Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the "Company") issued a news release dated March 17, 2009, entitled "Darden Restaurants Reports Third Quarter Diluted Net Earnings Per Share; Announces Quarterly Dividend of 20 Cents Per Share and More Favorable Fiscal 2009 Earnings 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 March 17, 2009, entitled "Darden Restaurants
            Reports Third Quarter Diluted Net Earnings Per Share; Announces
            Quarterly Dividend of 20 Cents Per Share and More Favorable Fiscal 2009
            Earnings Outlook."