Las Vegas has quietly become one of the most exciting food cities in the world. Celebrity chefs, experimental kitchens, and restaurants that push the boundaries of hospitality have turned the Strip into something far more than a gambling destination—it’s a culinary playground.
But for most visitors, experiencing that scene comes with a problem.
Reservations are hard to get. Menus are overwhelming. Time is limited. And the difference between a good meal and a great one often comes down to knowing exactly where to go.
That gap is what inspired Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, a company founded by longtime Las Vegas hospitality professional Donald Contursi. After years working inside some of the city’s most celebrated restaurants, Contursi saw an opportunity to create something different: a guided culinary experience that lets guests sample multiple top-tier restaurants in one seamless outing—without the stress of planning, waiting in lines, or guessing what to order.
The result is a VIP-style dining tour that turns a night out in Las Vegas into a curated journey through some of the city’s most acclaimed kitchens.
We spoke with Contursi about how the idea came together, what makes Las Vegas such a unique city for food experiences, and why delivering an unforgettable guest experience has been the key to Lip Smacking Foodie Tours’ growth.
Meet Donald
Marketer on the Run: For readers who may not be familiar, what is Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, and how did the idea for a guided culinary experience in Las Vegas first come together?
Donald Contursi: As a long-time server at some of the most celebrated restaurants in Vegas, I had wondered why there wasn’t a way to condense the best of the best from multiple restaurants in one easy outing that would capture the interest of visitors with limited time. They may have only a weekend or four days to spend in Vegas, and yet a good portion of that valuable time might be spent researching where to eat, trying to make reservations, frustratingly waiting in lines to get a table, and looking over an unfamiliar menu while trying to figure out what best to order.
I knew there had to be a better way.
And I knew that I could create not only a convenient experience that would save them time and headaches, but also one that would provide extra pampering service so that they’re treated as VIPs from beginning to end.
M: Las Vegas has become one of the top dining destinations in the world. What makes the city such a unique place to build a business around food experiences?
DC: People come to Vegas for a host of reasons – both for pleasure and for business.
But the one common denominator is that they’re all eager to eat well.
No matter where they hail from, these visitors are excited to try Vegas’ dining scene that’s punctuated by the most exciting and creative chefs, many of whom have won James Beard Awards, Michelin stars, and other international acclaim. Dining is as much an attraction in this city as any glamorous casino, exciting show or mega sporting event.
The restaurants here are not spread out over vast areas, either, but fairly concentrated, making it easier to visit multiple ones in an experience like ours. All of those factors combine to make Vegas a natural place to harness such an unbridled passion for eating out.
M: Lip Smacking Foodie Tours isn’t just about eating at great restaurants—it’s a curated experience. What can guests expect from one of your tours that they wouldn’t get simply booking dinner on their own?
DC: We have been fortunate to forge exclusive relationships with the most in-demand restaurants. That allows us to provide our guests not only with reservations that would be difficult for them to obtain on their own, but also with seating at the best tables in these establishments.
That’s something they would be hard pressed to obtain at one restaurant, let alone multiple ones in one afternoon or evening as we provide. We help streamline the experience by curating for guests the most celebrated signature dishes at each restaurant that are served within moments of their arrival. Our all-inclusive ticket price includes all taxes and gratuities, so there’s no awkward fumbling for a check. All they need do is sit back and enjoy.
What’s more, we provide a professional guide for each tour who leads the way and entertains with fun facts along the way so that guests get to learn fascinating information about their surroundings as they make their way to each venue.
M: Your tours feature some of the city’s most respected chefs and restaurants. How do you go about building relationships with these partners and selecting the stops along the tour?
DC: Because we are hospitality veterans, ourselves, we know well how restaurants work and what they need to be successful. We’ve managed to build strong relationships with them because they know how helpful we are about spreading the word about their establishments and in bringing in new, eager, and excited diners.
