Birdhouse Rotisserie Kitchen Opens Market in Milton, Restaurant Coming Soon

MILTON, Del., May 21, 2026 — The market component of Birdhouse Rotisserie Kitchen & Market is now open at 200 Broadkill Road in Milton, with the full-service dinner restaurant set to follow at the same address, according to owner Ami Rae, who also operates the neighboring Backyard Cafe on Route 16.

The launch marks the first significant expansion for Rae since Backyard Cafe established itself as a fixture in the Milton community over the past decade, and adds a new dining and retail option to a stretch of Broadkill Road that previously housed Beaches Seafood.

Birdhouse Brings Rotisserie Kitchen and Daily Market to Milton

Birdhouse Rotisserie Kitchen & Market is designed as a two-part concept under a single roof. The market opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday and carries fresh produce, pantry items, prepared foods and a small daytime menu. The dinner service will be full-service and is planned to run from 4 p.m. when the restaurant portion opens.

Rae said the dual format is intentional, built to serve the community at different points of the day and week. "We wanted to build something that could fit into people's lives in more than one way," she said. The market gives shoppers a daytime stop for local goods independent of whether they plan to dine in the evening.

Rotisserie Concept Grew Out of a Community-First Vision

Rae said the Birdhouse concept came together quickly after the 200 Broadkill Road space became available just before Christmas 2025. She described spending a weekend working through what format would best serve the corner and the town before settling on rotisserie cooking as the central idea.

"The space became available just before Christmas and something about it felt right," Rae said. "I've been in the restaurant industry for many years, and Backyard has been part of the Milton community for over a decade. When this opportunity came up right across the street, I spent a weekend working through what concept made the most sense for this corner and this community. I landed on rotisserie. It's a concept I believe in. It fits the way I think food should be made, and I think Milton is ready for it."

She described what distinguishes the concept in the local market: "What makes Birdhouse a little different is that it's two things in one space."

Second Venture Sits Directly Across From Backyard Cafe

Birdhouse occupies the former Beaches Seafood location at 200 Broadkill Road, directly across from the Backyard Cafe at 211 Broadkill Road. The proximity allows Rae to run both operations on the same block, with Backyard handling breakfast and lunch service and Birdhouse focused on market hours and evening dining.

The restaurant is planned to operate Monday through Saturday, with market hours running from 11 a.m. and dinner service beginning at 4 p.m. An exact opening date for the full dinner service has not yet been confirmed, but the market is currently welcoming customers.

Rae's Backyard Cafe has operated as a breakfast and lunch destination in Milton for more than a decade, building a following for fresh, community-oriented cooking in Sussex County.

Sources: Cape Gazette, March 28, 2026; Delaware Online, May 21, 2026; Rehoboth Foodie.