EXHIBIT 99.2

Press Release dated September 22, 1999, of Darden Restaurants, Inc.

                         OLIVE GARDEN NAMES DAVE PICKENS
                     EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

ORLANDO,  FL  (September  22, 1999) Dave Pickens has been named  Executive  Vice
President of Operations  for Olive Garden  Restaurants.

     Pickens,  44,  formerly  Senior Vice  President of Olive  Garden's  Orlando
Division,  will be  responsible  for leading all  operations  at the current 464
Olive  Garden  Restaurants  throughout  North  America.  He will report to Olive
Garden President Brad Blum.

     "Dave will work  closely  with me to ensure  outstanding  operations  as we
continue to build on the extremely  strong  performance  of Olive  Garden," said
Brad Blum,  President of Olive Garden. "As the natural successor to Bob Mock, he
is a proven leader who has already made many  significant  contributions  to the
company."

     Pickens,  a 26-year  Darden  veteran known as a strong leader and operator,
joined  Darden in 1973 as a Red Lobster  hourly  employee.  He has held  various
leadership  positions  including  Senior Vice  President of  Operations  for Red
Lobster and in 1995 he joined Olive Garden as Senior Vice  President  Operations
overseeing the 74-restaurant Orlando Division.

     "This is a  tremendous  opportunity,"  said  Pickens.  "Olive  Garden  is a
growing company with an even more exciting future.  Through operating excellence
we are  committed  to  delighting  every  guest  with a genuine  Italian  dining
experience."

     Olive  Garden  is  far  outpacing  the  casual  dining   industry  with  19
consecutive  quarters of  same-restaurant  sales  increases and is  consistently
delivering record profits. With over 50,000 employees and $1.5 billion in annual
sales, it is part of the Darden Family of  Restaurants.  Darden  Restaurants,  a
$3.5 billion publicly traded company also owns and operates Red Lobster,  Bahama
Breeze and Smokey Bones Restaurants.


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