Some fellow Yelpers had mentioned both Wan Fu and Baoding as some of the better places to get "good" Chinese in Charlotte. After a long day at Carolina Place Mall which is very close, my Yelp app said "go to Wan Fu, you genius". I obeyed. The exterior is very grand with a heavy wooden door guarded by limestone lions.
The host/owner was very warm and friendly. The frostyTiger beer from Singapore was even more friendly.
To start: Cold Sesamee Noodles with Peanut Sauce 3/5 Stars - too heavy on the peanut sauce - tasted almost like peanut butter - you really need to stir it up well before serving. Tastes better the second day when it's refrigerator cold.
Pan Fried Dumplings 4/5 Stars - really nice filling, the wrappers were a little thick and doughy for my tastes.
One of our waiters suggested the entrees we ended up ordering. Szechuan Beef - spicy, savory with a little sweet and sour - they added broccoli at no additional charge. Wan Fu Scallops - spiced and seared, served with vegetables. Both were really good but the beef was better, hands down; 4/5 Stars.
My fortune cookie: Confucius says "look behind you, it's Elvis!" And when I turned back around, the food was boxed and dishes gone.The staff was a well chorographed team that kept food coming and old dishes cleared. Best hot Chinese tea I've had in ages!! Also, be prepared to eat leftovers for days as the portions are big!!