Cuba Gooding Jr. -- Female Bartender DROPS Battery Charges

Cuba Gooding Jr. just caught a huge break after allegedly pushing a female bartender in New Orleans this week -- the bartender has decided to drop her battery charges against the actor.

TMZ broke the story ... an arrest warrant was issued for Cuba for allegedly roughing up the bartender at The Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street early Tuesday morning when she asked him to leave.

The bartender told police Cuba had grown irate at several bar patrons for taking his photo ... and that's when she told him to take a hike.

Cuba met with police officials yesterday and the arrest warrant was revoked -- but he was issued a summons to appear in court to answer to the allegations.

Lucky for Cuba, it now looks like he'll get off scot-free -- because bar managers at The Old Absinthe have released a statement, saying the bartender involved in the dispute has decided not to press charges.