X17 caught DWTS star David Arquette on a date with new girlfriend Christina McLarty last night -- the hot brunette happens to be a local entertainment reporter AND the ex-wife of Girls Gone Wild owner Joe Francis.

The pair attempted to sneak out the back door at celeb-studded steakhouse Maestro, in Beverly Hills, but our cameras caught their get-away ...

The X17 photographer on the scene tells us: "It looked like they didn't really care that they were seen, in the end. It's like they're hiding because publicists tell them to hide new relationships in case they don't work out, but David's so open and cool, he didn't seem to care. He has a hot girlfriend and I think he wants to show her off!"

Arquette told Howard Stern recently, he met the "adorable" McLarty at a "boat party" and that they "try to see each other as much as possible."

David said: "I'm not one to run around with different girls. I like someone that makes me feel good and that I can make feel good." Ohlala!

We asked David this morning at rehearsal, about his date last night ... but the dancing diva stayed quiet ...