<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225208-25-000482.txt : 20250107
<SEC-HEADER>0001225208-25-000482.hdr.sgml : 20250107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250107180510
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225208-25-000482
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20250105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONSTEBY CHARLES M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186383
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13666
		FILM NUMBER:		25516027

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000940944
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	07 Trade & Services
		IRS NUMBER:				593305930
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0525

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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    <periodOfReport>2025-01-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000940944</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DRI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186383</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SONSTEBY CHARLES M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORLANDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32837</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <value>2025-01-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1818.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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    <derivativeTable>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units (FY15 Director Compensation)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The RSUs vest on the first to occur of one year from date of grant and the date of the next annual meeting of shareholders. The Reporting Person elected to defer settlement of the RSUs until  the earlier of (i) the Reporting Person's termination of service from the Board and (ii) 01/05/2025.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The number of restricted stock units was adjusted in connection with the spin-off (the Spin-Off) of Four Corners Property Trust, Inc. (FCPT) from Darden Restaurants, Inc. (Darden) on November 9, 2015. The adjustment reflects the product of (i) the number of shares subject to the restricted stock unit awards immediately prior to the Spin-Off and (ii) the ratio of (A) the pre-Spin-Off closing price on November 9, 2015 of Darden Common Stock (Darden Pre-Spin-Off Price) and (B) the difference between the Darden Pre-Spin-Off Price and the volume weighted average price of FCPT Common Stock trading on the NYSE on the trading day immediately following the distribution date (adjusted to reflect the Darden-to-FCPT pro rata share distribution ratio in the Spin-Off).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Contains FY15 and FY16 Director Compensation</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of the issuer's common stock upon vesting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The Reporting Person elected to take all of the quarterly cash retainer for serving as a director in the form of restricted stock units for which vested shares will be delivered to the Reporting Person on the first to occur of (i) the Reporting Person's termination of service as a director or (ii) 1/5/2025.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jessica P. Lange, Attorney-in-fact for Sonsteby, Charles M.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2025-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
