================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            ------------------------
                                    FORM 10-Q
                            ------------------------

(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
    ACT OF 1934

                For the quarterly period ended November 23, 1997

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
    ACT OF 1934

      For the transition period from ................. to .................


                            ------------------------
                                     1-13666
                             Commission File Number
                            ------------------------


                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                FLORIDA                                   59-3305930
    (State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     incorporation or organization)    

        5900 LAKE ELLENOR DRIVE,
            ORLANDO, FLORIDA                                32809
(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

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

                            ------------------------

     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.   [X] Yes      [ ] No

                            ------------------------

                      APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

     Number of shares of common  stock  outstanding  as of  December  11,  1997:
148,561,451 (excluding 11,960,506 shares held in treasury).

================================================================================





                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                          Page
Part I - Financial Information

         Item 1.  Financial Statements

                  Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss)                2

                  Consolidated Balance Sheets                               4

                  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                     5

                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                7

         Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                  Condition and Results of Operations                       8

Part II - Other Information

         Item 5.  Other Information                                         10

         Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                          10

Signatures                                                                  11

Index to Exhibits                                                           12


                                       1


                                     PART I
                              FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS)
                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


                                                  Thirteen Weeks Ended
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          November 23, 1997    November 24, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sales.....................................    $  745,263           $  748,757
Costs and Expenses:
  Cost of sales:
    Food and beverages....................       241,859              258,105
    Restaurant labor......................       252,929              252,497
    Restaurant expenses...................       117,941              119,966
                                              ----------           ----------
      Total Cost of Sales.................    $  612,729           $  630,568
  Selling, general and administrative.....        84,412               93,315
  Depreciation and amortization...........        31,613               35,070
  Interest, net...........................         4,723                5,623
                                              ----------           ----------
        Total Costs and Expenses..........    $  733,477           $  764,576
                                              ----------           ----------
Earnings (Loss) before Income Taxes.......        11,786              (15,819)
Income Taxes..............................        (4,256)               4,650
                                              ----------           ----------

Net Earnings (Loss) ......................    $    7,530           $  (11,169)
                                              ==========           ==========

Net Earnings (Loss) per Share.............    $     0.05           $    (0.07)
                                              ==========           ==========

Average Number of Common Shares
  Outstanding.............................       150,300              157,500
                                              ==========           ==========

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       2


                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


                                                   Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          November 23, 1997    November 24, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sales.....................................   $ 1,554,594          $ 1,554,312
Costs and Expenses:
  Cost of sales:
    Food and beverages....................       507,809              525,797
    Restaurant labor......................       511,946              499,208
    Restaurant expenses...................       240,685              243,183
                                             -----------          -----------
      Total Cost of Sales ................   $ 1,260,440          $ 1,268,188
  Selling, general and administrative.....       173,617              192,391
  Depreciation and amortization...........        63,085               70,103
  Interest, net...........................         9,416               10,556
                                             -----------          -----------
        Total Costs and Expenses..........   $ 1,506,558          $ 1,541,238
                                             -----------          -----------
Earnings before Income Taxes..............        48,036               13,074
Income Taxes..............................       (16,098)              (3,770)
                                             -----------          -----------

Net Earnings..............................   $    31,938          $     9,304
                                             ===========          ===========

Net Earnings per Share....................   $      0.21          $      0.06
                                             ===========          ===========

Average Number of Common Shares
  Outstanding.............................       151,500              157,600
                                             ===========          ===========

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       3


                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)


                                                (Unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             November 23, 1997      May 25, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                  ASSETS

Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents..................   $    22,069         $    25,490
  Receivables................................        19,500              16,333
  Refundable income taxes, net...............        11,953              16,968
  Inventories................................       182,834             132,241
  Net assets held for disposal...............        57,231              47,471
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets..        12,447              14,709
  Deferred income taxes......................        76,646              84,157
                                                -----------         -----------
    Total Current Assets.....................   $   382,680         $   337,369
Land, Buildings and Equipment................     1,503,356           1,533,272
Other Assets.................................        95,523              93,081
                                                -----------         -----------

        Total Assets.........................   $ 1,981,559         $ 1,963,722
                                                ===========         ===========

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
  Accounts payable...........................   $   132,244         $   113,087
  Short-term debt............................        62,300              43,400
  Current portion of long-term debt..........             5                   5
  Accrued payroll............................        59,464              58,312
  Other accrued taxes........................        23,342              22,180
  Other current liabilities..................       239,145             243,596
                                                -----------         -----------
    Total Current Liabilities................   $   516,500         $   480,580
Long-term Debt...............................       311,442             313,187
Deferred Income Taxes........................        69,648              70,118
Other Liabilities............................        18,890              18,624
                                                -----------         -----------
      Total Liabilities......................   $   916,480         $   882,509
                                                -----------         -----------

