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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 B4EYJ8QTsAbCHoAtJSykwAbKaT5f0OgsGNjAxRq55Um5GhVEUPEqOoROalE2Bqtv
 MiEEPSzhDUqglsDHfONcZA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000940944-07-000145.txt : 20071010
<SEC-HEADER>0000940944-07-000145.hdr.sgml : 20071010
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20071010153717
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000940944-07-000145
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20071002
FILED AS OF DATE:		20071010
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20071010

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:			0529

	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:			LEE EUGENE I JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001242843

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13666
		FILM NUMBER:		071165273

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8215 ROSWELL RD.
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30350
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-10-02</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2007-10-04</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000940944</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DRI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242843</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEE EUGENE I JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5900 LAKE ELLENOR DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORLANDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32809</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Speciality Rest Grp</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.77</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>125967</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.2074</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50967</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-10-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-10-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>147618</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>72618</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares reflect recalculated shares as shown in amended form 4 filed 10/9/2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This filing is amended to reflect an adjustment to the total number of shares in accordance with a Form 4 amendment filed 10/9/2007 correcting the share amount reported on a Form 4 filed 10/3/2007. The remainder of this filing is restated in its entirety without change.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas E. Wentz, Attorney-in-fact for Lee, Jr., Eugene I., 5900 Lake Ellenor Drive, P.O. Box 593330, Orlando, FL 32859-3330, Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-10-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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