San Francisco's first Italian Americans flocked to the Excelsior, not North Beach

The first floor of the Italian-American Social Club has scarlet velvet wallpaper, dark wood paneling and a jukebox in the corner. A U.S. flag, an Italian flag and mostly black-and-white photos hang on the walls. Brass chandeliers with red polka-dot sconces and carved decorations frame the long, wooden bar. On one side is the restaurant’s dining roo...