FORM 4
[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).         
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
                                                                                  
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response... 0.5
                      
Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
                      

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *

SONSTEBY CHARLES M 		2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC [ DRI ] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

__ X __ Director                      _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below)      _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)          (First)          (Middle)

1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE 		3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY)

11/25/2016
(Street)

ORLANDO, FL 32837
(City)        (State)        (Zip)
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

 
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3) 		2. Trans. Date 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 3. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8) 		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 		5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4) 		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock                  6000.0000   D    

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 3) 		2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Trans. Date 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 4. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8) 		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 3 and 4) 		8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5) 		9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units (FY15 Director Compensation)   (1)   (2) 11/25/2016     A      286.0000         (3)   (3) Common Stock   286.0000   $0.0000   1880.0000   (4) D    

Explanation of Responses:
( 1)  Includes FY15, FY16 and FY17 director compensation.
( 2)  Restricted stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.
( 3)  The Reporting Person elected to take a portion 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 Reporting Person's termination of service as a director.
( 4)  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).

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address
Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
SONSTEBY CHARLES M
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FL 32837 		X



Signatures
Jessica P. Lange, Attorney-in-fact for Sonsteby, Charles M. 11/29/2016
** Signature of Reporting Person Date


Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024 Click Here for more Darden Restaurants Charts.
Darden Restaurants (NYSE:DRI)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024 Click Here for more Darden Restaurants Charts.