Sorry to hear of your experience.

We had a lovely meal with matching service last September.
I am assuming that Norman the owner was off for the evening as it seems he touches base with each guest table during the evening.
His niece oversees the floor in his absence and also is very caring

Chalk it up as a bad experience.
Sort of a bummer when you have high hopes.
Sometimes hard to give up a an evening at an known restaurant to try something new