Few pie shops have the provenance of the “Top Gun” House. Built in 1887 as the 500-square-foot oceanfront summer cottage for Dr. Henry Graves in what is now Oceanside, California, it rose to fame as the home of Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood in the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.”
It later fell into disrepair, but thanks to the efforts of S.D. Malkin Properties and the Oceanside Historical Society, among others, it has been reborn.
After being carefully moved from its original location at Pacific Street and Seabreeze Drive to the courtyard of the Mission Pacific Hotel, overlooking the Oceanside Pier, it was painstakingly restored and redecorated inside and out. Now known as the “Top Gun” House, it’s the new home of The HIGH-Pie, the latest project of chef and restaurateur Tara Lazar, bringing together fans of the original movie and dessert aficionados looking for a beachside treat.
The renovated interior leans into nostalgic Americana, inspired by both the house’s history and the original ‘Top Gun’ movie. (Jakob Layman)
The namesake HIGH-Pies are made with local fruits and served in 1950s military-inspired packaging. (Jakob Layman)Lazar, the founder of Palm Springs-based hospitality group F10 Creative, wanted the place to be a nostalgic setting where a sweets shop meets really good pies.
“I envisioned the ‘Top Gun’ House as a place where the old soda fountains used to be,” she said. ”A place to walk to after a day at the beach, a fun stop before heading home after dinner, a first, and very sweet, first date, the place the Little League team goes after a great win, or even a place grandpa goes to get a $1 dollar cup of really good coffee after his walk on the pier.”
The Victorian-style cottage wears a coat of bright sky blue and crisp white paint to celebrate its oceanfront setting. In a nod to Tom Cruise’s character, Maverick, a pristine Kawasaki Ninja ZX900 is parked outside. It’s locked in place so you can’t actually ride it, but with a paint scheme and decals identical to the motorcycle Cruise rode in the film, visitors are encouraged to hop on and create unforgettable photos and videos.
Stepping inside the house, visitors are greeted by interiors adorned with “Top Gun” movie photos and posters signed by the film’s cast, as well as retro signage, antique knick-knacks, Victorian-era panels, an upholstered fireplace, vintage furniture, and one-of-a-kind needlepoint installations from artist Mary Lou Marks. Observant movie fans will spot the phone board in the back, featuring Goose, Iceman, and Maverick’s phone numbers. A brass chandelier overhead provides a homey feel as customers place their orders at the counter.
Needlepoint installations from Texas artist Mary Lou Marks are on display. (Jakob Layman)The menu is short and quite literally sweet: individual apple or cherry fried hand pies, with or without housemade mascarpone ice cream centers, served on popsicle sticks. Cheese, chocolate, lemon curd, and sea salt caramel dips can be added on. The fruits are all locally sourced, and seasonal options (currently strawberry and rhubarb) accompany the staple flavors when available.
In keeping with the sweets shop theme, beverages include a fizzy cherry pop, coffee (yes, it’s $1), kombucha, and Buzz the Tower, a New Orleans-style cold brew coffee sweetened with condensed milk.
A creative take on pie a-la-mode fills fried-to-order hand pies with housemade mascarpone ice cream. (Jakob Layman)
(Jakob Layman)The HIGH-Pie
Most Popular Pie: Carlsbad strawberry and rhubarb
Chef Tara’s Pick: Apple Pie with Government Cheese dipping sauce and a fizzy cherry pop
Location: 250 N. Pacific Street, Oceanside, Calif.
Hours: Wednesday to Monday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Website: FamousHighPie.com
