DRIVEN TO EXCEL AND MAXIMIZE HARD WON OPPORTUNITIES, A CRAFTY BELMAR BARTENDER SHAKES UP THE LOCAL LIBATION SCENE

BY GILDA ROGERS • PHOTOS BY PATTY PIXELS

Assured, clever, and charming, Ram Ong is on a mission to succeed in life and work. The head bartender at two restaurants across from Belmar’s boardwalk (La Dolce Vita and La Terrazza Cucina Rustica & Bar next door, both family owned) is working that plan.

Born in the Philippines, Ong explained that he knows what it’s like to both live well off and to lose everything. As a youngster in 1995, he accompanied his father on a business trip to the United States before his parents went bankrupt and lost their machinery business.

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“My life changed,” said Ong, who now resides in Bradley Beach. “My goal was to come to the U.S. Every day that I’m here, I win. I wake up smiling.”

While still in his homeland, Ong began and quickly excelled at bartending. Jokingly likening himself to Tom Cruise in the 1988 movie, Cocktail, he began entering competitions and won enough of them that he was chosen to participate in a 2010 Dallas, Texas event representing Asia. Still a fierce competitor, Ong will travel to Tokyo, Japan the last week of November and participate in the Red Bear Bartending Competition.

“Tending bar was my way out of a bad situation,” he said, adding that the goal of permanently moving to America was fulfilled in 2013. “It’s very hard to defeat someone who has goals. What separated me from my environment [in the Philippines] was ambition, and a desire to travel and dine at fine resorts.”

Demonstrating some of his cocktail moves, Ong chilled a martini glass with ice before mixing Tito’s Vodka, St. Germain, Aperol, and a fresh squeeze of lime juice to deliver the “Sexy Lexy” Martini, inspired by his bartending colleague, Alexis Dixon. Refreshing and flavorful, without being too sweet.

After honing his skills in a restaurant in Manhattan’s Tribeca, Ong did a stint at Belmar’s Bar Anticipation before finding his way to La Dolce Vita a year ago. He takes pride in his work ethic, calculating that he worked 82 straight days this past summer.

“I practice forward thinking,” he said, adding that his customers are also thinking more forward these days when it comes to beverage selections. “They’re drinking smarter,” he observed, holding up a can of hard seltzer containing five percent alcohol. “It’s a cocktail revolution. People are more health conscious and are looking for something crafted to their liking, and with fresh ingredients.”

Ong enjoys travel, and has ventured to locales like South Beach, Miami and New Orleans, particularly the latter city’s famed Bourbon Street, which he modestly recalled was a “fun time.”

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La Dolce Vita is open seven days a week. Hours are 11:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, and to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. La Terrazza is open Wednesday to Sunday, from noon to 9:00 p.m. La Dolce Vita’s enclosed porch allows oceanfront views year ‘round. “Wine Down Wednesday” there is a clever, cost effective way to spice up the middle of the week.

Beginning at 2:00 p.m., select wines are only $2 per serving, with each hour bringing a price increase until 5:00 p.m., after which glasses of wine cost $5 for the rest of the night. Happy Hour (3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) is especially cheery, with drink specials and a bar food menu offering diverse options at $5 each, including Tuna Carpaccio, Filet Mignon Tips, and pairs of Crab Cake Sliders and Burger Sliders. Dining room dinner entrees include Rigatoni alla Bolognese, Bone in Veal Chop Parmigiana, and Rack of Lamb.

In between shifts crafting cocktails, Ong is working on achieving his next phase of goals, including investing in real estate and coaching others to live their best lives appreciating all the while, he said, where he is now and his loyal customers, while looking forward to what’s “up the road.”

La Dolce Vita
400 Ocean Avenue, Belmar / 732.749.3177 /
ladolcevitanj.com