ST. LOUIS – An unexpected visitor crashed through a window of The Gin Room in south St. Louis Thursday morning.  

The business was closed at the time but a chef who was inside heard the crash and recorded video of the deer running toward the bar area.

“It seems like we’re not the only ones who enjoy drinking gin,” said Natasha Bahrami, one of the owners of Salve Osteria and The Gin Room.

She said the deer was inside the family-owned establishment on South Grand Boulevard for approximately 10 minutes before escaping.

“I’ve grown up here since a child and I’ve never seen deer in this area,” Bahrami said.

Staff were able to clean up the damage in time for the restaurant to open.

A video shows the deer trying to jump over the bar area around 11 a.m.

“We are very grateful that it didn’t because that minimized some of the damage,” Bahrami said.

A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Conservation said just like birds, deer can mistake reflections in windows for open space.  

One suggestion is placing something on or behind glass to minimize reflections.

Bahrami is taking the surprise in stride and is relieved the deer was able to escape. No one was injured.

“We make jokes about it that it was coming to the bar to have a breakfast martini but clearly it was terrified,” Bahrami said.