Around Town

Del Ray’s Little Birdie aims to elevate the chicken sandwich this June

By James Cullum
The former Benny DiForza's Pizza at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The owners of a popular all-day brunch restaurant in Del Ray have a new concept with chicken on their minds.

Matthew Sloan and Eric Brannon are currently asking the city’s permission for 10 outdoor dining seats at their new restaurant, Little Birdie. The space at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue was formerly occupied by Benny DiForza’s Pizza, which opened in February 2024 and closed last October.

Sloan and Brannon signed their lease at the end of 2025 and are renovating the interior to open in June. The property is owned by attorney Michael Hadeed.

Brannon and Sloan also own Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar (1501 Mount Vernon Avenue), which they opened in 2022 in the former home of Charlie’s On The Avenue. The restaurant was recently named a semifinalist for a regional RAMMY Award. Sloan is a former managing partner of Alexandria Restaurant Partners, which owns The Majestic, Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Ada’s on the River and numerous other Alexandria restaurants.

Brannon told ALXnow that Little Birdie will focus on chicken sandwiches made with Pennsylvania-sourced chicken and served on Japanese milk buns. Prices will be approachable, with sandwiches running $15, shared plates costing $12 to $16 and entrées in the low $20 range.

“We’re going to be utilizing really great products, local Japanese milk buns, making incredibly delicious, flavorful, inventive chicken sandwiches,” Brannon said. “The chicken sandwiches will be the cornerstone, but really, it’s going to also be the lush experience and vibe and supporting cast with caviar, oysters and bubbles to really fun bowls and seasonal ingredients.”

Brannon said the restaurant will have an open kitchen layout casual enough to walk up to the counter and order, yet intimate enough for a date night, with the option of full-service lunch as well.

Brannon said the restaurant’s website is under development and that patrons should follow its Instagram page for updates. The team plans to preview some of the chicken sandwiches at Matt & Tony’s before the opening.

Little Birdie’s proposed hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Saturday.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.