EXHIBIT 99

Press Release dated June 20, 1997 of Darden Restaurants, Inc.

                          DARDEN RESTAURANTS ANNOUNCES
                        STREAMLINED MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

ORLANDO, FL - Darden Restaurants,  Inc.,  Orlando-based casual dining restaurant
company,  will establish a streamlined  management structure to improve internal
communications  and  better  position  the  company  for future  growth,  it was
announced by Joe R. Lee, Darden Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

"Effective today," Lee said, "we will eliminate the role of Chief Operating
Officer of Darden Restaurants.  This will streamline internal communications
and strengthen our customer focus."

Jeffrey  O'Hara,  who has held the  position of  Corporate  President  and Chief
Operating  Officer for the past year,  submitted  his  resignation.  O'Hara will
continue to serve as a senior  consultant  and  resource to the Chief  Executive
Officer for an interim period.

"Jeff has had a distinguished career at Darden," Lee said.  "His contributions
to our company have been significant."

"There is a national search to bring in a new Red Lobster President from outside
the company who can bring a fresh  perspective to this  business," Lee said. "We
will be looking for a senior  executive  with a proven  track record who has the
leadership  skills  to  assist  us  in  achieving  our  growth  and  performance
objectives."

Brad Blum,  President  of The Olive  Garden,  and during  the  interim,  the Red
Lobster  executive  team  will  now  report  directly  to Lee.  This  management
structure will allow the  leadership of the company to be more closely  involved
with the restaurants and to more quickly respond to industry trends and changing
customer demands.