Chris Rock's Dinner Date Is a Sign the Oscars Might Not Suck! (VIDEO)

Chris Rock lit up a beacon of hope for all who love the Academy Awards -- there's a fighting chance the show won't be TV's version of Ambien!

Hours after the Oscars announced Rock would host next year, we got him heading into dinner at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica. But check out the video ... the exciting part is WHO he hung out with at the restaurant: Rosario Dawson, Matt Stone and Rick Rubin.

So, we're thinking (hoping, really) they were cooking up musical numbers that don't suck. Can't ya see the mashup? "99 Problems and Kyle's Mom's Chocolate Salty Balls Ain't One."

We'll leave it to the pros, but watch and dream.