Cona Alma Now Offering Latin Fare and Hot Jazz in Shadyside and Cultural District (Thurs., 8/12/21)

Con Alma’s Shadyside ribbon cutting ceremony in 2019. (photo: Rick Handler)

Con Alma (Spanish for “with soul”) combines Latin cuisine with a jazz setting. It has expanded beyond its original Shadyside location which first opened in 2019. The Shadyside restaurant and bar was named to Esquire magazine’s 2021 list of 27 top bars in the United States. Con Alma’s Downtown menu offers a few more items than Shadyside. Some of the dishes that can be enjoyed at both places include Cerviche Criolla (fluke, salsa criolla, cilantro, lime, corn, sweet potato, and a corn tortilla), Ropa Vieja (braised and shredded short rib, peppers, onions, garlic, tomato, caper, olive, sweet plantains, black beans, and rice), Lechon Asado (Cuban roasted mojo pork, pickled red onion, avocado, rice, and black beans). Both places also offer a salmon dish and much more.

Presently, live music is offered Tuesday through Saturday nights. Noted jazz guitarist/music director and co-owner John Shannon and his trio occasionally perform as do other big names in the local jazz scene. Con Alma’s has tantalizing contemporary cocktails like the Satchmo Sipper (rye whiskey, Chinese five spice, peychaud’s bitters, absinthe, and smoked cinnamon) or the Old Cuban (bliss spiced rum, mint, agave, lime, angostura bitters, and topo). Con Alma is closed Sundays and Mondays, but opens 5 p.m. every other day. In addition to Shannon, the other co-owners are General Manager Aimee Marshall and Executive Chef Josh Ross. Tonight’s performers are the Eric Johnson Trio (Shadyside, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.) and Theron Brown Trio (Downtown, 7 to 10 p.m.).  5884 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside and 613 Penn Ave., Cultural District.

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