-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Lz5iroLXHv9jMd90rqo0EjkHbsNsRBEYynvXVKhk74UDBtPU8JZZjQJDk7RdBiCt
 TY7Eg4oWFf38iz+TurXWqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225208-10-024233.txt : 20101104
<SEC-HEADER>0001225208-10-024233.hdr.sgml : 20101104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101104123348
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225208-10-024233
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sebastian Teresa Mosley
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001502941

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13666
		FILM NUMBER:		101164080

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32837

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:		1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32837
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4072454000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32837

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GENERAL MILLS RESTAURANTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950313
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-02</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001502941</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sebastian Teresa Mosley</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORLANDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32837</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>SVP, General Counsel &amp; Sec</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>46.3700</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas E. Wentz, Attorney-in-fact for Sebastian, Teresa Mosely</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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