We keep up with news and trends, and are always on top of adding new establishments to our roster. Our reputation is such that we get resorts coming to us now to ask if we’ll craft a tour that spotlights their best restaurants.
M: Who typically takes your tours? Are they mostly tourists visiting Las Vegas, corporate groups, locals, or a mix of all three?
DC: It is definitely a mix of all three of those groups. We get everyone from couples celebrating their anniversary and brides-to-be hosting a bachelorette party to locals wanting to experience Vegas in a fresh way to corporate groups of more than 1,000 eager to leave behind the confines of a stuffy ballroom to explore the city’s real dining scene.
M: Las Vegas is constantly evolving. How do you keep your tours fresh and exciting in a city where new restaurants and concepts open all the time?
DC: We take pains to keep up on what new restaurants are opening and what exciting new chefs are coming to town. We do due diligence to research which new places have garnered impressive accolades, adhere to the highest standards, and have amassed followings at their outposts in other cities.
We always keep an eye to places that are special in some way – be it in their cuisine, vibe, history, culture or creativity. These are the places we always aim to add to our tour experiences.
M: What are some of the most memorable reactions or moments you’ve seen from guests experiencing the tours for the first time?
DC: I always get a kick at the end of an experience when guests tell us excitedly how it was so much more than they ever expected. That’s “more’’ in every sense, too, from the overly generous amount of food they received to the unexpected insight they learn from listening to our professional guides to how very special they were made to feel as they glided past host stands, get seated at a prime table, and enjoyed a parade of the most impressive dishes as other restaurant-goers gawked and wondered who this group is to get such attention.
It’s no surprise that we get so many repeat customers who go on to try our other experiences, too.
M: Looking ahead, what opportunities do you see for expanding culinary experiences in Las Vegas, and how does Lip Smacking Foodie Tours fit into that future?
DC: Over more than a decade, we’ve worked hard to expand our services to other cities across the country. But Vegas will always be foremost to us because it’s where we started and it’s where I decided to make my home after getting my business degree.
Vegas is an entertainment magnet that continues to attract people from all over the country and the world. Restaurants, both ones helmed by local chefs and others by international superstars wanting to leave their mark here, will continue to grow and expand. We think the opportunities are endless to add even more compelling culinary experiences to our offerings.
M: From a marketing perspective, what has been the most effective way for people to discover Lip Smacking Foodie Tours—word of mouth, partnerships with hotels, online search, or something else?
DC: All of the above. It means the world to us when people who have been on our experiences recommend us to other friends, family members or business visitors.
We’ve been honored to have been named “America’s Best Food Tour’’ by Thrillist. We’ve also been fortunate to be featured in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Forbes, and on CNN.
M: Many hospitality and tourism businesses struggle to stand out in a city like Las Vegas. What lessons about branding and marketing have you learned from building and growing Lip Smacking Foodie Tours?
DC: I believe in the adage of over delivering. I want our guests to have a great time. But more than that, I want them to come away exhilarated and wowed by the entire experience. To really stand out in this city of big bright lights, you have to go the extra mile to provide a unique experience or service that isn’t available elsewhere. That’s what we do. In turn, our enthusiastic guests become our best ambassadors to spread the word about us far and wide.
A Tastebud Adventure
In a city built on spectacle, standing out requires more than just good food.
For Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, the difference has always been the experience surrounding the meal: the relationships with top restaurants, the insider access, and the deliberate effort to make guests feel like VIPs from the moment the tour begins.
That philosophy—overdelivering on hospitality—has helped the company earn national recognition, including being named “America’s Best Food Tour” by Thrillist, while also attracting features in major outlets like the New York Times, Forbes, CNN, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
More than a decade after launching in Las Vegas, the company continues to expand its offerings while staying rooted in the city that inspired it.
Because in a place where people come to indulge, explore, and celebrate, a great meal isn’t just dinner—it’s part of the story they’ll take home with them.