A plancha is a flat-topped grill used for a wide range of cooking tasks. It is usually a wide, metal plate with a heating element or fire directly beneath it.
Dishes prepared "a la plancha" are those prepared on the plancha, or those served directly to the diner on a hot metal plate.
Plancha is also used to refer to a two-sided sandwich press, similar to a panini press, used in the Caribbean and in Florida, especially in the preparation of cuban sandwiches.