EXHIBIT 99.3

Press Release dated March 21, 2001, of Darden Restaurants, Inc.

                       DARDEN RESTAURANTS REPORTS FEBRUARY
                          SAME-RESTAURANT SALES RESULTS

ORLANDO, FL - Darden Restaurants,  Inc. today reported same-restaurant sales for
the four-week  February fiscal month ended February 25, 2001. This period is the
third month of Darden's fiscal 2001 third quarter.

Same-restaurant  sales at Red Lobster were up 5% to 6% for the  February  fiscal
month,  driven by a 1% increase in guest counts,  a 2% to 3% increase in pricing
and a 2% increase in check average due to menu mix changes. Red Lobster's "Pound
of Crab"  promotion  priced at $10.99 ran from  January 15 through  February 11,
2001.  In  fiscal  February  of  last  year,  Red  Lobster  recorded  a 2% to 3%
same-restaurant sales increase.

Same-restaurant  sales at Olive  Garden  were up 6% to 7% for the  month.  Olive
Garden's  same-restaurant  sales growth for the month reflected a 3% increase in
guest counts,  a 2% to 3% increase in pricing and a 1% increase in check average
due to menu mix changes. Olive Garden promoted "Chicken Scampi", priced at $8.95
from January 1 through February 4. "Soup,  Salad, and Breadsticks," was promoted
from February 5 through March 11. Olive Garden's  "Seafood Alfredo" and "Chicken
Alfredo"  feature  began  February 19 and runs through  April 1, 2001. In fiscal
February  of  last  year,  Olive  Garden  had a 7% to 8%  same-restaurant  sales
increase.

Darden Restaurants, Inc., in Orlando, FL, owns and operates Red Lobster, Olive
Garden, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones BBQ 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.


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