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      <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>Director</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>15260</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>2382543.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>120314697</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>11/16/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/29/2018</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>15260</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/29/2018</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Equity Compensation</natureOfPayment>
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    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>11/16/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>Eugene I Lee Jr</signature>
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144
0001242843
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000940944
DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC
001-13666
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO
FL
32837
4072454000
LEE EUGENE I JR
Director
Common
Charles Schwab Corporation
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
15260
2382543.00
120314697
11/16/2023
NYSE
Common
07/29/2018
Employee Stock Option Exercise
Issuer
N
15260
07/29/2018
Equity Compensation
Y
11/16/2023
Eugene I Lee Jr