SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
A fee is being paid with this statement.
Name of
Issuer: DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC.
________________________________________________
Title of Class
of Securities: Common Stock
CUSIP Number: 237194105
1) NAME OF I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF REPORTING PERSON
The Prudential Insurance Company of America 22-1211670
2.) MEMBER OF A GROUP: (a) N/A
(b) N/A
3) SEC USE ONLY:
4) PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: A mutual insurance company organized
under the laws of the State of New Jersey
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5) Sole Voting Power: 2,812,197 See Exhibit A
6) Shared Voting Power 14,826,959 See Exhibit A
7) Sole Dispositive Power: 2,812,197 See Exhibit A
8) Shared Dispositive Power: 14,922,209 See Exhibit A
9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED:
17,734,406 See Exhibit A
10) AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES SHARES: Not Applicable
11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9):
11.59 See Exhibit A
12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: IC, IA
ITEM 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER:
DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC.
ITEM 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC.
5900 Lake Ellenor Dr.
Orlando, FL 32809
ITEM 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING:
The Prudential Insurance Company of America
ITEM 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:
751 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102-3777
ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP:
A mutual insurance company organized under the laws
of the
State of New Jersey
ITEM 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:
Common Stock
ITEM 2(e). CUSIP NUMBER:
237194105
ITEM 3. The Person filing this statement is an Insurance Company
as defined in Section 3(a) (19) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934, and an Investment Adviser registered
under
Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP:
(a) Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned: 17,734,406 See Exhibit A
(b) Percent of Class: 11.59
Number
(c) Powers Of Shares
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------
Sole power to vote or 2,812,197 See Exhibit A
to direct the vote
Shared power to vote or 14,826,959 See Exhibit A
to direct the vote
Sole power to dispose or 2,812,197 See Exhibit A
to direct disposition
Shared power to dispose 14,922,209 See Exhibit A
or to direct disposition
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF 5% OR LESS OF A CLASS:
Not Applicable
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN 5% ON BEHALF
OF ANOTHER PERSON:
See Exhibit A
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE
SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING
REPORTED ON BY THE ULTIMATE PARENT COMPANY:
Not Applicable
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS
OF THE GROUP:
Not Applicable
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:
Not Applicable
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION:
By signing below, the Prudential Insurance Company of America
certifies that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the
securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course
of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not
have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose
or effect.
The filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that
Prudential is, for purposes of Sections 13 or 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner of such shares.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and
belief, The Prudential Insurance Company of America certifies that
the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
By: Richard S. Biegen
Director, Securities Law Compliance
Date: 05/09/97
As of: 04/30/97
Exhibit A
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ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP:
The Prudential Insurance Company of America ('Prudential') presently holds
235,700 shares of Issuer's common stock for the benefit of its general
account.
In addition, Prudential may have direct or indirect voting and/or
investment discretion over 17,498,706 shares which are held for the
benefit of its clients by its separate accounts, externally managed
accounts, registered investment companies, subsidiaries and/or other
affiliates. Prudential is reporting the combined holdings of these
entities for the purpose of administrative convenience.
These shares were acquired in the ordinary course of business, and not
with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the
Issuer. The filing of this statement should not be construed as an
admission that Prudential is, for the purposes of Sections 13 or 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner of these shares.
