Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the "Company") issued a news release dated December 18, 2007, entitled "Darden Restaurants Reports Second Quarter Sales and Diluted Net Earnings Per Share; Announces Quarterly Dividend of 18 Cents Per Share; Updates Fiscal 2008 Financial Outlook", a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Item 2.02 in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99 hereto, shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information in this Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number     Description
99         Press Release dated December 18, 2007, entitled "Darden Restaurants
           Reports Second Quarter Sales and Diluted Net Earnings Per Share;
           Announces Quarterly Dividend of 18 Cents Per Share; Updates Fiscal 2008
           Financial Outlook."