
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1





            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


The Board of Directors
Darden Restaurants, Inc.:

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement
on Form S-3 of Darden  Restaurants,  Inc.  of our  reports  dated July 28,  2005
relating to the  consolidated  balance  sheets of Darden  Restaurants,  Inc. and
subsidiaries  as of May 29, 2005 and May 30, 2004, and the related  consolidated
statements of earnings,  changes in stockholders'  equity and accumulated  other
comprehensive  income (loss), and cash flows for each of the fiscal years in the
three-year   period  ended  May  29,  2005,   management's   assessment  of  the
effectiveness  of internal  control over financial  reporting as of May 29, 2005
and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of May 29,
2005,  which reports are included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended May 29, 2005 of Darden Restaurants,  Inc., and also to the reference to us
under  the  heading  "Experts"  in  the  Prospectus,  which  is a  part  of  the
Registration Statement.

                                              /s/ KPMG LLP

Orlando, Florida
July 28, 2005



