<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAY-28-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   AUG-29-1999
<CASH>                                            30,285
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     22,858
<ALLOWANCES>                                        (332)
<INVENTORY>                                      192,492
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 358,212
<PP&E>                                         2,417,524
<DEPRECIATION>                                  (948,895)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,929,323
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            526,407
<BONDS>                                          315,876
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                       1,341,274
<OTHER-SE>                                      (345,571)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,929,323
<SALES>                                          929,391
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 929,391
<CGS>                                            298,828
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    726,068
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 4,576
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   73,227
<INCOME-TAX>                                      25,914
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               47,313
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      47,313
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.35