<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001949846-23-000169.txt : 20230627
<SEC-HEADER>0001949846-23-000169.hdr.sgml : 20230627
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20230627123154
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001949846-23-000169
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	144
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20230627
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20230627

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000940944
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				593305930
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0528

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		144
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13666
		FILM NUMBER:		231045292

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32837
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4072454000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32837

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GENERAL MILLS RESTAURANTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950313

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEE EUGENE I JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001242843

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		144

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32837
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>144
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001242843</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
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  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000940944</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-13666</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE</com:street1>
        <com:city>ORLANDO</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>32837</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>4072454000</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>LEE EUGENE I JR</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Charles Schwab Corporation</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3000 Schwab Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Westlake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>76262</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>8899</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>1437989.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>120929455</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>06/27/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/29/2019</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>31523</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/29/2019</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Equity Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Eugene I Lee Jr.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1000 Darden Center Dr.</com:street1>
          <com:city>Orlando</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>32837</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Darden Restaurants Inc</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/28/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>31349</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>4837247.88</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Eugene I Lee Jr.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1000 Darden Center Dr</com:street1>
          <com:city>Orlando</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>32837</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Darden Restaurants Inc</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/28/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>47567</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>7310657.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Eugene I Lee Jr.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1000 Darden Center Dr</com:street1>
          <com:city>Orlando</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>32837</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Darden Restaurants Inc.</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>06/26/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>31818</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>5099789.04</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>06/27/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>Eugene Lee</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