Stockholders' Equity:
  Common stock and surplus...................   $ 1,272,146         $ 1,268,656
  Retained earnings (deficit)................       (15,773)            (41,706)
  Treasury stock.............................      (115,849)            (69,184)
  Cumulative foreign currency adjustment.....       (11,090)            (10,037)
  Unearned compensation......................       (64,355)            (66,516)
                                                -----------         -----------
      Total Stockholders' Equity.............   $ 1,065,079         $ 1,081,213
                                                -----------         -----------

        Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
          Equity.............................   $ 1,981,559         $ 1,963,722
                                                ===========         ===========

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       4


                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


                                                  Thirteen Weeks Ended
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          November 23, 1997    November 24, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash Flows--Operating Activities:
  Net earnings (loss).....................   $    7,530           $  (11,169)
  Adjustments to reconcile net earnings
    (loss) to cash flow:
      Depreciation and amortization.......       31,613               35,070
      Amortization of unearned
        compensation and loan costs.......          821                  918
      Change in current assets and
        liabilities.......................      (65,498)             (51,236)
      Change in other liabilities.........          190                 (184)
      Loss on disposal of land, buildings
        and equipment.....................        1,290                1,765
      Deferred income taxes...............        5,798                5,683
      Other, net..........................          384                 (152)
                                             ----------           ----------
          Net Cash Used by Operating
            Activities....................   $  (17,872)          $  (19,305)
                                             ----------           ----------

Cash Flows--Investment Activities:
  Purchases of land, buildings and
    equipment.............................      (27,544)             (44,448)
  Purchases of intangibles................         (524)                (449)
  (Increase) decrease in other assets.....         (721)               1,171
  Proceeds from disposal of land,
    buildings and equipment (including
    net assets held for disposal).........        4,186               10,722
                                             ----------           ----------
          Net Cash Used by Investment
            Activities....................   $  (24,603)          $  (33,004)
                                             ----------           ----------

Cash Flows--Financing Activities:
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock..        2,086                  114
  Income tax benefit credited to equity...          352                   21
  Dividends paid..........................       (6,005)              (6,284)
  Purchases of treasury stock.............      (24,855)              (6,286)
  ESOP note receivable repayment..........                               600
  Increase in short-term debt.............       62,300               56,600
  Repayment of long-term debt.............                            (3,451)
  Proceeds from issuance of equity puts...          311
                                             ----------           ----------
          Net Cash Provided by Financing
            Activities....................   $   34,189           $   41,314
                                             ----------           ----------

Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents.....       (8,286)             (10,995)
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of
  Period..................................       30,355               31,602
                                             ----------           ----------

Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period.   $   22,069           $   20,607
                                             ==========           ==========

Cash Flow from Changes in Current Assets
  and Liabilities:
    Receivables...........................   $   (3,281)          $      464
    Refundable income taxes, net..........       (5,489)             (11,225)
    Inventories...........................      (60,560)             (20,377)
    Net assets held for disposal..........                             2,181
    Prepaid expenses and other current
      assets..............................          560               (1,270)
    Accounts payable......................        7,784               (9,492)
    Accrued payroll.......................        1,256                2,516
    Accrued income taxes..................                           (10,443)
    Other accrued taxes...................       (1,894)                (423)
    Other current liabilities.............       (3,874)              (3,167)
                                             ----------           ----------
        Change in Current Assets and
          Liabilities.....................   $  (65,498)          $  (51,236)
                                             ==========           ==========

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       5


                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


                                                 Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          November 23, 1997    November 24, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash Flows--Operating Activities:
  Net earnings............................   $   31,938           $    9,304
  Adjustments to reconcile net earnings
    to cash flow:
      Depreciation and amortization.......       63,085               70,103
      Amortization of unearned
        compensation and loan costs.......        1,717                1,821
      Change in current assets and
        liabilities.......................      (27,746)             (49,267)
      Change in other liabilities.........          266                  181
      Loss on disposal of land, buildings
        and equipment.....................        1,551                2,868
      Deferred income taxes...............        7,041                8,030
      Other, net..........................          106                   81
                                             ----------           ----------
          Net Cash Provided by Operating
            Activities....................   $   77,958           $   43,121
                                             ----------           ----------

