Is it okay to order a pot of tea in Australia and ask for an extra cup?

When ordering a pot of tea in Australia at a cafe is it OK to ask for two cups? A pot of tea is usually served with only one cup.

I like drinking tea but I only drink one cup and I realized that a pot of tea usually holds from 2 to 3 cups, and especially when traveling with someone, it's cheaper to order a pot of tea.

The reason I'm asking this is because I've received various reactions:

Some waitresses frown or make a face when I ask for another cup.
At one cafe the waitresses herself asked if I wanted another cup.
Once a waitresses said "I can get you a cup but that tea pot is for one person only" while in fact the pot had enough tea for two cups.
Once after asking for a cup the waitresses did not bring one or maybe forgot about it.

I usually get the first reaction.

Best Answer

Yes, it's fine. Pots are most commonly ordered to share (and priced to match, so the restaurant doesn't lose any money), and I'm quite surprised there's a place where they're not meant to be. Often, particularly in Chinese/Vietnamese restaurants (in Australia, mind you), they'll bring cups for everybody even without asking.

I wouldn't read too much into the frowns. Yes, you should have ordered the extra cup at the same time, but Australian restaurants tend to be understaffed (because of high wages) and harried, surly staff are not uncommon.