Do they serve food downstairs as well or is that bar only? And do you have to ask specifically to be sat there?

Both upstairs and downstairs they have appetizers and food.

I don't know for sure if you can eat downstairs or not, but no, you don't have to specifically ask to sit downstairs. You can get a drink and seat yourself down below if no one is serving drinks at the bar in the basement. It's a pretty free flowing area.

There is food down there as well and you just go downstairs.