<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated financial statements of Darden Restaurants, Inc. and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAY-29-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   FEB-28-1999
<CASH>                                            40,306
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     27,940
<ALLOWANCES>                                        (332)
<INVENTORY>                                      150,884
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 342,212
<PP&E>                                         2,394,800
<DEPRECIATION>                                  (926,656)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,908,298
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            514,472
<BONDS>                                          309,718
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                       1,323,009
<OTHER-SE>                                      (338,592)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,908,298
<SALES>                                        2,544,132
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               2,544,132
<CGS>                                            838,303
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  2,039,407
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                14,643
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  137,045
<INCOME-TAX>                                      47,594
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               89,451
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      89,451
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0.65
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.63