The Arlington Convention Center at 1200 Ballpark Way is about 0.6 mile and 3 minutes from Mercury Chophouse – Arlington, a ninth-floor steakhouse at 2221 E Lamar Blvd. Weekday lunch starts at 11 AM, dinner runs until 9 PM Monday through Thursday and 10 PM Friday, and the restaurant is closed Sunday.
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Three minutes from the exhibit hall
The Arlington Convention Center at 1200 Ballpark Way is about 0.6 mile from Mercury Chophouse – Arlington, a drive of about 3 minutes, and Loews Arlington, which is connected to the convention center, is the same distance. Head north on Ballpark Way to E Lamar Blvd and look for the Brookhollow Two office tower at 2221. The restaurant is on the ninth floor, Suite 910, up the elevator from the lobby.
That short hop is the point. Attendees who eat inside the district core are in the same crowd they spent the day with; the ninth floor is a different room with the district in the window instead of around you.
Dining alone after a long day
Dining alone is easy here. The marble-topped bar has a full back bar and TVs, and a stool there with an Espresso Martini at $17 or a 2 oz pour of Weller 12 at $18 is a reasonable way to end a day of booth duty. A table for one at the window is a different kind of evening, with the stadium lights coming on below. Either way, reserve or call ahead on show weeks, because the district is full when the convention center is.
The after-dinner list is long for a weeknight: coffee libations at $16, a Carajillo at $17, and port by the glass from a $14 Fonseca Bin 27 to a Kopke 30-year White Tawny at $48. The dessert and coffee page lists all of it, along with the Key Lime Pie at $16 and the gluten-free Chocolate Torte at $15.
Lunch between sessions
Weekday lunch runs from 11 AM Monday through Friday, and it is built around sandwiches, salads and a few entrées that suit a short break. Tell your server what time you need to be back on the floor.
| Lunch dish | Price |
|---|---|
| Soup & Salad Combo | $16 |
| Cobb in a Mold | $16 |
| Club Sandwich, with fries, salad or soup | $14 |
| Marinated Steak Sandwich | $19 |
| Chophouse Burger, build your own | $17 |
| Crab & Shrimp Louie | $24 |
| Blackened Fresh Catch Tacos | $17 |
| Center-Cut Filet Mignon, 6 oz | $54 |
The business lunch page covers timing for a working lunch, and the Boardroom is available at midday for a group that needs a door.
The 9 PM question
Conferences run late, and this is where attendees get caught. Monday through Thursday the restaurant closes at 9 PM. A reception that ends at 7:30 PM leaves time for a 7:45 PM table and a two-course dinner; an evening session that ends at 8:30 PM does not leave time for dinner here at all. Friday the dining room runs to 10 PM, and Saturday from 4 PM to 10 PM. Sunday it is closed, so a show that closes on Sunday ends without a Mercury dinner unless you came Saturday night.
The last seating time is not published. If you are between 8 and 9 PM on a weeknight, call 817-381-1157 and ask before you leave the hall.
Small teams of four to eight
A team dinner of four to eight fits the dining room without a private room. Two policies to know: a 20% gratuity is added for parties of six or more, and composed entrées carry a $25 split-plate fee. At 12 or more, one check is presented and no split checks are offered; at 10 or more a food and beverage minimum applies. Larger delegations, and any group that wants the Boardroom’s screen for a few slides, should start with the conference group dinner page.
For the team that wants a steak, the dinner menu runs from the 6 oz Center-Cut Filet Mignon at $62 to the Hand-Cut Ribeye at $75 and the Bone-In Ribeye at $90, with the Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon at $48 for whoever is not eating beef.
Back to the hotel
After dinner, Loews Arlington is about 0.6 mile and Live! by Loews about 0.9 mile, each about 3 minutes by car or rideshare. Drivers park in the tower’s garage or its outdoor lot, at no charge. The dress code is business casual, and a lanyard and conference polo pass, as long as the polo has a collar and nobody is in athletic wear or a baseball cap. The conference attendee answer page has the short form of all of this, and the convention center dining page has directions.
Book a Table
Reserve on the ninth floor at Mercury Chophouse – Arlington. Choose a date and time below, or call 817-381-1157.
Reserve on OpenTable Request a Private Event
Open Monday to Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday 11 AM to 10 PM, Saturday 4 PM to 10 PM. Closed Sunday. 2221 E Lamar Blvd, Suite 910, Arlington, TX 76006.
Frequently asked questions
I have a 6 PM reception and an early session tomorrow. Can I fit dinner in?
Yes, on a weeknight if you leave the reception by 7:15 PM. Book a 7:30 PM table, order a starter and a steak, and you are back at the Loews by 9:15 PM. The restaurant closes at 9 PM Monday through Thursday, so later than 7:45 PM is a gamble.
Is there a place at the bar for one person?
Yes. The ninth-floor bar has a marble top, a full back bar with TVs and the same district view as the dining room. It opens with the restaurant, 11 AM on weekdays and 4 PM on Saturday. Solo diners can also book a table for one through OpenTable or by phone.
Is lunch fast enough for a 60-minute break?
It can be, if you say so when you sit down. Sandwiches and salads on the weekday lunch menu run $14 to $24, and telling your server the time you need to be back on the floor lets the kitchen pace accordingly. The drive each way is about 3 minutes.
Can I come straight from the exhibit floor in my conference polo?
A collared polo with trousers or unripped jeans meets the business casual code. What does not: graphic T-shirts, baseball caps, hoodies, athletic wear and flip-flops. A badge and lanyard are fine; there is no rule about them either way.
Is the restaurant open on the Sunday of a weekend show?
No. Mercury Chophouse – Arlington is closed every Sunday. For a show running Friday through Sunday, Friday night is open until 10 PM and Saturday from 4 to 10 PM, so make the Saturday reservation early; it is the busiest night of that weekend.
Do you take large convention groups?
Yes, up to 20 in the private Boardroom at one long table and up to 28 semi-private. Groups of 10 or more meet a food and beverage minimum, 12 or more receive one check, and requests through the event inquiry form are answered within 48 hours.