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Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2016	Feb. 22, 2015	Feb. 28, 2016	Feb. 22, 2015
Derivative [Line Items]
Ineffective portion of interest rate hedge			$ 0
Reduction to interest expense related to net swap settlements	$ 0	$ (500,000)	(1,700,000)	$ (2,300,000)
Derivative, Gain on Derivative	$ 4,100,000
Amount of gain reclassified from AOCI to earnings (effective portion)			$ (600,000)
Darden Stock Units \| Forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Forward contract indexed to issuer's equity, indexed shares	0.9		0.9
Darden Stock Units \| Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Vesting period			4 years
Common stock at forward contract rate (in dollars per share)			$ 40.6947
Darden Stock Units \| Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Vesting period			5 years
Common stock at forward contract rate (in dollars per share)			$ 60.5981
Employee-Directed Investments In Darden Stock Within The Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan
Derivative [Line Items]
Forward contract indexed to issuer's equity, indexed shares	0.2		0.2
Employee-Directed Investments In Darden Stock Within The Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan \| Minimum
Derivative [Line Items]
Common stock at forward contract rate (in dollars per share)			$ 41.03
Employee-Directed Investments In Darden Stock Within The Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan \| Maximum
Derivative [Line Items]
Common stock at forward contract rate (in dollars per share)			$ 44.73