<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAY-25-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 AUG-26-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   NOV-24-1996

<CASH>                                         $20,607
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  28,899
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    139,902
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               316,298
<PP&E>                                         2,441,440
<DEPRECIATION>                                 749,277
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,103,778
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          448,217
<BONDS>                                        314,731
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       1,267,536
<OTHER-SE>                                     (46,881)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   883,123
<SALES>                                        748,757
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               748,757
<CGS>                                          258,105
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  630,568
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               134,008
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             5,623
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (15,819)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (4,650)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (11,169)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (11,169)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (.07)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (.07)