Darden Restaurants to Host its First Quarter Conference Call on the Internet

September 11, 2002

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) will have its First Quarter conference call on Wednesday, September 18, at 5:00 p.m. (E.D.T.).The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet.Joe Lee, Chairman and CEO, and other senior management invite you to listen to a discussion of first quarter results.

To listen to the call live, please go to the following website at least fifteen minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software.For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call.

What:Darden Restaurants, Inc. First Quarter Earnings Release
When:5:00 p.m. (E.D.T.), Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Where:http:/www.firstcallevents.com/service/ajwz365365109gf12.html
How:Live over the Internet -- Simply log on to the web at the

address above

As the largest casual dining restaurant company in the world, Darden Restaurants, Inc. owns and operates over 1,200 Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones BBQ Sports Bar restaurants with annual sales of $4.4 billion.Darden is headquartered in Orlando, FL.