Before coming to Fresno, I had never heard of tri-tip; evidently, this cut of beef is discarded elsewhere, or traded for brisket. Either way, I've since met countless men who claim to be masters of the tri-tip, many of whom cook the meat fairly quickly, and until it's medium well. If I'm completely honest, I don't care for the cut (though I can make a mean chili with it).

Tonight, Kim and I joined the rest of her family for a birthday dinner at Claim Jumper. The entire menu looks good, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to sample tri-tip from a professional kitchen. Once I decided on the entree, however, I still had several decisions to make: what side I wanted (baked sweet potato), my choice of bread (buttermilk biscuit with honey butter), whether or not I wanted a salad and desert for $4.50 extra (no, but thanks).

I was surprised with the meal. I had heard about the large portions, but wasn't really prepared—they're quite large. Everyone in the group seemed to enjoy their food, and the waitress brought a coffee-ice cream cake for the birthday kids (which we, the adults, quickly grabbed for ourselves). Service was great, and the staff was very patient with our large group (thanks, "Chindy").

A quick note about decor/ambiance: the theme is grandiose, with wooden beams wider than my car framing the entrance. What I appreciated about this, though, was that it was carried out inside, and plenty of space was left around tables. I did find the bathroom to be a bit odd—especially the light bulb hanging just above my forehead at the urinal—but I'm weird in that I take note of such things.

Overall, we had a great experience, and are glad we traveled up north for the evening.