Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.-based restaurant group Darden Restaurants, along with the rest of the U.S. restaurant industry, faced several challenges throughout its 2026 fiscal year but reported that it closed the year out strong with a positive fiscal fourth quarter.
Total sales for the group’s closing quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, which concluded 31 May, increased 13.7 percent year over year to USD 3.7 billion (EUR 3.2 billion), largely driven by additional sales from an extra week of operations, a blended same-restaurant sales increase of 4.6 percent, and sales from 43 net new restaurants compared to the year prior, the company said.
Same-restaurant sales growth in the quarter was led by LongHorn Steakhouse, which saw its sales rise 9.5 percent in the period.
“LongHorn Steakhouse [has] posted same-store visit growth in every month of 2026 so far, benefiting from strong demand for protein-focused dining and a compelling value proposition,” restaurant foot traffic analysis firm Placer.ai said.
Elsewhere, Darden’s “Other Business” segment, which includes Ruth's Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's, Yard House, Seasons 52, and Chuy’s, experienced a 4.6 percent sales increase.
Olive Garden, meanwhile, experienced a 2.4 percent increase in sales, and its Fine Dining segment saw its sales rise 1.9 percent.
The sales growth came as visits to The Capital Grille rose 12.4 percent in May, while Eddie V’s Prime Seafood visits inclined 8.8 percent in the same month. Mother’s Day was likely a primary driver of the traffic spike, but Eddie V’s traffic rose nearly 14 percent in March and 13 percent in April, as well.
On the other hand, Olive Garden's traffic has been more uneven, but its value promotions helped drive May's return to growth, when visits per location jumped 4.1 percent on Mother's Day compared to the same day in 2025, per Placer.ai.
As for the entire fiscal year, Darden’s total sales increased 9.4 percent to USD 13.2 billion (EUR 11.6 billion). LongHorn Steakhouse led same-restaurant sales, with an increase of 7.2 percent for the year, while Olive Garden sales rose 4 percent. Other Business sales rose 3.9 percent, and Fine Dining rose 1.2 percent.
“The fourth quarter was a strong finish to an excellent year, one in which we significantly outperformed the industry,” Darden President and CEO Rick Cardenas said. “Our restaurant teams continued to execute at a high level, and that consistent execution helped each of our brands deliver positive same-restaurant sales for the quarter.”
Looking ahead, Darden Senior Vice President and CFO Rajesh Vennam said on an investor call that seafood inflation will likely be in the high single digits in the first half of Darden’s 2027 fiscal year but should normalize in the second half of the year.
