EXHIBIT 23





            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


The Board of Directors
Darden Restaurants, Inc.:

     We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statements on
Form  S-3  (Nos.  33-93854  and  333-41350)  and on Form  S-8  (Nos.  333-57410,
333-91579,  333-69037,  333-105056,  333-106278,  333-124363 and  333-122560) of
Darden  Restaurants,  Inc. of our reports  dated July 28, 2005,  relating to the
consolidated  balance sheets of Darden Restaurants,  Inc. and subsidiaries as of
May 29,  2005 and May 30,  2004,  and the  related  consolidated  statements  of
earnings,  changes in stockholders'  equity and accumulated other  comprehensive
income  (loss),  and cash flows for each of the fiscal  years in the  three-year
period ended May 29,  2005,  management's  assessment  of the  effectiveness  of
internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  May  29,  2005,  and  the
effectiveness of internal  control over financial  reporting as of May 29, 2005,
which  reports are  incorporated  by reference to the  Registrant's  2005 Annual
Report to Shareholders filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K of
Darden Restaurants, Inc.

                                  /s/ KPMG LLP

Orlando, Florida
July 28, 2005