Just off the kitchen area, there is a lift that takes you down to another lift that raises over several levels...well, that first lift that took me down, is now up, and I'm not!...SO, how to get that kitchen lift down because there dosent seem to be any other way out...unless I missed something.

Hope you have a handy save game. I wrote a post on buggy lifts a couple of days back. There seems a fair amount of evidence that wandering monsters stop some lifts. I have heard of several parties stuck in the area you are in. Best bet is to save often with lifts. The problem seems to be more prevalent with certain lifts. The one you want, and the one to D'Soto's tower are the ones catching people the most. I eventually set the monster encounters to minimal, and took the elevator in ladder mode (ie the suicide plunge) to get out of the tower. BTW, did you look upwards for the area you can jump to in that final room in that area?

always look up in the lifts. there might be a floor above you. if so , search around for a few boxes and carry them to the stuck lift and climb up to the next level.

that is how i got out...carried treasure chest and a couple of boxes from lowest level