<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     consolidated financial statements of Darden Restaurants, Inc. and 
     subsidiaries and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
     financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAY-26-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 MAY-29-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAY-26-1996                                
<CASH>                                         30,343
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  24,772
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                   120,725
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              287,980
<PP&E>                                      2,409,475
<DEPRECIATION>                                706,614
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              2,088,504
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         445,306
<BONDS>                                       301,205
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                    1,266,212
<OTHER-SE>                                    (43,575)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                2,088,504
<SALES>                                     3,191,779
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            3,191,779
<CGS>                                       1,062,624
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               2,473,136
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              604,925
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             21,406
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               113,718
<INCOME-TAX>                                   39,363
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            74,355
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   74,355
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.47