I went to No Signboard at East Coast last night and it was honestly the worst meal I've had so far in Singapore (and the most expensive). We picked it because it was the only restaurant on that stretch that didn't hassle us and because I've heard it mentioned as one of the good places to try crab. We had chili crab, sizzling tofu and an oyster sauce green veg dish. The crab was pretty average (and DEFINITELY not the 1.2kg they charged us for including the shell - more like 0.5kg) and the tofu and greens dishes was so bad I couldn't even bring myself to eat it. I ended up pouring the chili crab sauce on a bowl of rice to fill up the empty space in my stomach
They charged us for a plate of 10 peanuts that they put on the table as soon as we sat down (ive heard this is common here?) and they also charged us for serviettes! The whole meal cost $90 not including drinks and we all left with a bad taste in our mouths and unsatisfied stomachs - oh and a long way to get home. I dont know if it would be any better at any of the other restaurants on that stretch. They sure as hell don't count on repeat customers so i suppose it makes sense for them to be crap and expensive.
In regards to Newton Circus - (some idiot recommended it to me as a good "local" place for seafood) and i did exactly the same thing as others above - walked in, was shouted at by touts, and walked straight out again after losing my appetite.
The lesson I've learned from all this is, don't listen to hype, good restaurants are found either by luck or by recommendation from someone whose culinary taste you respect.
