Carpentry and Woodworking - bar top finish

Hello
Years ago we bought a dining room set made of oak. It is slightly grainy and we don't know what finish it has on it; once we placed something hot on it and it turned cloudy. I think we cleared it up with lemon juice or vinegar.
Question, can we put something like commercial bars use such as bartop finish so we can then put hot things on it? Would it require preparing the top before the bartop finish if we were to use it?
Thank you:confused:

Well, the bartop finish is a two-part epoxy. I use the same thing for doing plaques and such. I'm not sure that it will withstand putting a hot pan or whatever on it, tho. The procedure to apply it is by cleaning and sanding the surface and then pouring on the epoxy; it's about the consistency of pancake syrup. You also have to de-gas after the pour; takes some practice and is really easy to screw up. Plus you have to keep the material dust-free for a couple of hours.

I would opt for multiple coats of polyurethane and hot pads.

I remember pouring a pancake like substance on a table years ago; we spread it evenly and let it dry.
It was rock hard when done and although waterproof, I don't think you could put hot things on it.
I like your second idea about using layers of poyurethane and hot pads.
Thank you for taking the time and may all our problems be as minor as this.:wave: