The reason why I revisited Kikunoi was not because of its stars, but rather the whole experience in getting the feeling of dining in a traditional kaiseki restaurant.
It’s a restaurant where you get a huge private dining room if you are dining with a group of friends. You can enjoy the view of the little garden from the room. In that case, it would be fun.
The experience on the whole would be great for first time Kyoto visitors. But I wouldn’t regard their food is exactly ‘traditional’, nor would I say I am a fan for their food.
My last visit here was years ago, and throughout these years of kaiseki experiences in Japan, I discovered I didn’t enjoy Kikunoi as much as I did before. Would I go back again? Probably not.
Kikunoi (菊乃井)
Address: 459 Shimokawara-cho, Yasakatoriimae-sagaru, Shimokawara-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (京都市東山区下河原通八坂鳥居前下る下河原町459)
Tel: +81-75-561-0015
Website: http://kikunoi.jp/
Visited on: 14 November 2016
Hours: Lunch – 12pm to 2pm; Dinner 5pm to 8pm
Chef: Yoshihiro Murata
K's Luxe Dining Table 
That’s a shame! I visited recently and quite liked the food and ambience.