Woman Sues Cedar Park Restaurant After Being Burned By Queso Flames

CEDAR PARK, TX — A woman who sustained second- and third-degree burns after a flaming queso she ordered at a Cedar park eatery exploded in her face has sued the establishment claiming more than $1 million in damages, according to a published report.

The unidentified 27-year-old woman was dining at the Dos Salsas restaurant, 1600 E. Whitestone Blvd., on May 20 when the incident occurred, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The restaurant manager, William Plata, also is named in the lawsuit, according to the report.

An Austin resident, the woman reportedly was eating at the restaurant with members of her family. She ordered an appetizer dubbed "Quesos Flamadeos" ("Flamed Cheese" in English) which was, as the name suggests, already on fire. To add to the dramatic presentation of the dish, the server typically sprays the menu with some sort of accelerant to propel the flames in a vertical direction.

But when the technique was used, the flames instead traveled sideways, engulfing the woman in flames, according to the lawsuit that was filed on Friday. The lawsuit indicates that while the victim has since been released from the hospital, she has not been able to return to work and will required plastic surgery to repair the damage to her face, the newspaper reported.

“I think this is the height of negligence they would have a dish like this in which they have no fire training for the waitress,” her attorney said, as quoted by the Statesman. “I think the evidence will show something like this was bound to happen.”

In a follow-up to its original story, the Statesman on Thursday reported that the manager of the Dos Salsas restaurant confirmed the dish is still being served but without the dramatic flames. He declined further comment.

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