Question まだ空席ばかり

[zuotengdazuo]

連邦軍基地の食堂は基地、階級を問わず同じメニューが提供されるが、量については自分で調節するようにカフェテリア形式だ。
シンや配膳担当の兵員にあれこれ世話を焼かれつつ不器用に料理をよそい、レーナはまだ空席ばかりのテーブルの一つにつく。

86─エイティシックス─Ep.4 ─アンダー・プレッシャー─
安里アサト

Hi. What does the bold ばかり mean here? I don't think it means "only" here.

 

[mdchachi]

It's emphasizing all of the empty seats isn't it? Maybe the difference to saying:
Rena took an empty seat at a table vs. Rena took one of the many empty seats a table.
The latter shows she's isolated whereas the former could mean she's with many other people.

 

[Toritoribe]

What does the bold ばかり mean here?

ばかり is used in a similar meaning to だらけ there.