Swifty’s has an interesting history. Named for Irving “Swifty” Lazar, a famous talent agent and frequent patron, the restaurant opened in 1999 with former employees of the then closed Mortimer’s. It was a revolving door of celebrities, socialites, and locals. After a highly successful run, the restaurant closed in 2016 but later re-appeared as a high end pop-up at the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach. 

In 2025, Swifty’s opened an outpost at The Hedges Inn in East Hampton. It is said 1600 people were turned away in the opening weekend. This is a delightfully elegant restaurant with a smart “Ralph Lauren” crowd. Indoor and patio seating with tables adorned with Schumacher linens and Lewis Miller florals.

Executive Chef Tom Whitaker helms the kitchen and uses local seafood, produce and dairy vendors for the menu. His fine-dining career has included Relais & Châteaux resort restaurants including North Carolina’s Fearrington House and the Ashby Inn and Restaurant in Virginia. Signature dishes include the Designer Meatloaf (from fashion designer Bill Blass’s personal recipe), Jumbo Lump Maryland Crab Cakes with creamed spinach, and the Pink Lobster Roll featuring Marie Rose sauce.

Serves breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch and dinner. Reservations are hard to come by, but Inn guests get first dibs.

ROMANTIC QUOTIENT

Pretty intimate on the poutside patio, but can be loud.

WHAT OTHERS SAY…

Swifty’s has become synonymous with impeccable cuisine and world-class hospitality. Now, set against the timeless white picket fences and Hydranga-dotted gardens of The Hedges Inn, the brand’s Hamptons expansion feels like a natural—and exquisite—next step. Times Square Chronicles