<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>


                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAY-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAY-30-1999
<CASH>                                              40,960
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       20,588
<ALLOWANCES>                                          (332)
<INVENTORY>                                        144,115
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   327,737
<PP&E>                                           2,418,221
<DEPRECIATION>                                    (944,686)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,905,660
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              534,215
<BONDS>                                            316,451
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                         1,328,796
<OTHER-SE>                                        (364,760)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     1,905,660
<SALES>                                          3,458,107
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 3,458,107
<CGS>                                            1,133,705
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    2,744,917
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  19,540
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    215,875
<INCOME-TAX>                                        75,337
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                140,538
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                       140,538
<EPS-BASIC>                                         1.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.99