🥊 Food Fight: Tale of the Tape 🥊
Ding, ding! In one corner, nestled in the rugged hills of North Devon, we’ve got Charlie Friday’s – a quirky café that’s as colourful as its menu, beloved by hikers, cyclists, and locals alike. In the opposite corner, hailing from the heart of Scotland’s capital, Scran New Town – a modern eatery with sleek style and bold flavours, proudly carrying Edinburgh’s culinary banner.
Two very different contenders, two very different hometowns, but only one can come out on top. Over five rounds – Taste, Presentation, Ambience, Service, and Value for Money – they’ll trade culinary punches until we crown a winner. Will it be the homely Devon café with its laid-back charm, or the Edinburgh hotspot bringing big-city flair?
Let’s step into the ring and find out.
Taste:
Round 1: Charlie Friday’s: Charlie Friday’s comes out swinging with a classic brunch line-up – the kind that satisfies both the locals and weary travellers looking for fuel. Sure, you’ll find the usual suspects like a Full English or Belgian waffles, but there are some clever curveballs in the mix too. The tea cake hash (yes, toasted teacakes topped with bacon, hash brown and fried egg) lands like a surprise uppercut, while the breakfast burrito shows off a flair that’s increasingly popular across the UK. The Full English itself? A strong hit – high-quality ingredients, cooked with precision, and packed with great flavour.
Round 2: Scran New Town: But Scran isn’t going down without a fight. The Edinburgh contender counters with finesse, stepping away from the traditional and throwing stylish punches. Think Biscoff & banana croissant, drenched in indulgence, or a perfectly executed Croque Madame, and not only oozing with a runny yolk, but also oozing with sophistication as well. Each bite screams big-city polish, every flavour carefully placed to impress. If Charlie Friday’s is a brawler relying on hearty power shots, Scran is a technical boxer, slipping and weaving with precision, delivering clean, memorable strikes.
Presentation:
Round 3: Charlie Friday’s: No-nonsense, straight to the point – Charlie Friday’s doesn’t waste time with frills. The Full English is stacked on the plate the way it should be: hearty, piled, unapologetic. It’s not flashy, but it’s tidy and satisfying. The presentation here isn’t about winning beauty contests; it’s about delivering fuel, old-school café style.
🥊 Round 4: Scran New Town: Scran, however, plays to the crowd with style. Plates arrive like well-dressed fighters, every detail in place – from delicate dustings of icing sugar to generous lashes of Biscoff sauce. It’s food designed to turn heads as much as satisfy appetites, striking the balance between elegance and indulgence. Scran’s presentation isn’t just polished – it’s a show in itself.
Ambience:
🥊 Round 5: Charlie Friday’s: This is where Charlie Friday’s throws a surprise jab that catches Scran off guard. Quirky, colourful, and bold, the café has a personality of its own. It’s lively, it’s fun, and it’s different – and that difference is what leaves an impression long after the plates are cleared. The walls hum with character, the space buzzes with energy – and for ambience, Charlie Friday’s lands a heavy blow.
🥊 Round 6: Scran New Town: Scran, by contrast, is elegant and sophisticated, reflecting the grandeur of its New Town location. But sophistication doesn’t always equal atmosphere. The section reserved for bookings – where we sat – was hushed to the point of silence. For some, that’s refined. For others, it’s flat. Scran delivers refinement, but in this round, the crowd might be leaning toward the café with a bit more heart and personality.
Service:
🥊 Round 7: Charlie Friday’s: Friendly smiles, warm welcomes, and just the right amount of attention – Charlie Friday’s brings a personal touch without ever becoming overbearing. From the moment we arrived to the final check-in, service felt genuine and comforting, like a familiar corner café that knows how to look after its people.
🥊 Round 8: Scran New Town: Scran matches that energy stride for stride. Staff greet you with enthusiasm, food arrives promptly, and check-ins are timed with finesse – enough to make you feel valued without being smothered. There’s no weak link in this round; both contenders deliver a level of service that earns nods of approval across the board.
Value for Money:
🥊 Round 9: Charlie Friday’s: At £11.75 for a Full English, Charlie Friday’s delivers good value. The portions are hearty, the quality is there, and in a tourist hotspot like Lynton, the pricing feels fair. It’s the kind of bill you glance at, smile, and pay without hesitation – proof that good food doesn’t need to break the bank.
🥊 Round 10: Scran New Town: Scran, on the other hand, leans into its city setting. £21 for a Croque Madame and a Biscoff Banana Croissant might sound steep, but when weighed against Edinburgh’s dining scene, it’s actually pretty reasonable. The polish, the quality, the location – it all factors in. It’s not the bargain punch of Charlie Friday’s, but it doesn’t feel like a knockout blow to the wallet either.
Pros & Cons:
- Charlie Friday’s – Creative twists on classic brunch staples ✅
- Charlie Friday’s – Quirky, colourful atmosphere that sticks in the memory✅
- Scran New Town – Beautiful presentation that elevates the dining experience✅
- Charlie Friday’s – Presentation is neat but basic ❌
- Scran New Town – Ambience in the reservation-only area felt flat and overly quiet❌
Gourmet Gauge:🥊
Charlie Friday’s:———————–Scran New Town:
Taste: 8/10 🥄———————— Taste: 8/10 🥄
Presentation: 6/10 🍽️ —————Presentation: 7/10 🍽️
Ambience: 7/10 🕯️——————-Ambience: 6/10 🕯️
Service: 7/10 🧑🍳———————-Service: 7/10 🧑🍳
Value for Money: 7/10💰————Value for Money: 6/10 💰
Total: 35/50 Worth A Visit!———-Total: 34/50 Worth A Visit!
And there it is. After five hard-fought rounds, the margin is razor-thin, but victory belongs to Charlie Friday’s by a single point! The Devon café may not have the polished presentation of its Edinburgh rival, but its quirky charm, hearty flavours, and solid value for money carried the day. Scran put up a stylish fight, dazzling with finesse and refined plates, but ultimately lacked the energy in ambience and value to secure the win.
So tonight, under the bright lights, the crown goes to the colourful underdog from Lynton. Charlie Friday’s is the champion of this bout – a café that proves heart and character can outlast polish and precision.
You can find Charlie Friday’s website at: https://www.charliefridayscoffeeshop.co.uk/
You can find Scran’s website at: https://scranedinburgh.com/
You can check out our Gourmet Gauge standings by visiting the blog post below.
https://tastetrekker.co.uk/2025/02/03/our-gourmet-gauge-rankings/
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