I've been trying to make restaurant reservations for a trip that begins at the end of this week. The online booking systems for several of the better restaurants where I'm going won't accept a booking for one--they return with "no table available" for every date, although tables for two can be booked.

One of the restaurants specializes in a sharing menu that maybe can't be served to a solo diner; the others have conventional menus. Is it worth emailing them to ask? They're in a country where people tend to be hospitable, although slow and unpredictable about answering email.

I did think of booking for two and just showing up alone. Not sure how well that would work.