<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000940944-01-000015
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>4
<PERIOD>20010321
<ITEMS>5
<ITEMS>7
<FILING-DATE>20010322
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
<CIK>0000940944
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5812
<IRS-NUMBER>593305930
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>FL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0526
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13666
<FILM-NUMBER>1576457
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5900 LAKE ELLENOR DR
<CITY>ORLANDO
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>32809
<PHONE>4072454000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5900 LAKE ELLENOR DRIVE
<CITY>ORLANDO
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>32809
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>GENERAL MILLS RESTAURANTS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19950313
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>0001.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
<TEXT>

1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



               Date  of  Report (Date  of earliest event reported):
                                 March 21, 2001


                            Darden Restaurants, Inc.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


      Florida                          1-13666                   59-3305930
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission file number)        (IRS employer
  of incorporation)                                          identification No.)



                 5900 Lake Ellenor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32809
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



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



                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



<PAGE>




Item 5.           Other Events.
                  ------------

                  On March  21,  2001,  the  Registrant  issued  a news  release
                  entitled  "Darden  Restaurants  Reports Third Quarter Earnings
                  Per Diluted Share of 40 Cents."

                  On March  21,  2001,  the  Registrant  issued  a news  release
                  entitled   "Former   Sen.   Connie  Mack   Elected  to  Darden
                  Restaurants Board."

                  On March  21,  2001,  the  Registrant  issued  a news  release
                  entitled "Darden Restaurants Reports February  Same-Restaurant
                  Sales Results."

Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits.
                  ---------------------------------

                  (c)      Exhibits.

                           Exhibit Number            Description

                                99.1        Press  Release dated March 21, 2001,
                                            entitled "Darden  Restaurants
                                            Reports Third Quarter Earnings Per
                                            Diluted Share of 40 Cents."


                                99.2        Press  Release dated March 21, 2001,
                                            entitled "Former Sen. Connie Mack
                                            Elected To Darden Restaurants
                                            Board."

                                99.3        Press Release dated March 21, 2001,
                                            entitled "Darden Restaurants Reports
                                            February Same-Restaurant Sales
                                            Results."


                                       2
<PAGE>



                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.



Dated:  March 22, 2001                      DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.



                                            By:________________________________
                                               Paula J. Shives
                                               Senior Vice President,
                                               General Counsel and Secretary

                                       3

<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit Number                                                         Page

  99.1                Press Release dated March 21, 2001, entitled       5
                      "Darden Restaurants Reports Third Quarter
                      Earnings Per Diluted Share of 40 Cents."

  99.2                Press Release dated March 21, 2001, entitled
                      "Former Sen. Connie Mack Elected to Darden
                      Restaurants Board."                                9

  99.3                Press Release dated March 21, 2001, entitled      11
                      "Darden Restaurants Reports February
                      Same-Restaurant Sales Results."


                                       4
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>0002.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1 - PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>




                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1

Press Release dated March 21, 2001, of Darden Restaurants, Inc.

                    DARDEN RESTAURANTS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER
                     EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE OF 40 CENTS

ORLANDO, FL -Darden Restaurants,  Inc. today reported earnings per diluted share
of 40 cents for its third  quarter,  which ended  February 25, 2001, on sales of
$988.6 million.  Strong same-restaurant sales growth at its flagship Red Lobster
and Olive Garden  restaurants drove Darden's  results.  Last year, third quarter
earnings per diluted share were 36 cents on sales of $917.5 million.

"Our solid financial  performance  this quarter is particularly  pleasing," said
Joe R. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "We were able to rebound from
difficult  weather  challenges  in  December  with a  very  strong  January  and
February.  Our  excellent  performance  this quarter,  despite a more  uncertain
economic  environment,  is a testament  to the power of the  positive  long-term
trends  fueling  the  growth of casual  dining.  It also  shows  that  Darden is
strongly  positioned to take  advantage of these trends.  I'm delighted with the
direction of Red Lobster and Olive Garden and excited about our emerging brands,
Bahama  Breeze and Smokey  Bones BBQ Sports Bar. We are focused on  delivering a
compelling  combination of continued  same-restaurant sales growth and sustained
new restaurant growth."

