SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



              Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                June 20, 1997


                            Darden Restaurants, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Florida                   1-13666                 59-3305930
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission              (IRS employer
      of incorporation)           file number)           identification No.)



               5900 Lake Ellenor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32809
                   (Address of principal executive offices)



             Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
                                (407) 245-4000



                                 Not Applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)









Item 5.     Other Events.

            On June 20, 1997,  the  Registrant  issued a news  release  entitled
            "Darden Restaurants  Announces  Streamlined  Management  Structure,"
            including the announcement of the elimination of the Chief Operating
            Officer's  position  and  the  resignation  of  Jeffrey  J.  O'Hara,
            formerly President and Chief Operating Officer.

Item 7.     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

            (c)   Exhibits.

                  Exhibit No.       Description

                       99           Press   release   dated  June  20,   1997,
                                    entitled  "Darden  Restaurants   Announces
                                    Streamlined Management Structure."


                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  Report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



Dated:  June 23, 1997                           DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.



                                          By  /s/ C.L. Whitehill
                                                C.L. Whitehill
                                                Senior Vice President,
                                                General Counsel and Secretary






                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS




Exhibit Number                                                      Page

99          Press release dated June 20, 1997,                        4
            entitled "Darden Restaurants Announces 
            Streamlined Management Structure."