                                                                    Exhibit 24.1


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes  and appoints  Clarence Otis,  Jr., Linda J. Dimopoulos and Paula J.
Shives,  and each of them,  his or her true  and  lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents,  with full power of substitution and  resubstitution,  for and in his or
her name,  place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 relating to the  registration of debt securities of Darden
Restaurants,   Inc.,  and  any  and  all  amendments  (including  post-effective
amendments)  thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
and with such state  commissions and other agencies as necessary,  granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done
in and about the  premises,  as fully to all  intents  and  purposes as might or
could  be  done in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact   and  agents,   or  any  of  them,  or  their  substitute  or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been signed as of this
7th day of July, 2005, by the following persons.

/s/Leonard L. Berry                        /s/Clarence Otis, Jr.
-------------------                        --------------------
Leonard L. Berry                           Clarence Otis, Jr.
Director                                   Chief Executive Officer and Director

/s/Linda J. Dimopoulos                     /s/ Cornelius McGillicuddy, III
----------------------                     -------------------------------
Linda J. Dimopoulos                        Cornelius McGillicuddy, III
Senior Vice President and                  Director
Chief Financial Officer

/s/Odie C. Donald                          /s/ Michael D. Rose
-----------------                          -------------------
Odie C. Donald                             Michael D. Rose
Director                                   Director

/s/David H. Hughes                         /s/ Maria A. Sastre
------------------                         -------------------
David H. Hughes                            Maria A. Sastre
Director                                   Director

/s/Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr.               /s/ Jack A. Smith
-----------------------                    -----------------
Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr.                  Jack A. Smith
Director                                   Director

/s/ Joe R. Lee                             /s/ Blaine Sweatt, III
--------------                             ----------------------
Joe R. Lee                                 Blaine Sweatt, III
Chairman of the Board and Director         Director

/s/ William M. Lewis, Jr.                  /s/ Rita P. Wilson
------------------------                   ------------------
William M. Lewis, Jr.                      Rita P. Wilson
Director                                   Director

/s/ Andrew H. Madsen
--------------------
Andrew H. Madsen
Director

