Let’s be honest here: If you’re coming to Vegas for a few days, not really that familiar with the Chefs and the restaurants, nor a huge fan of their prices, the restaurants in Vegas might be a little overwhelming. If you’re like many tourists that come here, you want to try the best restaurants but sort of afraid you’ll order a dish you can’t pronounce and it will turn out to be “Fried Snail with a Side of Sea Urchin Foam.” Not the first dish someone should try if they are expanding their palette.
Don Contursi, agrees with this, which is why he created Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, a local business that allows visitors to Las Vegas to try many of the best restaurants on the same day.
“The best restaurants are known for their signature dishes, I figured to have the best meal in Vegas you should visit multiple restaurants and enjoy those dishes,” Contursi told PaceVegas. “Most people are overwhelmed with all the restaurant options and don’t want to gamble on an overpriced meal, we’ve made it fun to experience many of the best restaurants all in the same night!”
To his credit, Contursi has managed to put together an amazing list of great restaurants to try – all done during a walking tour that also helps you burn some of the calories of these succulent dishes. Their popular Strip Tour features items from some of the best Chefs including Javiers, Michael Mina’s Bardot, and the devilish delicious chocolate of Hexx.
Contursi explains that he got his idea while working in the Vegas hospitality industry.
“… It became a hobby of mine to try most of the restaurants in Las Vegas both on the Strip and off the beaten path. My first “amazing” meal was when I finally sat down to enjoy a full experience at the restaurant I was working at the time, Gordon Ramsay Steak. It was an opportunity to appreciate the entire experience we were providing our guests. The food is outstanding and the choreographed steps of service made for an entirely unique and memorable experience giving me the true understanding of dinner and a show.”
The restaurants that they work with are extremely happy to have the additional business, as it not only provides additional business but gives exposure of their restaurant to tourists who might not otherwise eat at the restaurant.
Nathan Grates, the Assistant General Manager of Bardot by Michael Mina was happy to talk about their relationship.
“Las Vegas Foodie Tours expands the audience of Bardot Brasserie both local and abroad allowing their guests the opportunity to experience one of Michael Mina’s popular new concepts,” Grates told us over email. “The tour offers an incredible variety of some of the industry’s best in Las Vegas and we’re happy to be a part of the equation.”
The manager of Hexx, Ari Stotland was happy to agree, and explained that Lip Smacking Foodie Tours bring them a lot of business. “Donald brings foodies to Hexx every day – groups as small as 2 and as large as 60. We love sharing our desserts featuring chocolate made in-house! Donald gives our restaurant great exposure.”
Some of the guests who Contursi brings to restaurants don’t necessarily have experience in some of the finer restaurants, and some dishes are completely unique to tourists from parts of the world that don’t have a robust culinary community.
Contursi always recommends that his guests try the Moraccan Octopus at Estiatorio Milos served with capers from Santorini as “it is by far the best in town and unlike anything people can imagine. Tender and delicious with the perfect char to it.” However, some guests can’t believe that they are eating Octopus including the guest who was very serious about recording her eating the dish in order to share with her family, as they would never believe she ate it. “
Although he’s happy with the list of restaurants, he always wants to add more.
One restaurant he isn’t working with right now is MR CHOW, which he’d love to see added to his tour in order to “showcase his highest standard of Chinese cuisine through a social and very entertaining dining experience.”
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