Darden Restaurants

Inside the Most Successful Restaurant Chain in the World

Fast Company staff — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:45:04 -0400

Darden Restaurants is the world's biggest casual-dining operation and is still growing, despite the tough times. Here's a look at the restaurants that comprise the food behemoth.

Revenue numbers are for fiscal 2008, except when stated otherwise.

The pitch: "Service with a hop"
Size: A 10-stool lunch counter in Waycross, Georgia -- Bill Darden's first restaurant, opened in 1938

Why America Is Addicted to Olive Garden

Chuck Salter — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0400

On a Tuesday morning in April, the presidents of three of the largest restaurant chains in the country slip into an unmarked white van in Orlando, Florida, and embark on an unprecedented mission -- sharing their latest trade secrets.

The Darden Menu

Fast Company Staff — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0400

Starter

The Green Frog

The pitch: "Service with a hop"
Size: A 10-stool lunch counter in Waycross, Georgia -- Bill Darden's first restaurant, opened in 1938

Entrées

Olive Garden

Will the Letterman-Palin Clash Take a Bite Out of Olive Garden?

Chuck Salter — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:59:19 -0400

Late last week, the Web site Politico ran a story claiming that Olive Garden was pulling its ads during The Late Show with David Letterman because of the late-night comedian's recent joke about Sarah Palin's teenage daughter.