Ashburton has an unusually strong food scene for its size, partly because it attracts a second-home crowd from Exeter and Plymouth who expect good cooking, and partly because the town has resisted the chain invasion that has hollowed out similar market towns.
The town has become known for its independent restaurants and delis. The Golden Lion on East Street is the most reliable pub for food. Several smaller restaurants and cafes along the main street serve everything from wood-fired pizza to proper cream teas. The local farms supply good meat, and you'll find proper Devon clotted cream and local cheese in the deli shops.
On Fridays a small farmers' market runs near the town hall — a good source of local produce if you're self-catering from a nearby holiday cottage.