Little Birdie to Bring Gourmet Chicken Sandwiches to Del Ray in 2026

A new chicken sandwich spot called Little Birdie is set to open in June 2026 at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue. The restaurant will take over the space previously occupied by Benny DiForza's Pizza. Owners Matthew Sloan and Eric Brannon, who also run Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen + Bar, have signed a long-term lease for the location.

Sloan and Brannon finalised the lease for the property at the end of 2025. The building is owned by local attorney Michael Hadeed. Renovations are underway, with plans to launch the restaurant in early summer next year.

Little Birdie will specialise in chicken sandwiches made with Pennsylvania-sourced chicken, served on Japanese milk buns. The menu will also include shared plates priced between £12 and £16, along with entrées in the low £20 range. Sandwiches alone will cost around £15. The restaurant will feature an open kitchen layout, offering both counter service and full-service lunch options. Proposed opening hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Sloan and Brannon have also applied for permission to add 10 outdoor dining seats. This will be the second venture for the pair, who opened Matt & Tony's All Day Kitchen + Bar in 2022. That restaurant was later named a RAMMY Award semifinalist. Sloan, a former managing partner of Alexandria Restaurant Partners, brings additional experience to the project.

Little Birdie will join Del Ray's growing food scene when it opens in June 2026. The restaurant's focus on locally sourced chicken and flexible dining options aims to attract both casual and sit-down customers. Outdoor seating, if approved, will expand its capacity for warmer months.