Highlights for the quarter ended February 25, 2001, include the following:

o    Earnings after tax in the third quarter were $49.5 million, or 40 cents per
     diluted share,  on sales of $988.6 million.  Last year,  earnings after tax
     were  $46.9  million,  or 36 cents per  diluted  share,  on sales of $917.5
     million.

o    Olive  Garden  had a 5.6%  increase  in  same-restaurant  sales,  its  26th
     consecutive quarter of comparable-restaurant sales growth.

o    Red  Lobster's   5.5%   same-restaurant   sales  increase  in  the  quarter
     represented its 13th  consecutive  quarter of comparable  restaurant  sales
     growth.

o    Bahama  Breeze  opened four  restaurants  during the quarter,  bringing its
     total  restaurants  in  operation  to 19. We have seven more Bahama  Breeze
     restaurants under construction and three may open this fiscal year.

o    Smokey  Bones BBQ  Sports Bar opened  one  restaurant  during the  quarter,
     bringing the total number in operation to five in four  different  markets.
     We expect to open four more Smokey Bones restaurants this fiscal year.

o Darden purchased 1.9 million shares of its common stock in the quarter.
                                       5
<PAGE>

Operating Highlights

OLIVE GARDEN'S third quarter sales of $422.6 million were 6.8% above prior year,
propelled  by  its  5.6%  same-restaurant  sales  increase.  This  is  the  26th
consecutive quarter of same-restaurant  sales growth for Olive Garden, and comes
on top of an 8.3%  third  quarter  increase  last  year.  Contributing  to Olive
Garden's  sales  growth was  strong  guest  response  to its  "Chicken  Scampi",
"Homemade  Hot Soups",  and "Seafood  Alfredo/Chicken  Alfredo"  promotions,  an
increase  of over 20% in wine  sales  and a higher  check  average  due to other
menu-mix  and  pricing  changes.  Lower food and  beverage  and labor costs as a
percentage of sales were partially offset by the increased  restaurant  expenses
Olive  Garden  experienced  as a result  of  appreciably  higher  year-over-year
utility costs.

"We are pleased with this quarter's strong  financial  results," said Brad Blum,
President  of Olive  Garden.  "The  Olive  Garden  team has done a great  job of
improving every facet of the dining  experience we offer.  The entire company is
guided  by our  desire  to be a family of local  restaurants  delivering  fresh,
simple and delicious  Italian food,  great wines and superior service to delight
every guest with a genuine Italian dining  experience.  Our results  demonstrate
the power of a strong brand that  appeals to a broad base of consumers  who feel
welcome, special and appreciated. We're convinced this will serve us even better
in an environment of economic uncertainty."

RED LOBSTER'S  third quarter sales of $539.8 million were 6.2% above prior year,
driven by its 5.5% same-restaurant sales increase - its 13th consecutive quarter
of growth. Last year, Red Lobster's third quarter  same-restaurant  sales growth
was  5.0%.   This  year's   sales   improvement   was   generated  by  increased
same-restaurant guest traffic, due in part to Red Lobster's successful "Pound of
Crab" promotion in January and February, and by check average growth as a result
of an increase in alcoholic beverage sales,  pricing and menu-mix changes.  With
the increased sales,  Red Lobster saw improvements in food and beverage,  labor,
and selling, general and administrative expenses on a percentage of sales basis.
These  efficiencies  were largely  offset by an increase in restaurant  expenses
that stemmed primarily from unfavorable utility costs.

"I'm really proud of our leadership teams and frontline crew," said Dick Rivera,
President of Red Lobster.  "We were able to post solid third  quarter gains over
last year despite harsh weather,  economic  uncertainty,  utility cost increases
and  unfavorable  year-over-year  seafood  costs.  We met  these  challenges  by
remaining  focused on bringing a fresh approach to casual dining featuring great
seafood, good times and hospitality.  We are offering guests more appealing food
and more attentive service, and this quarter's success is evidence we're doing a
better and better job of it."

BAHAMA BREEZE continued to produce  impressive sales results during the quarter,
and opened  new  restaurants  in Lake  Buena  Vista  (Orlando),  Pembroke  Pines
(Miami),  Cincinnati and Livonia (Detroit). We have seven more restaurants under
construction,  and three may open this fiscal year in  Rochester,  NY, Las Vegas
and Phoenix.
                                       6
<PAGE>

SMOKEY  BONES BBQ  SPORTS BAR opened one  restaurant  in the third  quarter,  in
Dartmouth,  MA,  bringing the total number of  restaurants in operation to five.
Since  the  end of  the  fiscal  quarter,  restaurants  have  opened  in  Aurora
(Chicago),  and  Springfield,  MA. Two more Smokey Bones  restaurants  are under
construction and are expected to open this fiscal year. These will be in Pontiac
(Detroit) and Fairview Heights (St. Louis).

