Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership (3)

FORM 3	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0104 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 ^*

Milanes Douglas J.

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (MM/DD/YYYY) 9/21/2017

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC [DRI]

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
___ X ___ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP, Chief Supply Chain Ofcr /

(Street)

ORLANDO, FL 32837

(City) (State) (Zip)

5. 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 Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	3762.7650	D

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g.* , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)**
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YYYY)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security		6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Restricted Stock Units	1/27/2019	1/27/2019	Common Stock	1598.0000	⁽¹⁾	D
Restricted Stock Units	7/26/2020	7/26/2020	Common Stock	1244.0000	⁽¹⁾	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	⁽²⁾	7/23/2024	Common Stock	10012.0000	$39.5300	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	⁽³⁾	1/30/2023	Common Stock	5422.0000	$41.4000	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	⁽⁴⁾	7/24/2023	Common Stock	2585.0000	$42.9900	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	⁽⁵⁾	7/27/2026	Common Stock	12385.0000	$59.6800	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	⁽⁶⁾	7/29/2025	Common Stock	8914.0000	$65.0200	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	⁽⁷⁾	7/26/2027	Common Stock	6905.0000	$85.8300	D

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	Restricted stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.
(2)	This option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on July 23, 2016.
(3)	This option vested in three equal annual installments beginning on January 30, 2015.
(4)	This option vested in three equal annual installments beginning on July 24, 2015.
(5)	This option vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 27, 2019.
(6)	This option vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 29, 2018.
(7)	This option vests in two equal annual installments beginning on July 26, 2020.

Remarks:
milanespoa.txt

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Milanes Douglas J. 1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE ORLANDO, FL 32837			SVP, Chief Supply Chain Ofcr

Signatures
Jessica P. Lange, Attorney-in-fact for MILANES, DOUGLAS J.		9/28/2017
^** 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 5(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.