Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Aug. 28, 2011	Aug. 29, 2010
Ineffective portion of interest rate hedge	$ 0.0
Reduction to interest expense related to net swap settlements	700,000	1,000,000
Debt One [Member] \| Forward Contracts [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Notional value of derivative instrument	300,000,000
Forward Contracts [Member] \| Unvested, Unrecognized Darden Stock Units [Member]
Forward contract indexed to issuer's equity, indexed shares	0.8
Debt One [Member] \| Interest Rate [Member]
Notional value of derivative instrument	300,000,000
Debt One [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Notional value of derivative instrument	150,000,000
5.625% Senior Notes Due October 2012 [Member] \| Debt One [Member]
Face amount of debt	350,000,000
Interest rate of debt	5.625%
Maturity date of debt	Oct. 01, 2012
Darden Stock Units [Member]
Minimum award vesting period for Darden stock units	4
Maximum award vesting period for Darden stock units	5
Darden Stock Units [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Common stock at forward contract rate	$ 27.57
Darden Stock Units [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Common stock at forward contract rate	$ 42.08
Minimum [Member] \| Employee-Directed Investments In Darden Stock Within The Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Common stock at forward contract rate	$ 23.41
Maximum [Member] \| Employee-Directed Investments In Darden Stock Within The Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Common stock at forward contract rate	$ 50.19
Natural Gas [Member]
Contract expiration date	Sep. 01, 2012
Commodities Swaps And Futures [Member]
Contract expiration date	Oct. 01, 2012
Foreign Currency [Member]
Amount of loss reclassified from AOCI to earnings (effective portion)	$ 2,500,000
Employee-Directed Investments In Darden Stock Within The Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Forward contract indexed to issuer's equity, indexed shares	0.2

The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(2)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
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-Paragraph 16, 20
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Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
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Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter, etc.).

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-Publisher FASB
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The amount of net gains and losses recognized in income during the period on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in fair value hedges and related hedged items designated and qualifying in fair value hedges, on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges, and on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments.

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The date the derivative matures.

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The portion of a hedge deemed to be ineffective that is reflected in current period results of operations.

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The per share price of the Company's stock at which the contract holder of the freestanding contract has the right to purchase or sell the Company's stock at a future date.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 00-19
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The number of issuer's shares to which the forward contract is indexed.

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Aggregate notional amount of all derivatives. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.

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The maximum vesting term over which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition.

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