The popular Lake Austin restaurant caught fire Friday night when embers from a nearby fireworks show hit the thatch roof of Hula Hut's deck and ignited a fire just after midnight. The restaurant was closed when the fire broke out.

"We looked over at the Hula Hut and I guess it looked like a firework maybe landed on that thatched roof and those embers started flaring up, and within a few seconds, the whole roof was on fire," witness Barrett Dudley said. "I look over and see the whole roof of the patio on fire, like engulfed in flames and then here come the fire fighters. They just started spraying it right while I'm there, this is happening 80 yards in front of me."

Investigators said those fireworks, fired from a barge by professionals, injured a spectator and ignited the roof over the deck.

"We were watching the fire crackers down there by the coffee house and for the finale that stuff was going crazy, the wind started carrying stuff," witness Julian Rangel said.

Because the firework display was permitted by the city, a fire crew was on hand fight the fire immediately.

"Fire fighters that were here standing by for the display did an incredible job of keeping the fire in check until they got assistance from more responding units," Battalion Chief Buck Palmer said.

The Austin Fire Department said the damage from the blaze was confined to the outside dining area. Damage to the restaurant is estimated at $50,000.

Less than 12 hours after the fire started, the restaurant got the go-ahead to open its doors and begin serving food.

Managers said that until the pier is repaired, they plan to confine their business to the parts of the restaurant that weren't damaged.