> If the restaurant provides free bread (and a large portion of them do), I think it's entirely permissible to combine them.

They provide bread under what most people understand to be the social contract: that you will order more than a side of bacon.

Some restaurants -- especially those that serve students -- even require a per-person minimum order to ensure that they're not losing money on cheapskates.

You, sir, are a cheapskate, in that you're willing to break the social contract as to further your own interests, while transferring the cost of your benefit to your host.