Olive Garden same-store sales soared 6.4%, on total sales of $618.4 million. It was the 45th consecutive quarter that Olive Garden posted positive comps, according to executives. The 568-restaurant chain opened 21 units since last year's second quarter.

Company executives say that they are testing two smaller Olive Garden prototypes that they will try out in urban markets in the fourth quarter. They plan to open between 25 and 30 new Olive Gardens next year.

One chain that did not meet expectations was Smoky Bones, the company's 117-unit barbeque concept. Year-over-year same-store sales fell 8.5%, and officials said they would temper Smokey Bones' expansion plans, opening 10 to 15 next year, down from this year's 25 to 30. "These results further emphasize the need to broaden the appeal of Smokey Bones," said Drew Madsen, Darden's president and chief operating officer, during the company's quarterly conference call.