EXCLUSIVE: Mischa Barton goes on first date with 'DWTS' partner Artem Chigvintsev

Mischa Barton might not have gotten very far on this season of Dancing With the Stars, but The O.C. alum got more out of the show than expected.

A source confirms to ET that Barton and her DWTS partner, Artem Chigvintsev, have started dating. The pair were spotted out at The Little Door, a quaint French restaurant in Los Angeles, on Wednesday night.

WATCH: Mischa Barton Eliminated From 'DWTS' After Earning Her Highest Score Yet

"They've been in touch after the show and care about each other but this is the first proper date," a source told ET, adding that the pair are "transitioning into more than friends." "He is the reason she's looking happier recently. She has become giddy when talking about him and quite smitten with him."

See photos of the pair:

The source added, "He's pursued her for a while, and she's coming around," calling their outing "an official date."

After the two shared a meal, they went to Chateau Marmont where the actress introduced the dancer to some of her pals.

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Barton, 30, hasn't referenced the romance on her social media accounts yet, but on Wednesday she posted several solo shots of herself to Instagram, writing, "Sending you all love, light and laughter on this Wednesday night" and "Good Night," with a heart emoji.

Barton was the second contestant to be eliminated from DWTS in early April.

"It was definitely, maybe more than I had bargained for in a lot of ways," Barton told ET at the time. "But I'm so happy I tried something that's that foreign to me, and you know, had this experience with these guys."