Other Actions

Darden continued the buyback of its common stock,  purchasing 1.9 million shares
in the third quarter.  Cumulatively,  since its repurchase  program commenced in
December   1995,  the  Company  has   repurchased   50.5  million  shares  under
authorizations totaling 64.6 million shares.

The  Board of  Directors  declared  the  Company's  regular  4 cents  per  share
semi-annual  dividend,  payable May 1, 2001, to  shareholders of record on April
10, 2001.

The Board of  Directors  also elected  former U.S.  Senator  Connie Mack,  III a
director.  Senator  Mack retired from public  office in January  2001,  when his
second term expired.  Prior to his service in the U.S.  Senate,  he served three
terms  in the  U.S.  House  of  Representatives  and  worked  for 16  years as a
community banker in Lee County, FL. Senator Mack recently became Chairman of the
Board of the H. Lee  Moffitt  Cancer  Center in  Tampa,  FL.  "We are  extremely
honored and excited to welcome  Connie to our  board,"  said Lee.  "His years of
experience in the political  arena and in the banking  industry,  as well as his
proven leadership skills as someone who has great integrity, is highly respected
and well liked, will be a tremendous asset to our Company."

Darden Restaurants,  Inc.,  headquartered in Orlando,  FL, owns and operates Red
Lobster,  Olive  Garden,  Bahama  Breeze and Smokey Bones BBQ  restaurants  with
annual sales of nearly $4 billion.

Forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, are made under the Safe
Harbor  provisions  of the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.
Certain  important  factors could cause results to differ  materially from those
anticipated by the forward-looking statements,  including the impact of changing
economic or business conditions, the impact of competition,  the availability of
favorable  credit  and  trade  terms,  the  impact  of  changes  in the  cost or
availability of food and real estate, government regulation, construction costs,
weather  conditions  and other  factors  discussed  from time to time in reports
filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                       7

<PAGE>

                             DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
                              NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS

         02/27/00                                              02/25/01

               619          Red Lobster USA                      623
                32          Red Lobster Canada                    32
                --                                                --
               651          Total Red Lobster                    655

               459         Olive Garden USA                      464
                 5         Olive Garden Canada                     5
                --                                                --
               464           Total Olive Garden                  469

                10         Bahama Breeze                          19

                 1         Smokey Bones BBQ Sports Bar             5
                --                                                --

             1,126           Total Restaurants                 1,148


                                       8
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>0003.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.2 - PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>




                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.2

Press Release dated March 21, 2001, of Darden Restaurants, Inc.

                       FORMER SEN. CONNIE MACK ELECTED TO
                            DARDEN RESTAURANTS BOARD

ORLANDO, FL - Darden Restaurants, Inc. has elected former U.S. Senator
Connie Mack,  III to its Board of  Directors.  Darden owns and operates the
Red  Lobster,  Olive  Garden,  Bahama  Breeze and Smokey  Bones  restaurant
companies.

"We are extremely  honored and excited to welcome Connie to our board," said Joe
R. Lee, Darden's chairman and chief executive officer.  "His years of experience
in the political arena and banking industry and his proven  leadership skills as
someone who is highly  respected and well liked,  will be a tremendous  asset to
our  company  as we  continue  to  build  Darden  into the  best  casual  dining
restaurant company, now and for generations."

"Darden is a growing,  progressive  and very  civic-minded  company  with strong
corporate   ethics  and  a  solid   reputation   for   integrity  and  diversity
sensitivity," said Mack. "I'm excited to be joining the company's board and look
forward to helping  them  continue  to build  their  brands and  solidify  their
leadership position in the casual dining industry."

After 16 years as a community banker in Lee County,  FL, Mack was elected to the
U.S.  House of  Representatives  in 1982,  where he served three  terms.  He was
elected  to the  U.S.  Senate  in 1988  and in 1994  became  the  first  Florida
Republican in state history to be reelected to the Senate.

During his second term in the Senate, Mack was the third-ranking  Republican and
chaired  the Joint  Economic  Committee  and the  Republic  Conference,  and was
considered a top choice to run as Vice  President  with then Senator Bob Dole in
Dole's bid for the White House.

Throughout his time on the Hill,  Mack - who retired from public office when his
Senate  term  expired  in  January  -- had a  reputation  for being  true to his
convictions, but also for being fair-minded and a consensus-builder.  As Florida
pollster  Jim Kane  said,  Mack  will be  remembered  for "his  compassion,  his
intelligent response to issues and not so much by his partisan beliefs."

