Place is curiously distinctive (7)
I believe the answer is:
special
'distinctive' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'place is curiously' is the wordplay.
'curiously' is an anagram indicator.
'place'+'is'='placeis'
'placeis' with letters rearranged gives 'SPECIAL'.
(Other definitions for special that I've seen before include "Distinctive, exceptional" , "Dish not on usual menu" , "Distinguished" , "Day's non-menu dish" , "Particular, peculiar" .)