi-trailer.
Instead of cargo, it hauls greens, plenty of toppings, and named salads like Fiesta Bean and Sweet and Sour Corn.
Soups made from scratch and breads baked in-house round out the spread, along with a full fruit bar.
Soft-serve waits at the very end of the line like a reward, and I’m calling dibs on the first cone.
This Minnesota spot has been feeding hungry families since 1990 and overlooks a park with lovely lakeside scenery nearby.
Making people eat their vegetables before dessert for over three decades deserves a gold star.
A Salad Bar So Long It Needs Its Own Zip Code
Fifty feet. That’s how long the celebrated salad bar stretches at Q. Cumbers, and it’s the star of the whole show.
You start with an assortment of fresh salad greens. From there, the toppings keep coming, and coming, and coming.
Building a salad here feels a bit like shopping without a budget. You can go simple with a few veggies, or stack your plate like a garden skyscraper.
The prepared salads deserve their own moment. Creamy Cucumber, Dijon Vegetables, Pea Salad, Honey Mustard Cole Slaw, and Panzanella are among the restaurant’s rotating salad selections.
Potato lovers get two options to choose from. Sour Cream-dill Potato and Potato Tomato both make the lineup.
Fiesta Bean and Sweet and Sour Corn round things out with a little color. That’s a lot of choices before you even reach the hot food.
A smart move is taking a small scoop of several salads on your first trip. You can always circle back for the winners.
Nobody is grading your plate, after all. The real challenge is leaving enough room for everything else waiting down the line.
Thirty-Plus Years Of Feeding Edina Started With One Couple
Mickey and Sheila McCabe opened Q. Cumbers in June 1990. Back then, they built the restaurant for a group of investors.
Five years later, the couple bought the Edina location for themselves. That’s quite the plot twist for a salad story.
Since then, the place has kept growing in small but meaningful ways. A hot bar arrived and evolved over the years.
The restaurant marked its 25th anniversary in June 2015. Not many buffets can claim that kind of staying power in Minnesota.
In 2018, the owners showed they weren’t slowing down. They signed a new 10-year lease with two five-year extension options.
That’s a long-term commitment to lettuce. It also tells you the folks behind this place believe in what they’re doing.
Family-run spots like this carry a different kind of charm. They remember what worked and still find ways to freshen things up.
So when you grab a plate here, you’re joining a tradition. It’s one that has already fed a few generations of hungry locals.
Soup Made From Scratch Makes Winter Way More Bearable
Minnesota winters are no joke. A bowl of hot soup can feel like a warm blanket for your insides.
At Q. Cumbers, the soups are made from scratch. That’s a nice detail at a place where you can refill as many times as you like.
Pairing soup with a salad is a classic move for a reason. You get something crisp and something cozy in one meal.
The soup station also works as a smart starting point. It warms you up before you tackle that giant salad bar.
Bread fans have more good news coming. Fresh bread and mini-muffins show up daily, and the breads are baked from scratch too.
Mini-muffins are dangerous in the best way. They’re small enough that taking three feels totally reasonable.
Try tearing a piece of warm bread and dunking it right into your bowl. It’s simple, but some combos never get old.
On a gray January afternoon, this corner of the buffet might be your favorite. Soup, bread, and a window view make a pretty great trio.
Comfort Food Fans Get A Hot Bar Of Their Own
Salad may get top billing, but it isn’t working alone. A hot bar filled with warm entrees sits ready for anyone craving something heartier.
That’s good news for groups with mixed tastes. One person can load up on greens while another goes straight for comfort food.
The hot bar has changed a lot since the early days. It started as an addition and kept growing over the years.
During the 2018 renovation, Q. Cumbers added new side dishes to the hot bar. They also brought in more vegan and vegetarian options.
That update made the buffet friendlier for all kinds of eaters. Plant-based diners have more to pick from than just salad now.
