Chances R

Awesome diver bar thats not that divey just a half a block off the square and 1 block to the spring break office of inertia. Great Moscow Mules in proper tin cups get made with mandarian orange delish to be sure

Spent a few hours during the day on a Saturday and the service was great not to mention good beer prices. The bar has a Jude box. Free popcorn

When I heard Restless Wind was closing because the landlord wanted to open his own bar, I was very saddened. One of the oldest businesses in town, and an established part of the San Marcos bar scene, Restless Wind had a local ambiance and feel that made it a great place to go to get away from the typical San Marcos nightlife. It’s somewhat of an insult that the neon sign for Chances reads «1973 – 2013,» as if Chances is a continuation of a bar, rather than a new bar itself.
That being said, Chances isn’t completely devoid of positive things. Gone are the dirty and broken ceiling tiles, instead replaced by molding. The removal of a wall at the door opens up the bar as well. The layout is virtually the same as the Wind’s, with the shuffleboard still to the right as patrons walk in and the pool tables in the back near the restrooms. The old jukebox was also replaced by an electronic model. It even feels like the same regulars are hanging around there, a mix of local San Martians and college aged hipsters.
Still, the atmosphere clashes at times. Bartenders and servers are typically dressed to the nines, even if none of the customers dress that same way. It’s an entertaining clash, but is exemplary of the overall clash between what Finch wants it to be and what it actually is.
As for the drinks themselves, the cocktail list offers variety, but ends up leaving a lot to be desired. The cucumber mojito, for example, brings a very interesting concept to the table, but the muddled cucumbers aren’t enough to save what results in an under-​poured, sugary drink. Maybe switching to an infused rum or using cucumber juice would help even out the weak flavors. The Manhattan, a classic of prohibition-​style bars, is overpoured with a very low-​shelf rye whiskey, which ends up completely overshadowing the vermouth and Angostura, making for a cocktail that tastes like straight whiskey. I also tried, on multiple occasions, the Old Fashioned, which, though not a complete loss, were indicative of the inconsistencies in the bartenders, with one being underpoured and weak and the other being overpoured and strong. And finally, the Zombie: made with several parts rum, a dash or so of high proof rum, and pineapple juice. In actuality, the zombie is also supposed to contain brandy, so the Chances version is very alcoholic and lacks any sort of semblance to a desirable cocktail.
In the end, though, the drinks are still affordable, which is what makes dives so lovable in the first place, and service staff is very friendly. However, the end result is a bar where all the «upgrades» feel liked missed points and the things that needed to change about Restless Wind are still unchanged.
The men’s bathroom, for instance, still does not lock.

~ I love this place! If you live in San Marcos or happen to be in the area, you must stop in and grab one of their signature cocktails. The Chances Freshtini is a must try! I was impressed with the atmosphere (awesome ceiling), great service and the popcorn is real tasty ;)