Cash Flows--Investment Activities:
  Purchases of land, buildings and
    equipment.............................      (56,113)             (83,400)
  Purchases of intangibles................         (871)                (529)
  (Increase) decrease in other assets.....       (3,067)               1,018
  Proceeds from disposal of land,
    buildings and equipment (including
    net assets held for disposal).........        9,061               12,734
                                             ----------           ----------
          Net Cash Used by Investment
            Activities....................   $  (50,990)          $  (70,177)
                                             ----------           ----------

Cash Flows--Financing Activities:
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock..        2,496                  938
  Income tax benefit credited to equity...          579                  289
  Dividends paid..........................       (6,005)              (6,284)
  Purchases of treasury stock.............      (46,665)              (9,192)
  ESOP note receivable repayment..........        1,800                  600
  Increase in short-term debt.............       18,900               17,700
  Proceeds from issuance of long-term
    debt..................................                            16,900
  Repayment of long-term debt.............       (1,805)              (3,454)
  Proceeds from issuance of equity puts...          311
  Payment of loan costs...................                              (177)
                                             ----------           ----------
          Net Cash Provided by (Used by)
            Financing Activities..........   $  (30,389)          $   17,320
                                             ----------           ----------

Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents.....       (3,421)              (9,736)
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of
  Period..................................       25,490               30,343
                                             ----------           ----------

Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period.   $   22,069           $   20,607
                                             ==========           ==========

Cash Flow from Changes in Current Assets
  and Liabilities:
    Receivables...........................   $   (3,167)          $   (4,127)
    Refundable income taxes, net..........        5,015              (11,225)
    Inventories...........................      (50,593)             (19,177)
    Prepaid expenses and other current
      assets..............................        2,262                 (642)
    Accounts payable......................       19,157                1,462
    Accrued payroll.......................        1,152                 (398)
    Accrued income taxes..................                           (12,522)
    Other accrued taxes...................        1,162                3,029
    Other current liabilities.............       (2,734)              (5,667)
                                             ----------           ----------
 
        Change in Current Assets and
          Liabilities.....................   $  (27,746)          $  (49,267)
                                             ==========           ==========

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       6


                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (UNAUDITED)
              (DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)


NOTE 1.  BACKGROUND
         ----------

     These consolidated  financial statements do not include certain information
and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting  principles for complete
financial  statements.  However,  in the opinion of management,  all adjustments
considered  necessary  for a fair  presentation  have been included and are of a
normal recurring nature. Operating results for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks
ended November 23, 1997 are not  necessarily  indicative of the results that may
be expected for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1998.

     These  statements  should  be read in  conjunction  with  the  consolidated
financial statements and footnotes included in the annual report on Form 10-K of
Darden Restaurants,  Inc. (hereinafter called the "Company" or "Darden") for the
year  ended May 25,  1997.  The  accounting  policies  used in  preparing  these
consolidated  financial  statements  are the  same  as  those  described  in the
Company's annual report on Form 10-K.

NOTE 2.  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
         -------------------------------------

     During the thirteen and twenty-six  weeks ended  November 23, 1997,  Darden
paid $0 and $8,194,  respectively,  for interest (net of amount capitalized) and
$3,691 and $4,071, respectively, for income taxes.

NOTE 3.  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL AND COMMODITY INSTRUMENTS
         ----------------------------------------------

     On January 31, 1997, the Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (SEC) issued
amended  disclosure  rules for  derivatives  and  exposures  to market risk from
derivative  and other  financial  and certain  commodity  instruments.  Enhanced
accounting policy disclosures in accordance with this SEC release follow.

     The  Company  may,  from  time  to  time,  use  financial  and  commodities
derivatives  in the  management of interest rate and  commodities  pricing risks
that are inherent in its business  operations.  Such instruments are not held or
issued for trading or speculative purposes.

     The Company  uses  commodities  hedging  instruments,  including  forwards,
futures and options, to reduce the risk of price fluctuations  related to future
raw materials  requirements  for  commodities  such as coffee,  soybean oil, and
shrimp. The terms of such instruments generally do not exceed twelve months, and
depend on the commodity and other market factors.  Deferred gains and losses are
subsequently recorded as cost of products sold in the statement of earnings when
the  inventory  is sold.  If the  inventory  is not  acquired  and the  hedge is
disposed  of, the deferred  gain or loss is  recognized  immediately  in cost of
products sold.

     The  Company  may,  from  time to  time,  use  interest  rate  swap and cap
agreements  in the  management  of interest  rate  exposure.  The interest  rate
differential  to be paid or  received  is  normally  accrued as  interest  rates
change,  and is recognized  as a component of interest  expense over the life of
the agreements.  If an agreement is terminated prior to the maturity date and is
characterized  as a hedge, any accrued rate  differential  would be deferred and
recognized as interest expense over the life of the hedged item.

