Alençon has a solid selection of restaurants for a town its size, with Norman cuisine — cream, cider, calvados, and good meat — well represented. The area around the basilica and the market square has the highest concentration of places to eat. Market day is Thursday, when the main square fills with local producers selling cheese, charcuterie, and seasonal vegetables.
The local speciality worth seeking out is andouille — tripe sausage — for which the Orne department is known. It is an acquired taste but the good version, made with proper technique and not the industrial shortcut, is excellent. Cider and calvados from the Orne orchards are the drinks to go with Norman food.