When Pappy's Café served its final meals last week at its original location, 9041 Katy Fwy., there were bittersweet farewells and many tears.

But there were also threats: Lydia Braden, who owns the restaurant with her husband Paul, said some customers demanded that Pappy's not change a thing on the menu when the restaurant moved into its new space at 12313 Katy Fwy.

"We had people who came in and looked us straight in the eyes and said, 'If you change anything, we'll never come back,' " she said.

But there are changes. The new restaurant, which opened Thursday, is much larger than the previous digs: a total of 258 seats compared to the original's 142 capacity. There's also a new emphasis on craft cocktails and more whiskey options behind the bar. And private dining spaces now can accommodate parties and other events.

But at its core Pappy's remains the same bastion of Texas comfort food – burgers, chicken-fried steak, Cajun staples and Tex-Mex classics, all of which it has served since opening in Houston 34 years ago. The Bradens, who bought Pappy's in 2003, have been mindful gatekeepers of Pappy's traditions while also subtly expanding the menu, improving service and keeping food quality high. Sauces are made from scratch, burgers are hand-formed, the beef used for the chicken fried steak is never frozen.

"It's good service, good food and the culture of the staff," Paul Braden said, explaining the key to Pappy's devoted clientele. "We feel the restaurant was successful the way it is,"

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Lydia Braden adds. "Every day we hear it: 'Don't change Pappy's.' "

Fans of the restaurant will notice that many of the original location's Western decorative elements have made it to the new home, including doors and room dividers that have been used in new ways. Saddles, Western movie posters, mounted longhorns, and other Tex-ified bric-a-brac is on full display. The Bradens even had an artist recreate a large mural of beloved Western figures. And yes, the house still serves frozen margaritas all day, every day, for $4 each.

The Pappy's menu has made the move intact. Diners can still start their meals with the signature Scorpion Tails, deep-fried jalapenos stuffed with shrimp and Jack cheese. Or Texas nachos, chili cheese fries, fried pickles or Buffalo chicken bites. The half-pound burgers come with traditional or hand-cut fries. Signature dishes include chicken fried steak, Laredo chicken (grilled and topped with salad, bell peppers and Jack cheese served on a bed of rice), baby back ribs, chicken and sausage, and lemon pepper chicken.

Other entrees include shrimp and grits, fried catfish or fried shrimp platter, grilled glazed salmon, blackened catfish, chopped sirloin steak with grilled onions, and grilled ribeye steak with a twice-baked potato. The Tex-Mex options include sizzling fajita platters, quesadillas, enchiladas and tacos.

So why did Pappy's move in the first place? Their lease ran out. Knowing the end was coming, the Bradens spent the past several years looking at new locations for the restaurant. "It was either close the restaurant for good and walk away, or find a new place," Paul Braden said.

The Bradens knew they'd be disappointing plenty of people if they chose the former option.

"Customers have raised their kids going to Pappy's," Lydia said. "There were three generations of Pappy's customers."

When they found a spot five miles west of the original restaurant in the former Texas Land & Cattle restaurant space, they set the closing date at Pappy's as March 31. And today the new Pappy's is open for business.

"It's exciting," Lydia said, "I can't believe it. I've been saying pinch me."

Pappy's Café, 12313 Katy Fwy., 713-827-1811; pappyscafe.com. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. except Sunday open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.