Exhibit 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes  and appoints Joe R. Lee,  Linda J.  Dimopoulos and Paula J. Shives,
and each of them, his or her true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for and in his or her name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities,  to sign a Registration  Statement on Form
S-8  of  Darden  Restaurants,   Inc.  and  any  or  all  amendments   (including
post-effective  amendments)  thereto,  relating to the Darden Restaurants,  Inc.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 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, and each of them,
full  power  and  authority  to do and  perform  each and  every  act and  thing
requisite and  necessary to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully to all
intents and purposes as might or could be done in person,  hereby  ratifying and
confirming all that said  attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their
substitute of substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been signed on this 15th day
of June, 2004, by the following persons.



  /s/ Leonard L. Berry                      /s/ Michael D. Rose
  ---------------------------------         ---------------------------------
  Leonard L. Berry                          Michael D. Rose



  /s/ Odie C. Donald                        /s/ Maria A. Sastre
  ---------------------------------         ---------------------------------
  Odie C. Donald                            Maria A. Sastre



  /s/David H. Hughes                        /s/ Jack A. Smith
  ---------------------------------         ---------------------------------
  David H. Hughes                             Jack A. Smith



  /s/ Joe R. Lee                            /s/ Blaine Sweatt, III
  ---------------------------------         ---------------------------------
  Joe R. Lee                                Blaine Sweatt, III



  /s/ Cornelius McGillicuddy, III           /s/ Rita P. Wilson
  ---------------------------------         ---------------------------------
  Cornelius McGillicuddy, III               Rita P. Wilson