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EXHIBIT 23.1
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Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants
The Board of Directors
Darden Restaurants, Inc.:
We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form
S-3 of Darden Restaurants, Inc. of our report dated June 18, 1999, relating to
the consolidated balance sheets of Darden Restaurants, Inc. and subsidiaries as
of May 30, 1999 and May 31, 1998, and the related consolidated statements of
earnings (loss), changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the
years in the three-year period ended May 30, 1999, which report is incorporated
by reference to page 26 of the registrant's 1999 Annual Report to Stockholders
in the May 30, 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Darden Restaurants, Inc. and
to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the registration
statement.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Orlando, Florida
July 13, 2000
