If you are checking out the menus, then you are half on your way. Also check out the info on this site. Figure out what you want and when you want it. Then call and see what is available. Be flexible. If you want 50s Prime Time at 6:00 PM on a Saturday night and it's not available, 5:30 or 6:15 might be there. I usually will say "what do you have around 6:00?" and then go from there. Also being flexible on your days can help. You can also get in at the more popular places (like Le Cellier) during lunch. Lunch hours run from about 11:30 to about 4:00 depending on the restaurant so those times might work out.
I thing I always do when looking at menus is to see if there are at least two things on there each of us can eat with no problems.