As the city of Draper continues to grow and change, two of its restaurants offer diners an opportunity to take a look back at the city’s past. Montauk Bistro and The Pines, formerly known as The Charleston, are both located in historic homes that were originally constructed by pioneers in the 19th century. Both establishments celebrate their links to the past by preserving the historic character of their locations and offering unique dining experiences.

Montauk Bistro

“I love old buildings,” Bryan Lang said. Lang, who partnered with his wife, Phayvanh Lang, to establish Montauk Bistro at 12449 S. Fort Street, explained that they were drawn to the house known as the Nielsen-Rideout Home. 

According to the plaque placed on the property by the Draper Historic Preservation Commission, the original two-room portion of the Nielsen-Rideout Home was built by Peter Anton Nielsen, a pioneer and stonemason from Denmark, in 1880. 

Lang explained that he did extensive historical research on the property. “Peter Anton Nielsen built many of the historic homes on Fort Street,” he said.

The home was acquired by David O. Rideout Jr. around 1906. Rideout, who established a general store in Draper in addition to other business interests, was elected to the Utah Legislature in 1912. The Rideout family remodeled the home adding fine woodwork, handcrafted leaded glass windows and a massive fireplace. 

Montauk Bistro, located at 12449 Fort Street, is situated in the historic Nielsen-Rideout Home. (Photo by David J. Weinstein)

The Nielsen–Rideout Home passed through many different hands into the 21st century and sat vacant for a time as a property of Draper City. When the Langs purchased the home in 2004, it had been partially renovated and was being used as a business. “We re-did the plumbing and re-wired about 95% of it,” Lang said. 

Preserving the historic character of the home has been a labor of love for the Langs. “The architectural work is stunning,” Lang said. “The windows are original, leaded glass in handbuilt frames. We have the original hardwood floors which are refinished and sanded every few years. The woodwork is really the star of the show. We wanted to take what was there and make it shine.” 

At first, the Langs operated a salon and day spa in the home, but later felt that they were ready for a change. “My wife went home to Laos where she helped her sister open a bakery,” Lang explained. “She came back and said, ‘Why don’t we open a restaurant?’”

After a few years of research and preparation, Montauk Bistro opened on May 30, 2019. “We opened very busy and stayed very busy,” he said. The option to dine outdoors helped the establishment thrive through the pandemic. 

A trip to the East Coast inspired Lang to name the restaurant after Montauk, New York. “As I was driving along the Long Island shoreline, I saw a lot of quaint old homes that looked like this house,” he said. “The old homes that the fishermen lived in dot the coastline.” 

Montauk Bistro’s menu, which reflects the Lang’s respective cultural backgrounds, features dishes from Southeast Asia as well as classic American burgers and sandwiches. Phayvanh, who is the chef, is usually in the kitchen early on most mornings preparing for the day. Montauk Bistro is open for lunch and dinner. 

“The pad Thai is the best seller on the menu,” Lang said. “It’s phenomenal. We’re a made-from-scratch type of restaurant. We roast our own beef and make our own sauces, the teriyaki and aiolis.” 

“We buy local ingredients,” he continued, explaining that while some of the cheeses come from Europe, their buns and meats come from local purveyors. 

The Langs are enjoying the success of the restaurant and plan on many more years in the lovingly restored home.

The Pines

“How often can you eat in a historic home in such a beautiful landscape?” Greg Castro, co-owner of The Pines, asked. “It is so unique.” 

The Pines, at 1229 Pioneer Road, is situated in the Zemira Draper-Joshua Terry Home which dates back to the pioneer era. The plaque installed on the property by the Draper Historic Preservation Commission explains that Zemira Draper and his brother William, for whom Draper was later named, built a small adobe home on the site in the early 1850s.

In 1878, Joshua Terry, a mountain man and Native American interpreter for Brigham Young, built the two-story brick home that still stands today. Terry and his wives raised 17 children in the home. 

The historic Zemira Draper-Joshua Terry Home, at 1229 Pioneer Road, is the current premises of The Pines restaurant. (Photo by David J. Weinstein)

Its next owner was the farmer C. H. Carlquist who purchased the property in 1929. As detailed in the book, “People of Draper, 1849-1924,” published by the Draper Historical Society, Carlquist was a prominent member of the community who helped put Draper on the map as a major producer of eggs. 

The Sundquist family took ownership of the home in the 1990s, carefully restoring its 19th-century charm. For a time, the family operated it as a bed and breakfast.

The Zemira Draper-Joshua Terry Home entered its current era as a fine dining destination when Executive Chef Marco Silva purchased it eight years ago and established The Charleston on the premises. With its French-American menu and white tablecloths, The Charleston offered a refined experience for diners both indoors and under the shade of the property’s massive trees. 

Re-branded as The Pines just two months ago, the restaurant is beginning a new chapter. Restaurateur Greg Castro has partnered with Silva who will remain as co-owner and Executive Chef. “The idea is to allow Chef to go back to cooking,” Castro said, explaining that he will oversee aspects of the business such as budgeting and hiring. “It’s the perfect partnership.” Plans are underway to improve the property and expand into lunch and more outdoor offerings. 

Castro spoke of preserving the storied nature of the home while inviting guests to make their own memories at the restaurant. “Every room tells a story,” he said, mentioning the historic fireplace downstairs, the handmade brickwork and the refinished hardwood floors. 

He feels that the cuisine offered at The Pines, which includes steaks, chicken, pasta dishes, salads and more, matches the blend of old and new elements in the space. “We blend historic French cooking techniques with contemporary American,” Castro said. 

“What we like to tell guests is that it’s not just about eating,” he said of the dining experience offered at The Pines. “It’s about slowing down, savoring the moment and connecting with the restaurant environment.”