I posted this on the woodworking forum but am looking for input here also. Just purchased a new kitchen dining set which meets our needs both for the budget and space available. I was told it was made from hardwood solids with a veneer top. The top currently has some type of light matte finish which is slightly rough to the touch. I can feel the grain in places when I run my hand over it. I will buy a custom table pad and use table cloths if that is my only reasonable solution for protection, but I was hoping I might be able to apply a polyurethane finish or other protective coat that would allow me to use the table without covering up the top. Any advice or suggestions are most welcome. The last thing I want to do is ruin the surface or appearance of the table but it will get daily use so needs some type of protection. I have read the Furniture 101 thread which is extremely informative but could not find anything specific to applying protective coats to a brand new veneer top.

Here are a couple of pics if it helps.