Darden Restaurants Inc.
American casual dining restaurant company operating Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and Chuy's, publicly traded on the NYSE.
Company Type
public
Founded
1968
Headquarters
Orlando, Florida, USA
Stock
NYSE: DRI
About Darden Restaurants Inc.
Darden Restaurants is an independent publicly traded company with no parent company. The company trades on the NYSE under DRI and is owned by institutional investors and individual shareholders.
Darden owns Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and Chuy's.
For Q2 fiscal 2026 (quarter ended November 23, 2025), Darden reported total sales of $3.1 billion, up 7.3% year over year, with blended same-restaurant sales growth of 2.4% and net income of $237.2 million ($2.03 per share).
No. Darden sold Red Lobster to Golden Gate Capital in 2014. Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024.
Darden Restaurants was spun off from General Mills as an independent public company in 1995. Its origins trace to 1968 when Bill Darden opened the first Red Lobster in Lakeland, Florida.
Darden operates over 2,000 restaurants across its nine brands, primarily in the United States and Canada.
History of Darden Restaurants Inc.
Brands Owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
View all 7 brandsDarden Restaurants Inc. owns 7 brands in our database. Showing featured brands below.
Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen
Owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in value-focused comfort food, owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
LongHorn Steakhouse
Owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
American casual dining steakhouse chain specializing in premium beef and steaks, owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
Owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine, owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
American fine dining restaurant chain specializing in premium steaks, owned by Darden Restaurants.
Seasons 52
Owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in fresh grill cuisine and wine offerings, owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
The Capital Grille
Owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
American fine dining steakhouse chain specializing in premium steaks and upscale dining experiences, owned by Darden Restaurants Inc.
Stock Information
Darden Restaurants Inc. Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Q2 FY2026 total sales of $3.1 billion, up 7.3% year over year
- +Blended same-restaurant sales growth of 2.4% in Q2 FY2026 demonstrates brand health
- +Olive Garden is the largest Italian-American casual dining chain in the United States
- +Diversified portfolio across casual dining and fine dining price points
- +Ruth's Chris Steak House acquisition (2023) and Chuy's acquisition (fiscal 2025) expand the portfolio
- +Company-owned restaurant model provides operational control and consistent brand standards
Considerations
- -Near-record beef prices are pressuring restaurant-level margins
- -Casual dining faces structural headwinds from fast casual competition
- -Chuy's not yet included in same-restaurant sales comparisons (requires 16 months of Darden ownership)
- -High capital requirements for maintaining and expanding a large company-owned restaurant portfolio
- -Consumer spending pressure in the mid-price casual dining segment
Frequently Asked Questions About Darden Restaurants Inc.
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