     The Company does not have any material risk from any of the above financial
instruments,  and the Company does not anticipate  any material  losses from the
use of such instruments.

                                       7


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     The following  table sets forth  selected  restaurant  operating  data as a
percentage of sales for the periods  indicated.  All information is derived from
the  consolidated  statements of earnings (loss) for the thirteen and twenty-six
weeks ended November 23, 1997 and November 24, 1996.



                                             Thirteen Weeks Ended         Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          November 23,   November 24,   November 23,   November 24,
                                             1997           1996           1997           1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             
Sales.....................................  100.0%         100.0%         100.0%         100.0%
Costs and Expenses:
   Cost of sales:
     Food and beverages...................   32.5           34.5           32.7           33.8
     Restaurant labor.....................   33.9           33.7           32.9           32.1
     Restaurant expenses..................   15.8           16.0           15.5           15.7
                                            -----          -----          -----          -----
       Total Cost of Sales................   82.2%          84.2%          81.1%          81.6%
   Selling, general and administrative....   11.3           12.5           11.2           12.4
   Depreciation and amortization..........    4.3            4.7            4.0            4.5
   Interest, net..........................    0.6            0.7            0.6            0.7
                                            -----          -----          -----          -----
         Total Costs and Expenses.........   98.4%         102.1%          96.9%          99.2%
                                            -----          -----          -----          -----

Earnings (Loss) before Income Taxes.......    1.6           (2.1)           3.1            0.8
Income Taxes..............................   (0.6)           0.6           (1.0)          (0.2)
                                            -----          -----          -----          -----

Net Earnings (Loss).......................    1.0%          (1.5)%          2.1%           0.6%
                                            =====          =====          =====          =====

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     For the fiscal 1998 second quarter ended November 23, 1997,  earnings after
tax were $7.5  million or five cents per share,  compared to a net loss of $11.2
million or seven  cents per share in the  second  quarter  of fiscal  1997.  The
increase in second quarter  earnings was primarily  attributable  to strong same
store sales at The Olive  Garden and improved  margins at Red Lobster.  Sales of
$745.3  million for the  quarter,  with 75 fewer  restaurants  at the end of the
quarter, were slightly below last year's second quarter.

     For the first six months of fiscal 1998, net earnings were $31.9 million or
21 cents per share,  compared to $9.3 million or six cents per share in the same
fiscal 1997 period. Sales approximating $1.6 billion for the first six months of
fiscal 1998 were comparable to last year.

     Food and beverage  costs for the quarter  were 32.5% of sales,  compared to
34.5% of sales last year primarily  attributable  to reduced costs,  pricing and
sales mix.  Restaurant labor increased to 33.9% of sales compared to last year's
33.7%  due to wage  rate  inflation  and  higher  manager  compensation  paid in
response  to  competitive  market  conditions.   Restaurant  expenses  decreased
modestly to 15.8% of sales compared to 16.0% last year.  Restaurant level profit
margin  increased to 17.8% of sales in the second quarter compared to 15.8% last
year. The decrease in second quarter selling, general and administrative expense
to 11.3% of sales  compared  to 12.5% of sales  last  year was  attributable  to
reduced marketing  expenses.  Depreciation and amortization  expense declined to
4.3% of sales  compared to 4.7% in the prior year.  This decline  resulted  from
restaurant closings and asset impairment write-downs subsequent to fiscal 1997's
second quarter.

     The  effective  tax rate for the second  quarter of fiscal  1998 was 36.1%,
compared to 29.4% last year. The estimated effective tax rate for fiscal 1998 is
approximately  33.1%  which is up from last  year's  effective  tax rate  before
unusual items of 27.9% due to a higher level of expected  pre-tax income for the
year.

     Food and beverage  costs for the first six months of fiscal 1998 were 32.7%
of sales,  down from last year's 33.8% and also  attributable  to reduced costs,
pricing and sales mix.  Restaurant labor increased to 32.9% of sales compared to
last  year's  32.1%,  also  due  to  wage  rate  inflation  and  higher  manager
compensation  paid in  response to

                                       8


competitive market conditions. Restaurant expenses were 15.5% of sales, compared
to 15.7%  in the  prior  year.  Selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses
decreased  to  11.2% of  sales  compared  to  12.4%  in the  prior  year,  again
attributable  to  reduced  marketing  expenses.  Depreciation  and  amortization
expense  declined  to 4.0% of sales  compared  to 4.5% in the prior  year.  This
decline also resulted from restaurant closings and asset impairment  write-downs
subsequent to fiscal 1997's second quarter.

