Madison businessman Eddie “Dr. Eddie” Vidot (center left) and friends dine at El Olmeca on June 29. (RECORD PHOTO/ALDO AMATO)

By Aldo Amato

Staff Reporter

MADISON — A  familiar family-owned restaurant just recently opened its doors in the Huntsville and Madison area.

El Olmeca Mexican Restaurant offers authentic and creative Mexican dishes and has served the Tennessee Valley since 1998. Originally started in Ardmore, Tenn. by Eva Gonzalez, El Olmeca has exploded into five locations over the past 15 years and opened its Huntsville location on June 12.

Public Relations manager Roseanna Cox said business is booming in less than a month of opening.

“They do very well depending on the location they pick,” she said. “Everybody seems to enjoy themselves in the authentic Mexican atmosphere.”

The location on Hwy. 72 turned out to be key. The area receives plenty of traffic from Huntsville, Madison and the rest of Northern Madison County.

“Ever since they opened up it has been non-stop,” Cox said. “It’s been very busy and everyone so far has complimented and thanked co-owners Jaime and Guillermo Gonzalez for opening up so close to Madison.”

Some of the most popular items on the menu include the “Burrito Macho” and the “Burrito Macho XXL.” The “Burrito Macho XXL” is 2 ft. long, filled with rice, beans, lettuce and a choice of steak or chicken. If a customer finishes the burrito in under 20 minutes, they do not have to pay for it and they receive a gift card to the restaurant. The most popular drink so far is the “Mambo Taxi” which is a mixture of Sangria and margarita mix.

Ownership is still shared between Eva Gonzalez and her sons and each rotate week to week between all of the locations. The Huntsville location is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit El Olmeca at 44B Hwy. 72 in Huntsville or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/el.olmeca.