hey, babe.
It’s a term of endearment, the beginning of a conversation, and now a throwback lounge at the historic YMCA building in East Liberty, dreamed up by Danielle Cain and Rob Hirst.
Danielle and Rob are not only partners in the venture but also partners in life, having fallen in love as they worked together at Soba in Shadyside. Between them, the two have over 50 years of hospitality experience, much of it at local faves.
Danielle got a taste for the work slinging subs and dropping fries at Uncle Sam’s during her college days, inspiring her to enroll in Pennsylvania Culinary Academy. As a grad, she cut her teeth at Casbah before becoming an executive chef at Kaya and then Soba. Most recently, she served as executive director of Big Burrito Restaurant Group’s catering division, working with clients to create pitch-perfect events. At Hey Babe, Danielle's gift for capturing the essence of each season shines, as she creates masterful dishes from locally-sourced ingredients.
As for Rob, he got his start in the restaurant business with a gig as an opening bartender at Kaya and has tended bar at many of Pittsburgh’s iconic spots over the last 25 years. He further honed his hospitality skills by designing bars and bar programs as well as managing the beverage programs at the likes of Soba, Mad Mex Oakland, Sienna Mercato, Round Corner Cantina, Kingfly Spirits and recently back at Eleven Contemporary Kitchen. He gave back to the industry he fell in love with by serving as the United States Bartending Guild’s Pittsburgh President for five years. Now he has turned his consulting firm, Cocktailwerks, into his and Danielle’s mutual dream of a restaurant.