You can always try.
We have showed up over an hour early for Crystal Palace, Ohana and San Angel Inn and have been seated within 10 mins.
We also checked in an hour and a half early for LeCellier last Dec, were told it would be a LONG wait....I said "ok", we sat down on the bench and within 2 mins the waitress came to seat us. I guess we were blessed with having this happen.