I've been going to the Squirrel Hill Commonplace since they opened and fell in love. The house coffee is always delicious and I love the variety. They have interesting house-made syrups like lavender but my favorite special drink is the honey cinnamon latte.
But it's really the staff that make it. In the beginning, it was TJ and Nick. When I first started coming in, I accidentally cleared an entire coffee table (back when they had a coffee table) with my diaper bag. I wanted to sink into the floor and I probably never would have come back but they were fantastic and reassuring.
Now that I go in sans babies, Lacey and Isabel are behind the bar. I am NOT my best in the morning and they have an uncanny knack of making the day seem doable! They are kind and friendly. They even have my favorite drinks memorized! They're not difficult drinks but they know I like a large regular coffee in the morning and a honey cinnamon latte in the afternoon. Yes, I sometimes go in twice in one day.
I wish Squirrel Hill got a little more Insta-love! It might not be as photogenic as the Northside but it is a well-loved coffee spot!