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When I'm at a restaurant and I don't see anything I like, I just order something "off the menu".

When I'm at a restaurant and I like everyone I see, I order something "off the menu".

The first is "off-menu", and the second (for which I don't think you meant "everyone") is "from the menu". So, no...

People really do say they “ordered something off the menu” when they found the item on the menu. I believe I could usually distinguish the two meanings if I heard a recording. If the item is not on the menu, the word “off” would be stressed.

In Australian english, "off the menu" is perfectly normal vernacular in non formal settings.

So essentially you order off the menu based on your surroundings?

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