A good strategy is to scope out the hot bar before filling your plate. Knowing your options helps you plan your attack.
Think of it as a two-part meal with no rules. Salad first, hot food second, or the other way around.
Either way, nobody leaves hungry. The hot bar makes sure even the biggest salad skeptic finds something to love here.
Gluten-Free Diners Can Finally Stop Playing Detective
Eating out with food restrictions can feel like solving a mystery. Every dish turns into a guessing game.
Q. Cumbers takes a lot of that stress away. Gluten-free options are plentiful and clearly marked throughout the buffet.
That makes a real difference for families.
Clear labeling makes choosing food easier. Still, those with allergies or strict dietary restrictions should still confirm ingredients and possible cross-contact with staff.
Pizza joined the lineup in 2018 as a way to appeal to younger customers. Better yet, a gluten-free pizza option came along with it.
A slice of pizza at a salad-focused buffet might sound unexpected. Somehow, it fits right in with the rest of the spread.
Kids who aren’t excited about vegetables now have a happy backup plan. Parents get a meal where everyone actually eats.
Vegan and vegetarian diners got attention during that same update too. The goal clearly was making the buffet work for more people.
It’s a thoughtful approach that feels genuinely welcoming. Good luck finding a reason for anyone in your group to skip dinner here.
Save Room Because Soft-Serve Waits At The Finish Line
Here’s a buffet with a sweet ending built right in. The dessert bar offers soft-serve ice cream with a variety of toppings.
Yes, you can make your own sundae. Your inner eight-year-old is probably already planning the toppings.
Not everyone wants a heavy dessert after a big meal. That’s where the fruit bar comes in handy.
Fresh fruit makes a lighter finish after all that salad and soup. It also pairs nicely with a swirl of soft-serve, if you’re feeling bold.
Balance is a beautiful thing. A little fruit, a little ice cream, and everyone at the table is happy.
Pace yourself during the main meal if dessert matters to you. A full stomach and a toppings bar are a tricky combo.
Kids especially tend to treat this station as the grand prize. It’s a fun way to wrap up a family dinner out.
Honestly, adults deserve the reward too. You ate all those vegetables, so a sundae seems more than fair.
Window Seats Here Come With A Lakeside Park View
Lunch with a view is always a bonus. At Q. Cumbers, windows overlook Centennial Lakes Park.
The restaurant sits inside the Centennial Lakes development in Edina, Minnesota. That puts your meal right next to some lovely scenery.
You’ll find it at 7465 France Avenue South, Edina, MN 55435. It’s easy to pair dinner with a stroll around the park afterward.
The seating area is large and spread out. Big families and groups shouldn’t feel squeezed in.
The space also got a major refresh in March 2018. A $900,000 renovation updated the color scheme, carpet, tile, and lighting.
Tables and chairs were refurbished as part of the project too. It was a full makeover, not just a fresh coat of paint.
Free Wi-Fi is available if you need to catch up on emails. Then again, that park view makes a pretty good screen saver.
Try snagging a seat near the windows when you can. Watching the lake while you eat makes a simple meal feel special.
A Few Smart Moves Before You Head Over
Planning a big get-together? Reservations are recommended, especially for parties of seven or more.
That’s handy for birthday dinners or family reunions. A little planning keeps everyone seated together.
Parking comes with several choices. You can use a public lot, a parking garage, or an underground garage.
That underground option is a gift during Minnesota winters. Nobody enjoys scraping ice off a windshield after a cozy meal.
Q. Cumbers opens at 11 am most days. On Sundays, the doors open earlier at 10 am.
Closing time is 8 pm on most nights. Fridays and Saturdays stretch a little later, until 8:30 pm.
Showing up with an empty stomach is the obvious move. Between the salad bar, soups, hot bar, and soft-serve, there’s a lot of ground to cover.
Wear something comfortable, too. Trust me, that 50-foot salad bar deserves a few laps, and the park outside makes the perfect cool-down walk.