Elisabetta Canalis -- Rebounding with 'True Blood' Star???

Mehcad Brooks might be the next George Clooney ... maybe ... because the "True Blood" star had a romantic dinner with Clooney's ex Elisabetta Canalis this week ... and TMZ has the video to prove it!

The two dined at STK steakhouse in L.A. -- and after what seems like a date, they BOTH left in Mehcad's SUV.

Before Brooks and Elisabetta drove off together, we asked Mehcad, "How did you guys meet?" He cracked a big, GUILTY smile ... and joked, "We didn't meet ... I have no clue what you're talking about."

So, we gotta ask ...