There are a many ways to research restaurants in advance to find new places to try and determine if making a reservation is important. Consider going online to Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives to find great local places you may not ordinarily select. Emeril Lagasse has restaurants in several cities that are amazing – check in advance to see if there is one in your destination city; make sure to book a reservation well in advance. Utilize Yelp to find restaurants that are highly rated – I found a wonderful Thai restaurant in Toronto this way. Make a reservation through OpenTable, even at the last minute to avoid a wait, or ask the concierge at your hotel for a recommendation and reservation – sometimes they can give you discount coupons too.
Lead. Travel. Pray. 