One of East Liberty’s favorite spots for dining and drinks, Hey Babe, is now bigger and better.
Hey Babe Welcomes Guests Into a Newly Expanded Dining Room
Hey Babe, the cocktail-forward restaurant located in The Maverick hotel, announced last month that they’ve expanded and added a full dining room. Already well established as a 70-seat lounge, the addition of an adjacent 50-seat dining space greatly expands the capacity for the trendy spot — and allows Hey Babe to take reservations, a change from the walk-in-only lounge space.
“The original plan was to get in and get the lounge open and rolling,” says Rob Hirst, who in 2025 opened Hey Babe with his business partner (and wife) Danielle Cain. “We started designing and laying out the [dining-room] space late last year, and we started working on it in February of this year … It gives us a lot of flexibility for events, and it also gives us the flexibility [to host larger parties]; we have the space to take that reservation and guarantee a table of 12 or 8.”
What’s on the Menu at Hey Babe?
Shareable food is the main event at Hey Babe; the bulk of the menu, which also includes vegan and gluten-free options, is divided into “small share” plates — such as Crispy Potatoes with Chili Aioli, Korean Fried Tofu, Ricotta Gnudi and Red-Snapper Crudo — and “large share” options including Chicken Katsu with Peaches and Candied Jalapeño, Blue Nose Bass and Smoked Short Rib.
“If you want a traditional salad, appetizer and entree meal, you can have that. But we’ve been in the restaurant industry for a long time; when we go out with friends, we want to create our own kind of experience,” Hirst says. “That’s what we designed the menu to do — be flexible. Everybody likes to do their own thing.” Sandwiches and salads (including a Pittsburgh wedge) are available as well.
A robust, seasonal cocktail and mocktail menu compliments the food. Among the current lineup, Hirst says, “The Li’l Baby Jeffrey is a hot seller; it’s a nice one, because it pulls people in to drink Mezcal that wouldn’t ordinarily drink Mezcal … I like to create a menu that has rotating drinks.”
Hey Babe is open daily (except Sunday) at 4 p.m., serving until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. “Golden Hour” discounts are available Mondays through Fridays from 4-6 p.m., both in the lounge and the new seating area.
Story by Sean Collier
Photo Courtesy Hey Babe