DIVISION RESULTS

     Red Lobster sales of $417.8 million,  with 49 fewer  restaurants at the end
of the quarter,  was 4.5% below last year's second quarter.  Same-store sales in
the U.S. were down 0.2% for the quarter which compares  favorably to last year's
strong  sales  and  traffic  due  to  heavy   marketing   associated   with  the
repositioning  of Red Lobster.  Second  quarter  margins and  operating  profits
substantially  improved  over the prior year because of lower  restaurant  level
costs as a percentage of sales and reduced  marketing and depreciation  expense.
Through the first six months of fiscal 1998,  Red Lobster's  sales declined 2.8%
to $887 million and same-store sales in the U.S.  increased by 0.9%. The overall
reduction in sales was attributable to units closed  subsequent to fiscal 1997's
second quarter.

     The Olive Garden  continued its positive  momentum in the second quarter of
fiscal 1998 with a 4.7% increase in sales to $324.2 million. Same-store sales in
the  U.S.  increased  9.1%,  marking  the  thirteenth   consecutive  quarter  of
same-store sales increases.  Second quarter operating profits were significantly
ahead of last  year.  Through  the first six  months of fiscal  1998,  The Olive
Garden sales  increased 3.4% to $660.1 million and same-store  sales in the U.S.
increased by 6.5%.

     Darden's  newest concept Bahama Breeze  continues to report strong sales at
both restaurants. Three more restaurants are currently under development.

     The table below  details the number of  restaurants  open at the end of the
second quarter, compared with the number open at the end of May 1997 and the end
of last fiscal year's second quarter.

                                         NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          November 23, 1997    May 25, 1997    November 24, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Red Lobster - USA.........       649                652               681
Red Lobster - Canada......        35                 51                52
                               -----              -----             -----
  Total...................       684                703               733
                               -----              -----             -----

Olive Garden - USA........       460                461               475
Olive Garden - Canada.....         5                 16                16
                               -----              -----             -----
  Total...................       465                477               491
                               -----              -----             -----

Bahama Breeze.............         2                  2                 1
                               -----              -----             -----

      Grand Total.........     1,151              1,182             1,225
                               =====              =====             =====

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       9


                                     PART II
                                OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

     On December 12, 1997, the Company named Richard E. Rivera  President of Red
Lobster.  Mr.  Rivera,  a 25-year  veteran of the casual  dining  industry,  was
elected to the Company's Board of Directors on December 17, 1997.

     In other action on December 17, 1997, the Board of Directors authorized the
Company to purchase an  additional  15 million  shares of the  Company's  common
stock in its ongoing  share  repurchase  program.  During the fiscal 1998 second
quarter,  the Company  purchased  approximately 2.3 million shares of its common
stock for a  cumulative  total at the end of the quarter of  approximately  11.4
million shares purchased under its then current  authorization to buy up to 15.8
million shares.

     In  conjunction  with this action,  the Board of Directors  authorized  the
Company to issue up to five million  additional  put options on its common stock
("puts").  The puts  entitle the holder to sell shares of the  Company's  common
stock to the Company at a specified  price on a specified  date.  The  Company's
issuance  of puts will  continue  to be  coordinated  with its share  repurchase
program.


ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     (a) Exhibits.

         Exhibit 11    Determination of Common Shares and Common Share
                       Equivalents

         Exhibit 12    Computation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings (Loss) to
                       Fixed Charges

         Exhibit 27    Financial Data Schedule

     (b) Reports on Form 8-K.

         (i)  On September 16, 1997,  the Company filed a current report on Form
              8-K to  announce  the  restructuring  of  the  Company's  Canadian
              operations   and   the   closing  of  fifteen   (15)  Red  Lobster
              restaurants  and  eleven  (11) The  Olive  Garden  restaurants  in
              Canada.

         (ii) On September 26, 1997,  the Company filed a current report on Form
              8-K to announce first  quarter  financial  results for fiscal year
              1998 and to announce  its  semi-annual  dividend of four cents per
              share.

                                       10


                                   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 thereunto duly authorized.


                                       DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.


Dated:   December 18, 1997             By: /s/ C.L. Whitehill
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           C.L. Whitehill
                                           Senior Vice President,
                                           General Counsel and Secretary



Dated:   December 18, 1997             By: /s/ James D. Smith
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           James D. Smith
                                           Senior Vice President - Finance
                                           (Principal financial and accounting
                                           officer)

                                       11


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit
Number            Exhibit Title                                             Page
- -------           -------------                                             ----

11                Determination of Common Shares and Common Share
                  Equivalents                                                13

12                Computation of Ratio of Consolidated Earnings (Loss)
                  to Fixed Charges                                           14

27                Financial Data Schedule                                    15

                                       12