Yes I do this too, and will have reservations about going to a restaurant that is surprisingly empty, unless we are there extremely early.

In Hawaii (Big Island) it was good because we are not so familiar with the local favourites. Once I did ask some people with something that looked great, because I had no idea of the Hawaiian name for it.

At another place recommended by others, I asked our lounge attendant, who very kindly phoned in a reservation for us, at just the right time to get decent seats and still catch the sunset. ^