Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Aug. 24, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation Darden Restaurants, Inc. (we, our or the Company) owns and operates full-service dining restaurants in the United States and Canada under the trade names Olive Garden®, LongHorn Steakhouse®, The Capital Grille®, Yard House®, Bahama Breeze®, Seasons 52®, Eddie V's Prime Seafood® and Wildfish Seafood Grille®. We have prepared these consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally presented in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. We operate on a 52/53 week fiscal year, which ends on the last Sunday in May and our fiscal year ending May 31, 2015 will contain 53 weeks of operation. Operating results for the quarter ended August 24, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2015. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes to consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2014. The accounting policies used in preparing these consolidated financial statements are the same as those described in our Form 10-K. We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of sales and costs and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Red Lobster Sale On May 15, 2014, we entered into an agreement to sell Red Lobster and certain related assets and associated liabilities and closed on the sale on July 28, 2014. For the quarters ended August 24, 2014 and August 25, 2013, all gains on disposition, impairment charges and disposal costs, along with the sales, costs and expenses and income taxes attributable to Red Lobster and two closed synergy locations, have been aggregated in a single caption entitled “Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax expense” in our consolidated statements of earnings for all periods presented. See Note 2 - Dispositions for additional information.

Basis of Presentation

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (we, our or the Company) owns and operates full-service dining restaurants in the United States and Canada under the trade names Olive Garden®, LongHorn Steakhouse®, The Capital Grille®, Yard House®, Bahama Breeze®, Seasons 52®, Eddie V's Prime Seafood® and Wildfish Seafood Grille®. We have prepared these consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally presented in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. We operate on a 52/53 week fiscal year, which ends on the last Sunday in May and our fiscal year ending May 31, 2015 will contain 53 weeks of operation. Operating results for the quarter ended August 24, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2015.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes to consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2014. The accounting policies used in preparing these consolidated financial statements are the same as those described in our Form 10-K.

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of sales and costs and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Red Lobster Sale

On May 15, 2014, we entered into an agreement to sell Red Lobster and certain related assets and associated liabilities and closed on the sale on July 28, 2014. For the quarters ended August 24, 2014 and August 25, 2013, all gains on disposition, impairment charges and disposal costs, along with the sales, costs and expenses and income taxes attributable to Red Lobster and two closed synergy locations, have been aggregated in a single caption entitled “Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax expense” in our consolidated statements of earnings for all periods presented. See Note 2 - Dispositions for additional information.