Crossword Genius

Plain dish has value every now and then (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

plateau

'plain' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'dish has value every now and then' is the wordplay.
'dish' becomes 'plate' (plate is a kind of dish).
'has' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'every now and then' means one should take alternating letters (letters selected at regular intervals).
The alternating letters of 'value' are 'au'.
'plate'+'au'='PLATEAU'

(Other definitions for plateau that I've seen before include "Raised level area" , "Large level tract of elevated land" , "level part of range" , "Area of flat, high ground" , "Table" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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