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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FuDAG3FOOXRurEaZL7nO0bLdjWEggZ/Z/abJLCh7/62H0zYcKbdCiH5iDzAl/+RF
 Cc1PXtsH7lfazpAIp26CzA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000940944-03-000134.txt : 20030703
<SEC-HEADER>0000940944-03-000134.hdr.sgml : 20030703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030703164354
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000940944-03-000134
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030619
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030703

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000940944
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				593305930
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0526

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 LAKE ELLENOR DR
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32809
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4072454000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 LAKE ELLENOR DRIVE
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32809

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GENERAL MILLS RESTAURANTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950313

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOULLET BARRY B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001090005

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13666
		FILM NUMBER:		03775684

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 LAKE ELLENOR DR
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32809
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4072455344

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 LAKE ELLENOR DR
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32809
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-19</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000940944</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DRI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001090005</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOULLET BARRY B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>623</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>19.32</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35114</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></owne
rshipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>41114</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.32</val
ue></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>24000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-06-19</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-06-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>24000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>24000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndi
rectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option vests in two equal installments beginning the date indicated, which is three years from the date of grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Douglas E. Wentz, Attorney-in-fact for MOULLET, BARRY B., 5900 Lake Ellenor Drive, P.O. Box 593330, Orlando, FL  32859-3330, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI)</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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