One of the issues Mack continues to champion is cancer  research,  including his
work with the  American  Cancer  Society and his  efforts to improve  preventive
health care and increase federal spending on medical research.  He also recently
became  Chairman of the Board of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa,  FL.
It's an issue  that  hits  very  close  to home  for Mack - both of his  parents
battled the disease, his younger brother died from it, his wife, Priscilla,  was
diagnosed with breast  cancer,  his daughter is also a cancer  survivor,  and he
himself has had skin cancer.
                                       9

<PAGE>

Named  for  his  grandfather,   Connie  Mack,  Sr.   (shortened  from  Cornelius
McGillicuddy),   the  legendary   manager-owner  of  the  old  Philadelphia  A's
professional  baseball  team,  Mack, III was  instrumental  in helping bring the
first major league baseball teams to Florida.

Born in  Philadelphia  (his family moved to Ft. Myers when he was 11 years old),
Mack earned a degree in Marketing from the University of Florida.

Mack joins Darden's other directors:  Brad Blum,,  President,  Olive Garden; Dan
Burke,  President  Emeritus/Director,  Capital  Cities/ABC,  Inc.;  Odie Donald,
President, DirectTV; Julius Erving, Executive Vice President RDV Sports and Vice
President,  Orlando Magic; Joe Lee; Dick Rivera, President, Red Lobster; Michael
Rose,  Chairman,  Midaro  Investments,  Inc.;  Dr.  Hector  de J.  Ruiz,  Ph.D.,
President and COO, Advanced Micro Devices;  Maria Sastre, Vice President,  Total
Guest Satisfaction  Services,  Royal Caribbean  International;  Jack Smith, Past
Chairman of the Board, The Sports Authority; Blaine Sweatt, President Darden New
Business Development; and Rita Wilson, President, Allstate Indemnity Company.

Darden  Restaurants,  with  headquarters  in  Orlando,  Florida,  is the world's
largest casual dining company,  with more than 1,140 restaurants operating under
the Red Lobster,  Olive  Garden,  Bahama  Breeze and Smokey Bones  brands,  over
119,000 employees and annual sales of over $3.7 billion.

                                       10

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>0004.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.3 - PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>




                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.3

Press Release dated March 21, 2001, of Darden Restaurants, Inc.

                       DARDEN RESTAURANTS REPORTS FEBRUARY
                          SAME-RESTAURANT SALES RESULTS

ORLANDO, FL - Darden Restaurants,  Inc. today reported same-restaurant sales for
the four-week  February fiscal month ended February 25, 2001. This period is the
third month of Darden's fiscal 2001 third quarter.

Same-restaurant  sales at Red Lobster were up 5% to 6% for the  February  fiscal
month,  driven by a 1% increase in guest counts,  a 2% to 3% increase in pricing
and a 2% increase in check average due to menu mix changes. Red Lobster's "Pound
of Crab"  promotion  priced at $10.99 ran from  January 15 through  February 11,
2001.  In  fiscal  February  of  last  year,  Red  Lobster  recorded  a 2% to 3%
same-restaurant sales increase.

Same-restaurant  sales at Olive  Garden  were up 6% to 7% for the  month.  Olive
Garden's  same-restaurant  sales growth for the month reflected a 3% increase in
guest counts,  a 2% to 3% increase in pricing and a 1% increase in check average
due to menu mix changes. Olive Garden promoted "Chicken Scampi", priced at $8.95
from January 1 through February 4. "Soup,  Salad, and Breadsticks," was promoted
from February 5 through March 11. Olive Garden's  "Seafood Alfredo" and "Chicken
Alfredo"  feature  began  February 19 and runs through  April 1, 2001. In fiscal
February  of  last  year,  Olive  Garden  had a 7% to 8%  same-restaurant  sales
increase.

Darden Restaurants, Inc., in Orlando, FL, owns and operates Red Lobster, Olive
Garden, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones BBQ restaurants.

Forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, are made under the Safe
Harbor  provisions  of the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.
Certain  important  factors could cause results to differ  materially from those
anticipated by the forward-looking statements,  including the impact of changing
economic or business conditions, the impact of competition,  the availability of
favorable  credit  and  trade  terms,  the  impact  of  changes  in the  cost or
availability of food and real estate, government regulation, construction costs,
weather  conditions  and other  factors  discussed  from time to time in reports
filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                       11


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
