The Last Round Tavern: Knockout atmosphere and flavor

By Matt Weiner

Chaotic sounds ricocheted off The Last Round Tavern’s plasma flat screens.

Some were elated that American boxer Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis knocked Ryan Garcia out with a military-grade haymaker to his liver. Others were slack jawed and rife with disappointment.

But the ‘Tank’ wasn’t the only victor on Saturday, April 22nd.

“Just to hear a full house of people clapping and cheering. . . it’s like, ‘Alright this is awesome, everyone’s feeling alive,’” said Caleb Orozco, co-owner of The Last Round Tavern.

When Caleb Orozco opened the joint with the help of his father Danny in 2019 he envisioned it being the go-to spot for a must-see fight in Downtown San José. Judging by the wall-to-wall excitement, packed house, and empty plates of pizza and wings – that was accomplished.

“Tonight was proof of what we’ve been working toward for so long. Just to be that spot that people could come to, enjoy the fights, enjoy their friends and enjoy good food,” Caleb Orozco said, who was born and raised in San José.

Isaac Diaz, a lifelong boxing fan and San José State University senior, watched from outside the spot with two friends. Boxing “runs in his blood.” Some of his cousins were trained by Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Ignacio “Nacho” Beristáin is a Méxican trainer in the sport of boxing.

He knows a genuine boxing environment when he sees one.

“If you want to have a good time, enjoy the fight, and surround yourself with sport-minded people, I think this is a good spot,” Diaz said. “We know him [Caleb Orozco], he’s a really good guy. He has a really good environment.”

That Saturday night Caleb Orozco, a former boxer himself, bobbed and weaved his way around the restaurant. First cooking and then commingling with customers.

It mirrored Garcia and Davis’ movements in the ring, except when Caleb reached his arm out, it was for a dab up and not a jab.

“He’s done a really good job, you could see a lot of people come [to the Last Round Tavern] – not just come, but they come back and they return because of him and what he instills in his team,” Danny, a veteran of the restaurant game, said of his son.

The tavern, located on East Santa

Clara St. and Eighth St. in San José, is closer to the size of a boxing ring than a Buffalo Wild Wings. Tighter space, however, correlates with a homier atmosphere.

“The whole idea really is to make people feel like they’re in a living room,” Danny said.

When Garcia’s knee sunk into the canvas while his internal organs pleaded for mercy, individual packs of customers broke the spectacle down. They were comfortable. Didn’t need an ottoman or a leather couch to feel at home.

“Tonight was perfect. Our customers have really been super respectful and super appreciative of the fact that we are here since day one,” Caleb Orozco said, his hands speeding through dirty plates and silverware.

While ‘Tank’ paraded around Las Vegas enjoying his post-win exploits, Caleb Orozco was walled by a skyhigh pile of dishes.

“I don’t necessarily love washing dishes at the end of the night,” Caleb Orozco said, “but I love everything that comes from it.”

Glamorous? Far from it. Symbol of success? Absolutely.

Lots of plates meant lots of customers. Plus, his customers vacuumed each meal and beverage which cut down time and elbow grease.

The platters he power washed previously hosted his original sourdough crust pizza. It’s topped with fresh, locally grown ingredients. Its crunch, deep flavor and even sauce-to-cheese-to-topping ratio delivers a Mike Tyson uppercut to taste buds.

His buffalo chicken wings and pitchers of draft beer were also left spotless.

The scene is also a symbol of Caleb’s commitment to growing The Last Round Tavern. He doesn’t have the means for a dishwasher right now so he’s doing it himself.

He’s willing to work from dusk – branding, running social media accounts, doing the books, and preparing all food – and until dawn – running the restaurant’s food assembly line. His hands moved at a lightning-fast pace reminiscent of his past days in the ring.

At one point, Caleb Orozco took a brief pause from the dishes when his father asked him to smile for a picture that was going to be sent to a cousin for a birthday bash he was having that night. Caleb Orozco would’ve gone, but he was busy making his dreams come true.

“This is part of the price I’m really going to have to pay if I want to make this successful,” said Caleb Orozco. He’s not regretful, just observant and honest.

“You’re always tired at the end of the night, but it’s like your heart is full. This was worthwhile to see everybody having a good time out there and smiling, hanging out, you can’t put a price tag on that.”