Little Birdie Takes Flight in Del Ray
Matt & Tony's team opens second Mount Vernon Avenue restaurant, bringing a chef-driven concept and another investment in the neighborhood
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The rain stopped just in time Tuesday morning as community leaders, elected officials, neighbors, and business owners gathered on Mount Vernon Avenue to welcome Little Birdie, the newest restaurant from the team behind Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar.
The new restaurant occupies the former Benny DiForza’s space at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue, directly across the street from Matt & Tony’s, which opened in 2022 and quickly became one of Del Ray’s most popular dining destinations, and recognized by Yelp in their Top 100.
For Del Ray Business Association President Lauren Fisher, the opening represented more than a new restaurant.
“We didn’t really know this guy until he came across the street two years ago and opened Matt & Tony’s,” Fisher said of owner Matt Sloan. “Opening a restaurant after the pandemic wasn’t easy, but he created an amazing experience. It became a destination and received national recognition.”
Fisher said many successful restaurant owners would have expanded elsewhere, but Sloan chose to invest again in Del Ray.
“We love that you decided to stay here and invest on Mount Vernon Avenue,” she said. “We’re excited to see the magic you create here, too.”
Virginia State Senator Elizabeth Bennett-Parker called Mount Vernon Avenue one of Alexandria’s best examples of small-business entrepreneurship.
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of opportunity,” she said. “Matt and Eric have proven restaurant chops.”
She noted that Matt & Tony’s is currently a finalist for a 2026 RAMMY Award for Best Brunch, one of the Washington region’s highest restaurant honors.
A New Chapter Across the Street
Sloan thanked the community for embracing Matt & Tony’s and said opening a second concept in Del Ray felt like the natural next step.
“We’re excited to open another restaurant on The Avenue,” Sloan said. “The community has been awesome to us.”
But Little Birdie is more than a second restaurant. It is also an opportunity for chef and partner Eric Brannon to build a concept that reflects his own culinary vision.
Brannon joined the Matt & Tony’s team after the restaurant had already established itself, helping refine and elevate the menu over the past several years.
“Matt and I always talked about doing another project where he would sort of give me the reins,” Brannon said. “That happens to be Little Birdie.”
More Than Just Chicken
While chicken serves as the foundation of the menu, Brannon emphasized that Little Birdie is not simply a chicken restaurant.
“I love chicken,” he said with a laugh. “But it’s really about the supporting cast.”
That supporting cast includes Chesapeake oysters, locally sourced produce, Virginia-made breads, fresh seafood, and flavors inspired by both Brannon’s Southern roots and his love of Asian cooking.
Guests will find everything from casual sandwiches and comfort-food favorites to more elevated dinner offerings.
“It’s still comfort food,” Brannon said, “but it can take you from a casual lunch to a date-night dinner.”
One thing diners will notice immediately is the restaurant’s open kitchen, which puts the culinary team on display.
When asked whether he was ready for customers watching every move, Brannon laughed.
“Oh, yeah. I’m used to it.”
Then he explained why the open kitchen matters.
“There’s nothing to hide—from the product to how we work to the quality of ingredients we’re using.”
Another Vote of Confidence in Del Ray
For neighborhood leaders, the opening of Little Birdie represents something larger than a new place to eat.
At a time when restaurants across the country continue to face economic pressures, Del Ray is gaining another locally owned business from operators who have already proven they can succeed on Mount Vernon Avenue.
And for Sloan and Brannon, that confidence goes both ways.
“The community supported us enough across the street to give us this opportunity,” Brannon said.
Little Birdie is now open for lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, cocktails, and walk-in dining.
The owners have also applied for city approval to expand outdoor seating into an adjacent alley space, creating additional gathering space for guests and adding another layer to the restaurant’s vision for the corner.
For Del Ray residents, Little Birdie isn’t just another restaurant opening. It’s a sign that local businesses continue to see Mount Vernon Avenue as a place worth significant investment.
IF YOU GO:
Little Birdie
📍 Address:
1504B Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
🌐 Website:
https://www.littlebirdieva.com
📞 Phone:
(571) 720-9600
🕒 Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday–Friday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
🍗 What to Expect:
A chef-driven menu built around chicken sandwiches served on Japanese milk buns, along with Chesapeake oysters, seasonal seafood, locally sourced ingredients, cocktails, and weekend brunch. The restaurant features an open kitchen and is the newest concept from Matt Sloan and Chef Eric Brannon, the team behind Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar across the street.
🪑 Good to Know:
Reservations are available through OpenTable, but walk-ins are welcome. The owners are also currently seeking approval to expand outdoor seating into an adjacent alley space.
