Kadence

The story

Kadence Orlando | Michelin-Starred Sushi & Kappo Omakase in Audubon Park

Kadence

In Orlando’s Audubon Park Garden District, a black box of a building houses Kadence, a sushi and kappo omakase restaurant that has quietly become one of Florida’s most compelling dining destinations. Owners Mark and Jen Berdin, both certified advanced sake professionals, trained in Michelin-starred kitchens in New York City and London before returning to Florida. They opened their first sushi stand, Kappo, in the East End Market in 2014, and two years later moved around the corner to build what they call their “forever home.”

The experience at Kadence is built around multi-course tasting menus that honor the bounties of land and sea. The kitchen’s focus is precise, seasonal Japanese cuisine, served at an intimate counter where guests watch every movement. The team—Mark, Jen, and chef Lordfer—treats each course with the quiet confidence of cooks who have spent years refining their craft.

Kadence’s sake program is equally intentional. The restaurant maintains a carefully curated selection of bottles available for retail purchase at their Kadence Sake Shop, and the pairings are woven into the meal with the same care as the food.

The restaurant has held a Michelin Star since 2022, a recognition that speaks to the consistency and clarity of its cooking. But the accolades—including being named Restaurant of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel—never overshadow the room’s calm, focused atmosphere. This is a place where the work itself is the point.