EXHIBIT 99.2

          DARDEN
        RESTAURANTS
Red Lobster(R)Olive Garden(R)
Bahama Breeze(R)Smokey Bones(R)
      www.darden.com

                                                               NEWS/INFORMATION
                                                             Corporate Relations
                                                             P.O. Box 593330
                                                             Orlando, FL  32859

                                Contacts:
                                (Analysts)  Matthew Stroud  (407) 245-5550
                                (Media)     Rick Walsh      (407) 245-5366


FOR RELEASE
September 20, 2001
12:00 PM EDT

         DARDEN RESTAURANTS DECLARES SEMI-ANNUAL DIVIDEND OF 4 CENTS AND
                   ELECTS LEONARD BERRY TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 20 - The Board of Directors of Darden Restaurants, Inc.
(NYSE: DRI) today declared a regular semi-annual cash dividend of 4 cents per
share on the Company's outstanding common stock. The dividend is payable on
November 1, 2001, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October
10, 2001. This marks the 13th consecutive semi-annual dividend payment since the
Company became a publicly traded company on May 30, 1995.

At today's annual meeting of shareholders, Dr. Leonard L. Berry was elected a
new Board member. Dr. Berry is the distinguished Professor of Marketing and M.B.
Zale Chair in Retailing and Marketing Leadership at the Lowry Mays College of
Business at Texas A&M University. He is also a member of the Board of Directors
for Genesco, Inc. and Lowe's Companies, Inc.

"We are pleased to have Dr. Berry join our board," said Joe R. Lee, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Darden. "We have worked with Dr. Berry for many
years. He brings a tremendous amount of experience from the retail and the
hospitality industries and I know he will be a superb asset to our Company."

In other actions, shareholders reelected directors Bradley Blum, Odie Donald,
Julius Erving II, Joe R. Lee, Senator Connie Mack III, Richard Rivera, Michael
Rose, Maria Sastre, Jack A. Smith, Blaine Sweatt III and Rita P. Wilson, and
ratified the Board's appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent
auditor.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. owns and operates Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama
Breeze and Smokey Bones BBQ Sports Bar restaurants.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS IN THIS NEWS RELEASE, IF ANY, ARE MADE UNDER THE SAFE
HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995.
CERTAIN IMPORTANT FACTORS COULD CAUSE RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
ANTICIPATED BY THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, INCLUDING THE IMPACT OF CHANGING
ECONOMIC OR BUSINESS CONDITIONS, THE IMPACT OF COMPETITION, THE AVAILABILITY OF
FAVORABLE CREDIT AND TRADE TERMS, THE IMPACT OF CHANGES IN THE COST OR
AVAILABILITY OF FOOD AND REAL ESTATE, GOVERNMENT REGULATION, CONSTRUCTION COSTS,
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND OTHER FACTORS DISCUSSED FROM TIME TO TIME IN REPORTS
FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.


                                       11