Exhibit 24.1


                               POWERS OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature
appears  below hereby  constitutes  and appoints Joe R. Lee,  Clarence  Otis and
Paula J. Shives, and each of them, his or her true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact
and  agents,   each  acting  alone,   with  full  power  of   substitution   and
resubstitution,  for him or her and in his or her name,  place and stead, in any
and all capacities,  to sign one or more registration statements on Form S-8 for
the registration of up to 3,900,000  shares of common stock,  without par value,
of Darden  Restaurants,  Inc. issuable pursuant to the Stock Plan for Directors,
the Compensation Plan for Non-Employee  Directors and the Restaurant  Management
and Employee Stock Plan of 2000, and any and all amendments  thereto,  including
post-effective  amendments,  and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and
other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone,
full power and  authority to do and perform to all intents and purposes as he or
she might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  each acting alone,  or the  substitutes for such
attorneys-in-fact  and  agents,  may  lawfully  do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

Signature                        Title                              Date

/s/ Joe R. Lee            Director, Chairman of the             March 19, 2001
Joe R. Lee                Board and Chief Executive
                          Officer (principal executive
                          officer)

/s/ Clarence Otis, Jr.    Senior Vice President - Chief         March 20, 2001
Clarence Otis, Jr.        Financial Officer (principal
                          financial and accounting
                          officer)


/s/ Bradley D. Blum       Director                              March 20, 2001
Bradley D. Blum

/s/ Daniel B. Burke       Director                              March 9, 2001
Daniel B. Burke

/s/ Odie C. Donald        Director                              March 8, 2001
Odie C. Donald




/s/ Julius Erving, II     Director                              March 11, 2001
Julius Erving, II

/s/ Richard E. Rivera     Director                              March 20, 2001
Richard E. Rivera

/s/ Michael D. Rose       Director                              March 15, 2001
Michael D. Rose

/s/ Hector de J. Ruiz     Director                              March 15, 2001
Hector de J. Ruiz

/s/ Maria A. Sastre       Director                              March 14, 2001
Maria A. Sastre

/s/ Jack A. Smith         Director                              March 14, 2001
Jack A. Smith

/s/ Blaine Sweatt, III    Director                              March 19, 2001
Blaine Sweatt, III

/s/ Rita P. Wilson        Director                              March 9, 2001
Rita P. Wilson